Graph Neural Network Motion Forecasting for Actors Around Autonomous Vehicles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous vehicles face challenges in accurately modeling complex interactions between various third-party actors, such as vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists, which are crucial for safe navigation.

Innovation Solution

A computing system utilizing a graph neural network to predict the future states of detected actors by modeling their interactions, leveraging spatial awareness and probabilistic formulations to generate motion forecast data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional processing techniques are used to comprehend the environment, then the system is simpler to implement, but the accuracy of predicting future circumstances deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of predicting future circumstancesVSAvoidcomplexity of processing techniques
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an interaction graph as an intermediary data structure that models relationships between actors. This graph serves as a mediator between raw sensor data and prediction outputs, enabling the system to capture complex interactions without requiring overly complicated processing techniques. The graph structure organizes actor relationships in a manageable format that improves prediction accuracy while maintaining implementation feasibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If complex interactions between actors are modeled in detail, then the reliability of motion forecasts improves, but the computational resources required increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of motion forecastsVSAvoidcomputational resources
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the complex interaction modeling into discrete components: actors are represented as individual nodes in a graph, and their interactions are represented as edges. This segmentation allows the system to model detailed interactions between each pair of actors independently, improving forecast reliability while making the computational task manageable through modular processing of individual node relationships.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of information

If the system processes data for multiple actors simultaneously, then the comprehensive understanding of the environment improves, but the processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomprehensive understanding of environmentVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs iterative message passing algorithms that update actor states in discrete time steps. Instead of processing all actor interactions simultaneously in a monolithic computation, the system performs periodic updates where information flows between actors in structured iterations. This approach maintains comprehensive environmental understanding while reducing processing time through efficient, incremental computation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS12430534B2Systems and methods for generating motion forecast data for actors with respect to an autonomous vehicle and training a machine learned model for the same
Publication Date: 2025.09.30 AURORA OPERATIONS INC
  • US12430534B2 patent drawing
  • US12430534B2 patent drawing
  • US12430534B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Systems and methods for generating motion forecast data for actors with respect to an autonomous vehicle and training a machine learned model for the same are disclosed. The computing system can include an object detection model and a graph neural network including a plurality of nodes and a plurality of edges. The computing system can be configured to input sensor data into the object detection model; receive object detection data describing the location of the plurality of the actors relative to the autonomous vehicle as an output of the object detection model; input the object detection data into the graph neural network; iteratively update a plurality of node states respectively associated with the plurality of nodes; and receive, as an output of the graph neural network, the motion forecast data with respect to the plurality of actors.