Patent Publication Number: US-9898005-B2

Title: Driving path determination for autonomous vehicles

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to autonomous operation systems for vehicles, and more particularly to their generation and execution of driving plans for maneuvering vehicles on roadways. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Some vehicles include an autonomous operation system under which the vehicle is subject to autonomous operation. In these so-called autonomous vehicles, a human driver may cede control over one or more primary control functions in favor of autonomous operation. In autonomous operation, the autonomous operation system generates a driving plan for maneuvering the vehicle on a roadway based on detected information about the environment surrounding the vehicle. To execute the driving plan, the autonomous operation system operates vehicle systems associated with the primary control functions over which the human driver has ceded control. 
     A driving plan may describe, among other things, a driving path of the vehicle along a roadway. An autonomous operation system&#39;s framework for determining the driving path has to accommodate the dynamic changes in the environment surrounding the vehicle involved in real world situations. Developing and improving these frameworks is the subject of ongoing research. 
     SUMMARY 
     Disclosed herein are embodiments of methods of autonomous driving and vehicles with components of autonomous operation systems. These embodiments involve the determination of driving paths along roadways. This determination is suited for roadways on which ruts, such as snow ruts, are formed. 
     In one aspect, a method of autonomous driving includes identifying, using a perception module executable by at least one processor, from detected information about an environment surrounding a vehicle on a roadway, a lateral surface profile of the roadway. Based on the lateral surface profile of the roadway, vertical wheel positions at identified candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle are determined using a planning/decision making module executable by the at least one processor. Based on the determined vertical wheel positions, once again using the planning/decision making module executable by the at least one processor, as part of a driving path along the roadway, future lateral positions of the vehicle from among the identified candidates therefor are determined using an energy function that algorithmically favors low vertical wheel positions. 
     In another aspect, a vehicle includes sensors configured to detect information about an environment surrounding the vehicle, and vehicle systems operable to maneuver the vehicle. The vehicle also includes one or more modules stored on memory and executable by at least one processor for initiating instructions. The instructions include identifying, from the detected information about the environment surrounding the vehicle, a lateral surface profile of the roadway. Based on the lateral surface profile of the roadway, vertical wheel positions at identified candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle are determined. Based on the determined vertical wheel positions, as part of a driving path along the roadway, future lateral positions of the vehicle from among the identified candidates therefor are determined using an energy function that algorithmically favors low vertical wheel positions. The vehicle systems are then operated to maneuver the vehicle along the roadway according to a driving plan describing the driving path. 
     These and other aspects will be described in additional detail below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The various features, advantages and other uses of the present embodiments will become more apparent by referring to the following detailed description and drawing in which: 
         FIG. 1  includes top views of a vehicle, showing, via block diagrams, components of an autonomous operation system; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the vehicle and an example environment surrounding the vehicle detectable by the autonomous operation system while the vehicle is on a roadway covered in snow, showing the roadway, snow ruts on the roadway and example obstacles on the roadway; 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart showing the operations of a process by which the autonomous operation system generates and executes a driving plan for maneuvering the vehicle on the roadway based on the detected information about the environment surrounding the vehicle, including determining, as part of a driving path along the roadway, future lateral positions of the vehicle; and 
         FIGS. 4 and 5  are conceptual renderings of a lateral surface profile of the roadway identifiable from the detected information about the environment surrounding the vehicle, showing their representations of the snow ruts on the roadway and, in  FIG. 5 , the future lateral positions of the vehicle determined as part of the driving path. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This disclosure teaches a vehicle with an autonomous operation system configured to generate and execute a driving plan for maneuvering the vehicle on a roadway. A driving path of the vehicle along a roadway described in the driving plan is determined using an energy function that algorithmically favors, among other things, low vertical wheel positions. This determination is, by this, suited for roadways on which ruts, such as snow ruts, are formed. 
     A representative vehicle  10  is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The vehicle  10  has an exterior and a number of inner compartments. The inner compartments may include a passenger compartment  12 , an engine compartment and, for the illustrated vehicle  10 , a trunk. 
     The vehicle  10  may include, among other things, an engine, motor, transmission and other powertrain components housed in its engine compartment or elsewhere in the vehicle  10 , as well as other powertrain components, such as wheels  14 . The wheels  14  support the remainder of the vehicle  10 . One, some or all of the wheels  14  may be powered by other powertrain components to drive the vehicle  10 . One, some or all of the wheels  14  may be steered wheels subject to having their steering angles adjusted to adjust the orientation of the vehicle  10 . 
     The vehicle  10  includes an autonomous operation system  20  under which the vehicle  10  is, generally speaking, subject to autonomous operation. Under the autonomous operation system, the vehicle  10  may be semi-autonomous or highly automated, for instance. 
     The autonomous operation system  20  includes various autonomous support systems that support autonomous operation of the vehicle  10 . Although the autonomous support systems could be dedicated to the autonomous operation system  20 , it is contemplated that some or all of the autonomous support systems may also support other functions of the vehicle  10 , including its manual operation. 
