Project description
A model for self-driving in uncertain situations
Self-driving is a complex research problem as safe navigation requires anticipating the consequences of actions. However, current solutions tend to be more reactive, potentially posing safety issues and delaying deployment. Uncertainty is inherent in future scenarios due to scene structures, prediction errors, and the unknown intentions of other agents. The ERC-funded ENSURE project aims to address self-driving in uncertain situations in the real world. It proposes a world model that predicts the future using a bird’s-eye view representation, incorporating different types of uncertainty in a compact form. ENSURE will learn how to drive offline, based on already collected real driving data, using the predictions of the world model.
Objective
ENSURE addresses the challenge of self-driving in uncertain situations of the real world. Due to the difficulty of reasoning in complex real-world scenarios, self-driving remains one of the most difficult research problems today. For safe navigation, the driving agent needs to be able to anticipate the consequences of its actions. Current solutions are reactive without any planning for what might happen in the future. This poses major safety issues and delays the deployment of self-driving vehicles. Without a change in our approach to self-driving, we risk not only realizing fully autonomous driving but also half-baked solutions that endanger lives in uncertain situations. The future is inherently uncertain due to some scene structures such as intersections and the unknown intentions of the other agents. The errors in the perception of the scene and the prediction of the future cause another type of uncertainty. Furthermore, there are rarely encountered situations that might require passing the control to the human driver such as an unknown object on the road. As a way of managing uncertainties in the real world, ENSURE proposes a world model to predict the future with different types of uncertainty in a compact bird's eye view representation. To realize the potential of the world model, ENSURE will put it into action first online in simulation and push its performance to the limit under a controlled setting. The most ambitious goal of ENSURE is to learn to drive in an offline manner from already collected real driving data based on the predictions of the world model. The different types of uncertainties will be used to safeguard against the model's expected failures in the offline setting. Every step of ENSURE will build towards enabling end-to-end driving in the real world and its success in achieving this goal will allow similar success stories in other domains that require reasoning under uncertainty.
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2023-STG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
34450 Istanbul
Türkiye
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.