Active Safety for Autonomous and SemiAutonomous Vehicles

Goals

The project aims to develop autonomous driving systems that mimic expert human drivers. Initially, it will monitor various drivers’ styles using a high-fidelity simulator to classify skill levels via graphical inference models. These models will inform control algorithms for maneuvers like lane changes or adaptive cruise control, tested on scaled autonomous platforms. Additionally, the project seeks to create proactive driving algorithms that can correct dangerous driver actions to avoid accidents. Ultimately, the goal is to design autonomous vehicles capable of safe high-speed driving and competitive racing by leveraging human-like and anticipatory driving strategies.

Issues Involved or Addressed

Develop autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles that drive in a “natural” and safe manner. Understanding human driver behavior in traffic. Monitoring of driver actions and responses in traffic. Prediction of driver’s and vehicle’s intent. Adaptation of active safety system to current traffic situation, weather conditions, and state of driver. Real-time perception and decision making at short time scales for robotic vehicles.

Partners/Sponsors

Sandia National Laboratories

Methods and Technologies

  • Robotic Ground Vehicles
  • Microcontrollers
  • GPU Processing
  • Eye Tracking Devices

Majors Sought

Computing: Computer Science, Computer Science – Online MS

Engineering: Aerospace Engineering, Analytics – Online MS, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Sciences: Psychology

Preferred Interests and Preparation

1) Programming experience in C/C++, python, ROS, Ubuntu
2) PCB design and electronics embedded controllers 
3) Mechatronics and CAD design
AE – Background/interest in control, simulation, graphics, human factors
ME – Background/interest in control, simulation, graphics, human factors
EE, CmpE – Background/interest in embedded systems, digital processing, image storage and processing
CS – Background/interest in mobile app development, real-time programming, embedded control, human/machine interaction
PSYC – Background/interest in human in the loop experimentation, statistical analysis, interface design
ISyE – Background/interest in inferential statistics and statistical modeling, human factors, human integrated systems

Advisors

Panagiotis Tsiotras
Panagiotis Tsiotras
tsiotras@gatech.edu

Karen Feigh
Aerospace Engineering
karen_feigh@defaultemail.com

Day, Time & Location

Full Team Meeting:
1:00pm – 1:50pm Friday
Online

Subteam meetings scheduled after classes begin.