Progress Maximization Model Predictive Controller

This paper addresses the problem of progress maximization (i.e., traveling time minimization) along a given path for autonomous vehicles. Progress maximization plays an important role not only in racing, but also in efficient and safe autonomous driving applications. The progress maximization problem is formulated as a model predictive controller, where the vehicle model is successively linearized at each time step, yielding a convex optimization problem. To ensure real-time feasibility, a kinematic vehicle model is used together with several linear approximations of the vehicle dynamics constraints. We propose a novel polytopic approximation of the 'g-g' diagram, which models the vehicle handling limits by constraining the lateral and longitudinal acceleration. Moreover, the tire slip angles are restricted to ensure that the tires of the vehicle always operate in their linear force region by limiting the lateral acceleration. We illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed controller in simulation, where a nonlinear dynamic vehicle model is controlled to maximize the progress along a track, taking into consideration possible obstacles.