A Study on an Enhanced Autonomous Driving Simulation Model Based on Reinforcement Learning Using a Collision Prevention Model

• Main Authors: Jong-Hoon Kim, Jun-Ho Huh, Se-Hoon Jung, Chun-Bo Sim
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-09-01
• Series: Electronics
• Subjects: autonomous driving; collision prevention; reinforcement learning
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9292/10/18/2271
• ISSN: 2079-9292

This paper set out to revise and improve existing autonomous driving models using reinforcement learning, thus proposing a reinforced autonomous driving prediction model. The paper conducted training for a reinforcement learning model using DQN, a reinforcement learning algorithm. The main aim of this paper was to reduce the time spent on training and improve self-driving performance. Rewards for reinforcement learning agents were developed to mimic human driving behavior as much as possible. High rewards were given for greater distance travelled within lanes and higher speed. Negative rewards were given when a vehicle crossed into other lanes or had a collision. Performance evaluation was carried out in urban environments without pedestrians. The performance test results show that the model with the collision prevention model exhibited faster performance improvement within the same time compared to when the model was not applied. However, vulnerabilities to factors such as pedestrians and vehicles approaching from the side were not addressed, and the lack of stability in the definition of compensation functions and limitations with respect to the excessive use of memory were shown.