Waypoint-Guided Trajectory Prediction for Smooth Lane Changes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing trajectory prediction methods in autonomous driving face issues such as insufficient lateral avoidance and deceleration, particularly in scenarios like lane changes and overtaking, due to multi-modal trajectories or discontinuous predictions across sub-segments, leading to unpredictable vehicle behavior.

Innovation Solution

A method that involves obtaining multiple waypoint sequences on a future route segment, performing trajectory prediction under the guidance of these sequences, and determining a target trajectory based on scoring, which enhances the reasonableness of predictions by avoiding discontinuities and ensuring adequate lateral maneuvers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple waypoint sequences are used for trajectory prediction, then the accuracy and consistency of predictions improve, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrajectory prediction accuracyVSAvoidprediction system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The trajectory prediction problem is segmented into multiple waypoint sequences, where each sequence represents a different possible path. The system divides the prediction task into generating multiple candidate trajectories and then selecting the optimal one, rather than attempting to predict a single trajectory. This segmentation allows the system to explore multiple possibilities and improve prediction accuracy while managing complexity through structured processing of each candidate path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary scoring mechanism that evaluates multiple predicted trajectories and selects the optimal one. This intermediary layer (the scoring and selection module) acts as a mediator between the multiple candidate trajectories generated by the prediction model and the final selected trajectory. The scoring function provides a systematic way to compare and rank different trajectory options, improving consistency without requiring the prediction model itself to become overly complex.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If trajectory prediction is performed under guidance of multiple waypoint sequences, then lateral avoidance and deceleration improve, but the calculation time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelateral avoidance capabilityVSAvoidprediction calculation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-generating multiple waypoint sequences that represent potential future paths. These waypoint sequences are prepared in advance as candidate trajectories, allowing the prediction model to work with pre-structured data rather than generating all possibilities from scratch during real-time prediction. This preliminary structuring of possible paths enables better lateral avoidance capabilities while reducing the computational burden during the actual prediction phase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by generating multiple waypoint sequences and candidate trajectories, but then using a scoring mechanism to select only the most promising candidates for final selection. Rather than exhaustively evaluating every possible trajectory combination, the system performs partial evaluation on multiple candidates and selects the top-scoring ones. This approach provides sufficient lateral avoidance capability through multiple candidates while avoiding the excessive calculation time that would result from evaluating all possible trajectories in detail.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Stability of the object's composition

If scores are assigned to multiple predicted trajectories for selection, then the consistency of navigation improves, but the processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenavigation consistencyVSAvoidtrajectory evaluation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses parameter changes by introducing a scoring parameter that quantifies the quality of each predicted trajectory. This scoring parameter transforms the complex multi-dimensional comparison of different trajectories into a single comparable metric. By changing the evaluation from a complex qualitative assessment to a quantitative scoring system, the patent achieves consistent navigation selection while managing processing complexity through standardized parameter-based comparison.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4671690A1Trajectory prediction method, method for training trajectory prediction model, medium, and device
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 APOLLO INTELLIGENT DRIVING (BEIJING) TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
  • EP4671690A1 patent drawingFigure 1
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AI summary

The present disclosure provides a trajectory prediction method, a method for training a trajectory prediction model, a medium, and a device, and relates to the technical field of computers, and in particular to the technical fields of autonomous driving and artificial intelligence. An implementation solution includes: obtaining first information and a plurality of waypoint sequences of a target vehicle, wherein the first information comprises navigation information of the target vehicle and perception information of surroundings of the target vehicle, and wherein each waypoint sequence of the plurality of waypoint sequences comprises a plurality of waypoints within a future route segment; performing, for each waypoint sequence of the plurality of waypoint sequences, trajectory prediction based on the first information under the guidance of the waypoint sequence to obtain a predicted trajectory corresponding to the waypoint sequence and a score for the predicted trajectory; and determining, based on respective scores for a plurality of predicted trajectories corresponding to the plurality of waypoint sequences, a target predicted trajectory among the plurality of predicted trajectories.