     The autonomous support systems may be or include various vehicle systems  30 . The vehicle systems  30  may include a propulsion system  32 , an energy system  34 , a braking system  36 , a steering system  38 , a signaling system  40 , a stability control system  42  and a navigation system  44 , for example, as well as any other systems generally available in vehicles. 
     The propulsion system  32  includes components operable to accelerate the vehicle  10 , as well as maintain its speed. The propulsion system  32  may include, for instance, the engine, motor, transmission and other powertrain components, as well as certain vehicle controls, such as a cruise control system. The energy system  34  includes components that control or otherwise support the storage and use of energy by the vehicle  10 . The energy source employed by the energy system  34  may include, for instance, gasoline, natural gas, diesel oil and the like, as well as batteries, fuel cells and the like. 
     The braking system  36  includes components operable to decelerate the vehicle  10 , such as brakes, for instance. The steering system  38  includes components operable to adjust the orientation of the vehicle  10  with respect to its longitudinal direction α or lateral direction β, or both, by, for example, adjusting the steering angle of one, some or all of the wheels  14 . The signaling system  40  includes components operable to communicate driving intentions and other notifications to other vehicles and their users. The signaling system  40  may include, for instance, exterior lights such as headlights, a left turn indicator light, a right turn indicator light, a brake indicator light, a backup indicator light, taillights and a running light. The stability control system  42  includes components operable to maintain, among other aspects of the stability of the vehicle  10 , its proper yaw and pitch, by, for example, actuating brakes and adjusting the power to one, some or all of the wheels  14  powered by other powertrain components to drive the vehicle  10 . 
     The navigation system  44  establishes routes and directions for the vehicle  10  using, for instance, digital maps. The navigation system  44  may itself include digital maps, or the navigation system  44  may connect to remote sources for digital maps. In the absence of the navigation system  44 , the autonomous operation system  20  may connect to remote sources for routes and directions for the vehicle  10 . 
     In addition to the vehicle systems  30 , the autonomous support systems may be or include a sensor system  60  including one or more sensors. The sensor system  60  and its sensors may be positioned anywhere in or on the vehicle  10 , and may include existing sensors of the vehicle  10 , such as backup sensors, lane keeping sensors and front sensors, for instance. In these and other configurations, the sensor system  60  and its sensors may detect information about the vehicle  10 , including without limitation information about the operation of the vehicle  10  and information about the environment surrounding the vehicle  10 . In the case of information about the environment surrounding the vehicle  10 , the sensor system  60  and its sensors may detect information about the environment in front of and behind the vehicle  10  in its longitudinal direction α, as well as to the sides of the vehicle  10  in its lateral direction β. 
     The sensor system  60  and its sensors may be configured to monitor in real-time, that is, at a level of processing responsiveness at which sensing is sufficiently immediate for a particular process or determination to be made, or that enables a processor to keep up with some external process. 
     The sensors of the sensor system  60  may include one or more vehicle sensors  62 , one or more microphones  64 , one or more radar sensors  66 , one or more lidar sensors  68 , one or more sonar sensors  70 , one or more positioning sensors  72  and one or more cameras  74 , for example, as well as any other sensors generally available in vehicles. 
     The vehicle sensors  62  are operable to detect information about the operation of the vehicle  10 . The vehicle sensors  62  may include, for instance, speedometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, accelerometers, barometers, thermometers, altimeters, inertial measurement units (IMUs) and controller area network (CAN) sensors. In these and other configurations of the vehicle sensors  62 , the detected information about the operation of the vehicle  10  may include, for example, its speed, acceleration, orientation, rotation, direction, elevation, temperature and the like, as well as the operational statuses of the vehicle systems  30  and their components. 
     The microphones  64  are operable detect sounds waves, and transform those sound waves into corresponding signals. Some microphones  64  may be located to detect sound waves in the environment surrounding the vehicle  10 . These microphones  64  may, accordingly, be at least partially exposed to the environment surrounding the vehicle  10 . 
     The radar sensors  66 , the sonar sensors  68  and the lidar sensors  70  are each mounted on the vehicle  10  and positioned to have a fields of view in the environment surrounding the vehicle  10 , and are each, generally speaking, operable to detect objects in the environment surrounding the vehicle  10 . More specifically, the radar sensors  66 , the sonar sensors  68  and the lidar sensors  70  are each operable to scan the environment surrounding the vehicle  10 , using radio signals in the case of the radar sensors  66 , sound waves in the case of the sonar sensors  68  and laser signals in the case of the lidar sensors  70 , and generate signals representing objects, or the lack thereof, in the environment surrounding the vehicle  10 . Among other things about the objects, the signals may represent their presence, location and motion, including their speed, acceleration, orientation, rotation, direction and the like, either absolutely or relative to the vehicle  10 , or both. 
