Kaiyan Yu

Vishnu Veeraraghavan, Kyle Hunte, Jingang Yi et al.

We present a simultaneous sensor-based inspection and footprint coverage (SIFC) planning and control design with applications to autonomous robotic crack mapping and filling. The main challenge of the SIFC problem lies in the coupling of complete sensing (for mapping) and robotic footprint (for filling) coverage tasks. Initially, we assume known target information (e.g., cracks) and employ classic cell decomposition methods to achieve complete sensing coverage of the workspace and complete robotic footprint coverage using the least-cost route. Subsequently, we generalize the algorithm to handle unknown target information, allowing the robot to scan and incrementally construct the target map online while conducting robotic footprint coverage. The online polynomial-time SIFC planning algorithm minimizes the total robot traveling distance, guarantees complete sensing coverage of the entire workspace, and achieves near-optimal robotic footprint coverage, as demonstrated through experiments. For the demonstrated application, we design coordinated nozzle motion control with the planned robot trajectory to efficiently fill all cracks within the robot's footprint. Experimental results illustrate the algorithm's design, performance, and comparisons. The SIFC algorithm offers a high-efficiency motion planning solution for various robotic applications requiring simultaneous sensing and actuation coverage.

Shiming Fang, Xilin Li, Changzhi Wu et al.

Safety in obstacle avoidance is critical for autonomous driving. While model predictive control (MPC) is widely used, simplified prediction models such as linearized or single-track vehicle models introduce discrepancies between predicted and actual behavior that can compromise safety. This paper proposes a distributionally robust chance-constrained linear parameter-varying MPC (DRCC-LPVMPC) framework that explicitly accounts for such discrepancies. The single-track vehicle dynamics are represented in a quasi-linear parameter-varying (quasi-LPV) form, with model mismatches treated as additive uncertainties of unknown distribution. By constructing chance constraints from finite sampled data and employing a Wasserstein ambiguity set, the proposed method avoids restrictive assumptions on boundedness or Gaussian distributions. The resulting DRCC problem is reformulated as tractable convex constraints and solved in real time using a quadratic programming solver. Recursive feasibility of the approach is formally established. Simulation and real-world experiments demonstrate that DRCC-LPVMPC maintains safer obstacle clearance and more reliable tracking than conventional nonlinear MPC and LPVMPC controllers under significant uncertainties.

Shiming Fang, Kaiyan Yu

Accurate dynamic modeling is critical for autonomous racing vehicles, especially during high-speed and agile maneuvers where precise motion prediction is essential for safety. Traditional parameter estimation methods face limitations such as reliance on initial guesses, labor-intensive fitting procedures, and complex testing setups. On the other hand, purely data-driven machine learning methods struggle to capture inherent physical constraints and typically require large datasets for optimal performance. To address these challenges, this paper introduces the Fine-Tuning Hybrid Dynamics (FTHD) method, which integrates supervised and unsupervised Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs), combining physics-based modeling with data-driven techniques. FTHD fine-tunes a pre-trained Deep Dynamics Model (DDM) using a smaller training dataset, delivering superior performance compared to state-of-the-art methods such as the Deep Pacejka Model (DPM) and outperforming the original DDM. Furthermore, an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) is embedded within FTHD (EKF-FTHD) to effectively manage noisy real-world data, ensuring accurate denoising while preserving the vehicle's essential physical characteristics. The proposed FTHD framework is validated through scaled simulations using the BayesRace Physics-based Simulator and full-scale real-world experiments from the Indy Autonomous Challenge. Results demonstrate that the hybrid approach significantly improves parameter estimation accuracy, even with reduced data, and outperforms existing models. EKF-FTHD enhances robustness by denoising real-world data while maintaining physical insights, representing a notable advancement in vehicle dynamics modeling for high-speed autonomous racing.