Model Predictive Control with Gaussian-Process-Supported Dynamical Constraints for Autonomous Vehicles

We propose a model predictive control approach for autonomous vehicles that exploits learned Gaussian processes for predicting human driving behavior. The proposed approach employs the uncertainty about the GP's prediction to achieve safety. A multi-mode predictive control approach considers the possible intentions of the human drivers. While the intentions are represented by different Gaussian processes, their probabilities foreseen in the observed behaviors are determined by a suitable online classification. Intentions below a certain probability threshold are neglected to improve performance. The proposed multi-mode model predictive control approach with Gaussian process regression support enables repeated feasibility and probabilistic constraint satisfaction with high probability. The approach is underlined in simulation, considering real-world measurements for training the Gaussian processes.

Geometric Impedance Control on SE(3) for Robotic Manipulators

After its introduction, impedance control has been utilized as a primary control scheme for robotic manipulation tasks that involve interaction with unknown environments. While impedance control has been extensively studied, the geometric structure of SE(3) for the robotic manipulator itself and its use in formulating a robotic task has not been adequately addressed. In this paper, we propose a differential geometric approach to impedance control. Given a left-invariant error metric in SE(3), the corresponding error vectors in position and velocity are first derived. Using these geometrically consistent error vectors, we propose a novel impedance control scheme, which adequately accounts for the geometric structure of the manipulator in SE(3). The closed-loop stability for the proposed control schemes is verified using a Lyapunov function-based analysis. The proposed control design clearly outperformed a conventional impedance control approach when tracking challenging trajectory profiles.