     The signals generated by the lidar sensors  70  include without limitation 3D points. The lidar sensors  70  each include a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitters are operable to transmit eye safe laser signals from any suitable portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, such as from the ultraviolet, visible, or near infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, into the environment surrounding the vehicle  10 , where they impinge upon objects located in their paths. The laser signals may be transmitted in series of 360 degree spins around a vertical axis of the vehicle  10 , for example. When the laser signals impinge upon objects, portions thereof are returned by reflection to the lidar sensors  70 , where they are captured by the receivers. The receivers may be, or include, one or more photodetectors, solid state photodetectors, photodiodes or photomultipliers, or any combination of these. 
     Responsive to capturing the returned laser signals, the lidar sensors  70  output signals representing objects, or the lack thereof, in the environment surrounding the vehicle  10 . The lidar sensors  70  may each include a global positioning system (GPS) transceiver or other positioning sensor for identifying their positions, and an IMU for identifying their pose. According to this configuration, the signals may include 3D points representing the location in space of the points from which the returned laser signals are received, and therefore, the location in space of points of objects on which the laser signals impinged. The lidar sensors  70  may determine the location in space of points of objects based on the distance from the lidar sensors  70  to the points, as well as the position and pose of the lidar sensors  70  associated with the returned laser signals. The distance to the points may be determined from the returned laser signals using the time of flight (TOF) method, for instance. The signals may also represent the locations in space from which no returned laser signals are received, and therefore, the lack of points of objects in those locations in space on which the laser signals would have otherwise impinged. 
     The signals output by the lidar sensors  70  may further represent other aspects of the returned laser signals, which, in turn, may represent other properties of points of objects on which the incident laser signals impinged. These aspects of the returned laser signals can include their intensity or reflectivity, for instance, or any combination of these. 
     The positioning sensors  72  are operable to identify the position of the vehicle  10 . The positioning sensors  72  may implement, in whole or in part, a GPS, a geolocation system or a local positioning system, for instance, or any combination of these. For implementing a GPS, the positioning sensors  72  may include GPS transceivers configured to determine a position of the vehicle  10  with respect to the Earth via its latitude and longitude and, optionally, its altitude. 
     The cameras  74  are operable to detect light or other electromagnetic energy from objects, and transform that electromagnetic energy into corresponding visual data signals representing objects, or the lack thereof. The cameras  74  may be, or include, one or more image sensors configured for capturing light or other electromagnetic energy. These image sensors may be, or include, one or more photodetectors, solid state photodetectors, photodiodes or photomultipliers, or any combination of these. In these and other configurations, the cameras  74  may be any suitable type, including without limitation high resolution, high dynamic range (HDR), infrared (IR) or thermal imaging, or any combination of these. 
     Some cameras  74  may be located to detect electromagnetic energy within the passenger compartment  12  of the vehicle  10 . These cameras  74  may accordingly be located within the passenger compartment  12  of the vehicle  10 . Other cameras  74  may be located to detect electromagnetic energy in the environment surrounding the vehicle  10 . These cameras  74  may be mounted on the vehicle  10  and positioned to have fields of view individually, or collectively, common to those of the radar sensors  66 , the sonar sensors  68  and the lidar sensors  70  in the environment surrounding the vehicle  10 , for example. 
     In addition to its autonomous support systems, the autonomous operation system  20  includes one or more processors  80 , a memory  82  and one or more modules  84 . Together, the processors  80 , the memory  82  and the modules  84  constitute a computing device to which the vehicle systems  30 , the sensor system  60  and any other autonomous support systems are communicatively connected. Although this computing device could be dedicated to the autonomous operation system  20 , it is contemplated that some or all of its processors  80 , its memory  82  and its modules  84  could also be configured as parts of a central control system for the vehicle  10 , for instance, such as a central electronic control unit (ECU). 
     The processors  80  may be any components configured to execute any of the processes described herein or any form of instructions to carry out such processes or cause such processes to be performed. The processors  80  may be implemented with one or more general-purpose or special-purpose processors. Examples of suitable processors  80  include microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors or other forms of circuity that can execute software. Other examples of suitable processors  80  include without limitation central processing units (CPUs), array processors, vector processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic arrays (PLAs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logic circuitry or controllers. The processors  80  can include at least one hardware circuit (e.g., an integrated circuit) configured to carry out instructions contained in program code. In arrangements where there are multiple processors  80 , the processors  80  can work independently from each other or in combination with one another. 
     The memory  82  is a non-transitory computer readable medium. The memory  82  may include volatile or non-volatile memory, or both. Examples of suitable memory  82  includes RAM (Random Access Memory), flash memory, ROM (Read Only Memory), PROM (Programmable Read-Only Memory), EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), registers, magnetic disks, optical disks, hard drives or any other suitable storage medium, or any combination of these. The memory  82  includes stored instructions in program code. Such instructions can be executed by the processors  80  or the modules  84 . The memory  82  may be part of the processors  80  or the modules  84 , or may be communicatively connected the processors  80  or the modules  84 . 
     The modules  84  are employable to perform various tasks in the vehicle  10 . Generally speaking, the modules  84  include instructions that may be executed by the processors  80 . The modules  84  can be implemented as computer readable program code that, when executed by the processors  80 , execute one or more of the processes described herein. Such { 01027219 }  8  computer readable program code can be stored on the memory  82 . The modules  84  may be part of the processors  80 , or may be communicatively connected the processors  80 . 
     The modules  84  may include, for example, an autonomous driving module  90 . The autonomous driving module  90  generates driving plans for maneuvering the vehicle  10  on roadways based on the information about the vehicle  10  detected by the sensor system  60  and its sensors, and executes the driving plans by operating the appropriate vehicle systems  30 . In this so-called autonomous operation of the vehicle  10 , its human driver will have ceded control over one or more primary control functions in favor of autonomous operation. These primary control functions may include propulsion, or throttle, braking or steering, for instance, or any combination of these. The vehicle systems  30  operated by the autonomous driving module  90  include those associated with the primary control functions over which the human driver has ceded control. 
     Among other sub-modules, the autonomous driving module  90  may include a perception module  92 , a planning/decision making module  94  and a control module  96 . 
     The perception module  92  gathers and evaluates information about the vehicle  10  detected by the sensor system  60  and its sensors. In the case of information about the environment surrounding the vehicle  10 , the perception module  92  may, as part of its evaluation, identify objects in the environment surrounding the vehicle  10 , including their properties. These properties may include, among other things about the objects, their presence, location and motion, including their speed, acceleration, orientation, rotation, direction and the like, either absolutely or relative to the vehicle  10 , or both, as well as their reflectivity, surface profile, color, thermal profile and the like. 
     The perception module  92  may discriminate between different objects and individually track different objects over time. Either on initial detection or after tracking them over time, the perception module  92  may classify the objects to account not only for roadways, features of roadways, such as lane markings, and obstacles on roadways, such as other vehicles, but also for surrounding ground, pedestrians, bicycles, construction equipment, road signs, buildings, trees and foliage, for instance. Either alone or in combination with its identification and classification of objects in the environment surrounding the vehicle  10 , the perception module  92  may identify roadway conditions, such as surface profiles of roadways, weather conditions, traffic conditions and the like. 
     The planning/decision making module  94 , based on the evaluation of the information about the vehicle  10  by the perception module  92 , generates driving plans for maneuvering the vehicle  10  on roadways. The driving plans may account for any objects in the environment surrounding the vehicle  10 , their properties and roadway conditions, for example. The driving plans may also account for different lane positions and traffic rules, such as speed limits, priorities at intersections and roundabouts, stop line positions and the like. The planning/decision making module  94  may itself include digital maps reflecting these lane positions and traffic rules as part of an overall 3D road network, for instance, or the planning/decision making module  94  may connect to the navigation system  44  or to remote sources for digital maps. 
     The control module  96  operates the appropriate vehicle systems  30  to execute the driving plans generated by the planning/decision making module  94 . The control module  96  may send control signals to the vehicle systems  30  or may directly send control signals to actuators that operate their components, or both. 
     The vehicle  10  is shown, in  FIG. 2 , on an exemplary longitudinal roadway  100 . As generally shown, the roadway  100  is subject to winter weather conditions and, as a result, its surface  102  is covered in snow. The operations of a process  200  by which the autonomous operation system  20  generates and executes a driving plan for maneuvering the vehicle  10  on the roadway  100  are shown in  FIG. 3 . Although the process  200  is described with reference to the roadway  100  and other roadways whose surfaces are similarly covered in snow, it will be understood that the process  200  is applicable in principle to any roadways on which ruts are formed, including, for instance, roadways on which mud ruts are formed. 
     In operation  202 , information about the vehicle  10  is detected by the sensor system  60  and its sensors for gathering and evaluation by the perception module  92 . 
     In the case of information about the environment surrounding the vehicle  10 , the perception module  92  may, as part of its evaluation, identify, among other objects in the environment surrounding the vehicle  10 , the roadway  100 , the surrounding ground  104 , as well as any obstacles on the roadway  100 , such as an oncoming neighboring vehicle  106 . 
     In addition to identifying the roadway  100  itself, the perception module  92  may identify its surface  102  and, among other features of the roadway  100 , lane markings which, for the illustrated roadway  100 , include edge lines  110  and a center line  112 . The edge lines  110  mark the outside boundaries of the roadway  100 , while the center line  112  separates the roadway  100  into two sections for traffic moving in opposite directions. The perception module  92  may further identify the distinct lanes of the roadway  100 , as well as the lane centers of these lanes. For the illustrated roadway  100 , these lanes include a lane  114  extending between one edge line  110  and the center line  112 , in which the vehicle  10  located, and which has a lane center  116 . These lanes further include a lane  118  for traffic moving in the opposite direction as the vehicle  10  extending between the center line  112  and the other edge line  110 , in which the neighboring vehicle  106  is located. The perception module  92  may moreover identify various roadway conditions, such as the surface profile of the roadway  100  and that its surface  102  is covered in snow. 
     In operations  204 - 208 , the planning/decision making module  94 , based on the evaluation of the information about the vehicle  10  by the perception module  92 , generates a driving plan for maneuvering the vehicle  10  on the roadway  100 . 
     Assuming the usual case of forward progress of the vehicle  10  in the direction of the roadway  100 , the driving plan may be for maneuvering the vehicle  10  along the roadway  100  from an origin, such as the current location of the vehicle  10  on the roadway  100 , to an ultimate future location of the vehicle  10  on the roadway  100  a certain distance down the roadway  100 . As a whole, the driving plan describes the motion of the vehicle  10  along the roadway  100 . Part of the driving plan may describe a trajectory, or driving path, of the vehicle  10  along the roadway  100 . Other parts the driving plan may describe other things about maneuvering the vehicle  10  along the roadway  100 , such as the speed, acceleration and orientation of the vehicle  10  along the roadway  100 , as well as its signaling, for instance. 
     Generally speaking, the driving path may be represented by successive future locations of the vehicle  10  along the roadway  100  from the origin to the ultimate future location of the vehicle  10  on the roadway  100 . These successive future locations of the vehicle  10  along the roadway  100  may be defined by successive future positions of the vehicle  10  in the direction of the roadway  100 , or future longitudinal positions of the vehicle  10 . The successive future locations of the vehicle  10  along the roadway  100  may further be defined by future positions of the vehicle  10  across the direction of the roadway  100 , or future lateral positions of the vehicle  10 , for each of the future longitudinal positions of the vehicle  10 . The driving path may accordingly be represented by pairs of future longitudinal positions of the vehicle  10 , and corresponding future lateral positions of the vehicle  10 . 
     The driving path, like other parts of the driving plan, is determined based on the information about the vehicle  10  detected by the sensor system  60  and its sensors and, more specifically, based on the information about the environment surrounding the vehicle  10 . In the determination of the driving path, in the case of forward progress of the vehicle  10  in the direction of the roadway  100 , the future longitudinal positions of the vehicle  10  may be taken as a given or otherwise determined as a matter of course. There are often, however, many identifiable candidates for the corresponding future lateral positions of the vehicle  10 . 
     With dynamic changes in the environment surrounding the vehicle  10 , different aspects of the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  often compete, align or otherwise interact in different ways. It would be advantageous to expeditiously determine the future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  from among the candidates therefor and, as an extension, the driving path as a whole, using a single framework from which a global optimum driving path is returned that accommodates interacting aspects of the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10 . 
     These advantages may be realized by determining the future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  using the example energy function shown in Equation 1:
 
 x =argmin[ρ P ( x )+λ Q ( x )+μ R ( x )+η S ( x )+ T ( x )]  (Eq. 1)
 
In Equation 1, the argument at which the energy function is minimized, x, is a set of the future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  (i.e., x i ) for given future longitudinal positions of the vehicle  10 .
 
     The energy function includes a number of sub-functions that determine different aspects of the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10 . In the context of the energy function, the sub-functions favor certain aspects of the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10 . Equally, the sub-functions penalize the inverses of those aspects of the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10 . The sub-functions may include, for instance, a vertical wheel position determination function P(x), a driving path lateral curvature determination function Q(x), a lane center lateral offset determination function R(x), an obstacle proximity determination function S(x) and a predetermined driving path deviation determination function T(x). 
     In operation  204 , the planning/decision making module  94  identifies the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10 . In other words, for each of the future longitudinal positions of the vehicle  10 , multiple corresponding candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  are identified. The candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  may be identified as all of those reasonably possible given the current location and motion of the vehicle  10  on the roadway  100 , or as some subset of these, for example. 
     In operation  206 , the planning/decision making module  94  uses the sub-functions to determine different aspects of the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10 . The aspects of the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  are determined based on the information about the vehicle  10  detected by the sensor system  60  and its sensors. The aspects of the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  are determined, more specifically, based on the information about the environment surrounding the vehicle  10  and, even more specifically, based on the identification, by the perception module  92 , of the objects in the environment surrounding the vehicle  10 , the features of the roadway  100  and roadway conditions. 
     The vertical wheel position determination function P(x) determines the vertical positions of the wheels  14  of vehicle  10  at the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10 . 
     As shown with additional reference to  FIG. 4 , in support of this determination, the perception module  92  may identify, among other roadway conditions, a surface profile of the roadway  100  across the direction of the roadway  100 , or a lateral surface profile LSP of the roadway  100 . The lateral surface profile LSP of the roadway  100  is represented by discretized cross sections of the roadway  100  across the direction of the roadway  100 , or discretized lateral cross sections LCS of the roadway  100  (i.e., LCS i ) at given future longitudinal positions of the vehicle  10 . 
     In one implementation, the perception module  92  may identify the lateral surface profile LSP of the roadway  100 , and its discretized lateral cross sections LCS of the roadway  100 , from 3D points included among the signals generated by the lidar sensors  70 . These 3D points represent the objects in the environment surrounding the vehicle  10  via their representation of the locations in space of points of the objects on which the laser signals of the lidar sensors  70  impinged. The perception module  92  may, for example, identify and remove those of the 3D points representing any objects exhibiting motion, or dynamic objects, in the environment surrounding the vehicle  10 , such as the neighboring vehicle  106 . The remaining 3D points representing the roadway  100  and its features, as well as the surrounding ground  104 , for example, may then be used to identify the lateral surface profile LSP of the roadway  100 , and its discretized lateral cross sections LCS of the roadway  100 . 
     For the roadway  100 , whose surface  102  is covered in snow, the lateral surface profile LSP of the roadway  100 , and its discretized lateral cross sections LCS of the roadway  100 , represent, among other things, snow ruts  120  on the roadway  100 . As snow falls on the surface  102  of the roadway  100 , when proceeding vehicles drive along the roadway  100 , their wheels form the snow ruts  120  by pushing the fallen snow to their sides into snow piles, and leaving tracks between the snow piles. 
     In the context of the energy function, the vertical wheel position determination function P(x) favors low vertical wheel positions by returning lower values for the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  at which the vertical positions of the wheels  14  of vehicle  10  are lower. Equally, the vertical wheel position determination function P(x) penalizes high vertical wheel positions by returning higher values for the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  at which the vertical positions of the wheels  14  of vehicle  10  are higher. 
     With the energy function, in other words, favoring low vertical wheel positions via the vertical wheel position determination function P(x), the energy function is suited for roadways on which ruts are formed. In the case of the roadway  100 , for instance, the lowest vertical wheel positions occur for the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  in which its wheels  14  are positioned on the existing tracks in the snow ruts  120 . On the other hand, the highest vertical wheel positions occur for the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  in which its wheels  14  are positioned on the snow piles bordering the tracks. The energy function accordingly, by favoring low vertical wheel positions, favors the determination of future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  from among the candidates therefor and, as an extension, a driving path as a whole, by which the vehicle  10  follows the existing tracks in the snow ruts  120 , and avoids the snow piles bordering the tracks. 
     An example of the vertical wheel position determination function P(x) is shown in Equation 2: 
                     P   ⁡     (   x   )       =       ∑     {     i   =   1     }     K     ⁢            Z   ⁡     (     x   i     )            2               (     Eq   .           ⁢   2     )               
In Equation 2, Z(x i ) is the average height of the wheels  14  of the vehicle  10  above a reference level, which is determined at the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  for given future longitudinal positions of the vehicle  10 , for instance, at the discretized lateral cross sections LCS of the roadway  100 .
 
     The driving path lateral curvature determination function Q(x) determines the lateral curvature between the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10 . 
     In the context of the energy function, the driving path lateral curvature determination function Q(x) favors low lateral curvature by returning lower values for the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  at which the lateral curvature is lower. Equally, the driving path lateral curvature determination function Q(x) penalizes high lateral curvature by returning higher values for the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  at which the lateral curvature is higher. 
     With the energy function, in other words, favoring low lateral curvature via the driving path lateral curvature determination function Q(x), the energy function favors the determination of future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  from among the candidates therefor and, as an extension, a driving path as a whole, by which the vehicle  10  has a smooth trajectory. 
     An example of the driving path lateral curvature determination function Q(x) is shown in Equation 3: 
                     Q   ⁡     (   x   )       =       ∑     {     i   =   1     }     K     ⁢            Curv   ⁡     (     x   i     )            2               (     Eq   .           ⁢   3     )               
In Equation 3, Curv(x i ) is the lateral curvature between the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10 , which is determined at the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  for given future longitudinal positions of the vehicle  10 , for instance, at the discretized lateral cross sections LCS of the roadway  100 .
 
     The lane center lateral offset determination function R(x) determines the lateral offsets of the vehicle  10  from the lane center  116  of the lane  114  of the roadway  100  in which the vehicle  10  is located at the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10 . 
     In support of this determination, the perception module  92  may identify, among other features of the roadway  100 , the lane  114  of the roadway  100  in which the vehicle  10  is located, as well as its lane center  116 . 
     In the context of the energy function, the lane center lateral offset determination function R(x) favors low lateral offsets from the lane center  116  by returning lower values for the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  at which the lateral offsets from the lane center  116  are lower. Equally, the lane center lateral offset determination function R(x) penalizes high lateral offsets from the lane center  116  by returning higher values for the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  at which the lateral offsets from the lane center  116  are higher. 
     With the energy function, in other words, favoring low lateral offsets from the lane center  116  via the lane center lateral offset determination function R(x), the energy function favors the determination of future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  from among the candidates therefor and, as an extension, a driving path as a whole, by which the vehicle  10  stays close to the lane center  116  of the lane  114  of the roadway  100  in which the vehicle  10  is located. 
     An example of the lane center lateral offset determination function R(x) is shown in Equation 4: 
                     R   ⁡     (   x   )       =       ∑     {     i   =   1     }     K     ⁢            y   ⁡     (     x   i     )            2               (     Eq   .           ⁢   4     )               
In Equation 4, y(x i ) is the lateral offset of the vehicle  10  from the lane center  116  of the lane  114  of the roadway  100  in which the vehicle  10  is located, which is determined at the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  for given future longitudinal positions of the vehicle  10 , for instance, at the discretized lateral cross sections LCS of the roadway  100 .
 
     The obstacle proximity determination function S(x) determines the proximity of the vehicle  10  from obstacles on the roadway  100  at the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10 . 
     In support of this determination, the perception module  92  may identify, among other objects in the environment surrounding the vehicle  10 , obstacles on the roadway  100 , such as the neighboring vehicle  106 . In addition to the presence of the obstacles on the roadway  100 , the perception module  92  may further identify their location and motion, which the planning/decision making module  94  may use to predict their future maneuvering along the roadway  100 . 
     In the context of the energy function, the obstacle proximity determination function S(x) favors far proximity from obstacles by returning lower values for the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  at which the proximity from obstacles is far. Equally, the obstacle proximity determination function S(x) penalizes close proximity to obstacles by returning higher values for the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  at which the proximity to obstacles is close. 
     With the energy function, in other words, favoring far proximity from obstacles via the obstacle proximity determination function S(x), the energy function favors the determination of future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  from among the candidates therefor and, as an extension, a driving path as a whole, by which the vehicle  10  stays away from obstacles. 
     An example of the obstacle proximity determination function S(x) is shown in Equation 5: 
                     S   ⁡     (     x   i     )       =     {             ∞   ⁢           ⁢     dis   ⁡     (     x   i     )         &lt;   θ                 0   ⁢           ⁢     dis   ⁡     (     x   i     )         ≥   θ                     (     Eq   .           ⁢   5     )               
In Equation 5, dis(x i ) is a minimum distance between the vehicle  10  and obstacles on the roadway  100 , and θ is the closest distance between the vehicle  10  and obstacles on the roadway  100  without the vehicle  10  crashing into the obstacles on the roadway  100 . These are determined at the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  for given future longitudinal positions of the vehicle  10 , for instance, at the discretized lateral cross sections LCS of the roadway  100 , based on the predicted future maneuvering of the obstacles along the roadway  100 .
 
     The predetermined driving path deviation determination function T(x) determines the deviation from a predetermined driving path along the roadway  100  at the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  across the direction of the roadway  100 . The predetermined driving path may, for example, be the driving path determined in a previous iteration of the process  200 . 
     In the context of the energy function, the predetermined driving path deviation determination function T(x) favors low deviation from the predetermined driving path by returning lower values for the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  at which the deviation from the predetermined driving path is lower. Equally, the predetermined driving path deviation determination function T(x) penalizes high deviation from the predetermined driving path by returning higher values for the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  at which the deviation from the predetermined driving path is higher. 
     With the energy function, in other words, favoring low deviation from the predetermined driving path via the predetermined driving path deviation determination function T(x), the energy function favors the determination of future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  from among the candidates therefor and, as an extension, a driving path as a whole, by which the vehicle  10  continues according to the predetermined driving path. 
     The sub-functions may be weighted to, for example, establish the extent which the energy function favors the different aspects of the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  determined by the sub-functions. In Equation 1, for instance, a weighing factor ρ is applied to the vertical wheel position determination function P(x), a weighing factor λ is applied to the driving path lateral curvature determination function Q(x), a weighing factor μ is applied to the lane center lateral offset determination function R(x), and a weighing factor η is applied to the obstacle proximity determination function S(x). 
     One, some or all of the weighing factors ρ, λ, μ and η may be dynamically increased or decreased compared to one, some or all of the remaining weighing factors ρ, λ, μ and η. This adjusts the extent which the energy function favors the different aspects of the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  determined by the sub-functions to which the weighing factors ρ, λ, μ and η are applied. 
     These increases and decreases may be based on the information about the environment surrounding the vehicle  10  and, even more specifically, based on the identification, by the perception module  92 , of roadway conditions. In one implementation, the perception module  92  may identify, among other roadway conditions, the lateral surface profile LSP of the roadway  100  and its discretized lateral cross sections LCS of the roadway  100 , as well as the depths of the snow ruts  120  on the roadway  100  that they represent. In this implementation, the weighing factor ρ applied to the vertical wheel position determination function P(x) may be increased compared to one, some of all of the remaining weighing factors λ, μ and η with increasing depths of the snow ruts  120  on the roadway  100 , for example. These increases increase the extent which the energy function favors low vertical wheel positions via the vertical wheel position determination function P(x) commensurate with the increasing desirability for the vehicle  10  to follow the existing tracks in the snow ruts  120 , and avoid the snow piles bordering the tracks. 
     In operation  208 , the planning/decision making module  94  generates the driving plan. The driving plan describes, among other things about maneuvering the vehicle  10  along the roadway  100 , the driving path. To determine the driving path, the planning/decision making module  94  uses the energy function to determine, as part of the driving path, and based on the different aspects of the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  determined using the sub-functions in operation  206 , the set, x, of the future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  from among the candidates therefore for given future longitudinal positions of the vehicle  10 . The set, x, of the future lateral positions of the vehicle  10  is, more specifically, determined as the argument at which the energy function is minimized. 
     As shown with additional reference to  FIG. 5 , an example driving path DP is represented by the future lateral positions of the vehicle  10 , x 1-5 , for given future longitudinal positions of the vehicle  10  at discretized lateral cross sections LCS 1-5  of the roadway  100  representing the lateral surface profile LSP of the roadway  100 . Absent the surface  102  of the roadway  100  being covered in snow, a driving path by which the vehicle  10  stays close to the lane center  116  of the lane  114  of the roadway  100  in which the vehicle  10  is located, for instance, might be desirable. With the surface  102  of the roadway  100  being covered in snow, however, this otherwise desirable driving path could destabilize the vehicle  10  by positioning its wheels  14  on the snow piles bordering the tracks in the snow ruts  120 . The example driving path DP, on the other hand, is a global optimum returned from a single framework that accommodates not only low lateral offsets from the lane center  116 , but also low vertical wheel positions, among other interacting aspects of the candidate future lateral positions of the vehicle  10 . The example driving path DP is, accordingly, somewhat to the right of the lane center  116  of the lane  114 , so that the vehicle  10  follows the existing tracks in the snow ruts  120 , and avoids the snow piles bordering the tracks, while still staying as close as possible to the lane center  116  of the lane  114 . 
     With the driving plan generated by the planning/decision making module  94 , in operation  210 , the control module  96  operates the appropriate vehicle systems  30  to execute the driving plan. With the execution of the driving plan, the vehicle  10  is maneuvered according to the driving plan from the origin to the ultimate future location of the vehicle  10  on the roadway  100 . 
     In the process  200 , the vehicle  10  is a host vehicle. With the vehicle  10  as the host vehicle, the generated driving plan is for maneuvering the vehicle  10  along the roadway  100 , and describes the driving path of the vehicle  10  along the roadway  100 . It is contemplated that a similar framework as that used to return the driving path of the vehicle  10  along the roadway  100  may also be used to return predicted driving paths along the roadway  100  for other obstacles on the roadway  100 , such as the neighboring vehicle  106 . These predicted driving paths for other obstacles may then be used to predict the future maneuvering of those obstacles along the roadway  100 . 
     For instance, once again with predicted future longitudinal positions of the neighboring vehicle  106  taken as a given or otherwise determined as a matter of course, the predicted future lateral positions of the neighboring vehicle  106  from among the candidates therefor and, as an extension, the predicted driving path for the neighboring vehicle  106  as a whole, may be determined using the example energy function shown in Equation 6:
 
 y =argmin[ρ P ( y )+λ Q ( y )+μ R ( y )+η S ( y )+ T ( y )]  (Eq. 6)
 
In Equation 6, the argument at which the energy function is minimized, y, is a set of the predicted future lateral positions of the neighboring vehicle  106  (i.e., y i ) for given predicted future longitudinal positions of the neighboring vehicle  106 .
 
     This energy function, like the energy function shown in Equation 1, includes a number of sub-functions that determine different aspects of the candidate predicted future lateral positions of the neighboring vehicle  106 . The sub-functions may include, for instance, a vertical wheel position determination function P(y), a driving path lateral curvature determination function Q(y), a lane center lateral offset determination function R(y), an obstacle proximity determination function S(y) and a predetermined driving path deviation determination function T(y). The description of the energy function and its included sub-functions shown in Equation 1, as well as weighing factors applied to the sub-functions, is applicable in principle to the energy function and its included sub-functions shown in Equation 6, with the exception that, for instance, the predetermined driving path deviation determination function T(y) may use a predetermined driving path determined as a function of the tracked motion of the neighboring vehicle  106  along the roadway  100 , instead of the driving path determined in a previous iteration of the process  200 . 
     Once determined, the predicted driving path of the neighboring vehicle  106  may, for instance, be used in the obstacle proximity determination function S(x) to predict the future maneuvering of the neighboring vehicle  106  along the roadway  100 . The predicted driving path for the neighboring vehicle  106  may, accordingly, be used to determine the driving path of the vehicle  10  along the roadway  100  and thus, ultimately, the driving plan for maneuvering the vehicle  10  along the roadway  100 . 
     While recited characteristics and conditions of the invention have been described in connection with certain embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.