Concetti Chiave
A novel framework combining a variational autoencoder (VAE) and a neural circuit policy (NCP) to generate interpretable steering commands from input images, with an automatic latent perturbation tool to enhance the interpretability of the VAE's latent space.
Sintesi
This paper presents a novel approach to address the need for more interpretable modular learning-based autonomous systems. Instead of relying on traditional convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for feature extraction, the authors propose using a variational autoencoder (VAE) to achieve visual scene understanding. The VAE's latent representation is then passed to a neural circuit policy (NCP) control module to generate steering commands.
The key highlights of the work include:
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VAE-NCP Autonomous Steering Solution:
- The VAE-NCP architecture combines a VAE perception module with an NCP control module to create a compact, robust system capable of generating interpretable steering commands from input images.
- The joint training of the VAE-NCP optimizes both the reconstruction capability (VAE) and the decision-making aptitude (NCP) using a combined loss function.
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Automatic Latent Perturbation (ALP) Assistant:
- A novel method for interpreting the VAE's latent space, the ALP assistant automates the latent perturbation analysis.
- It facilitates the understanding of how each latent dimension influences the model's decisions, enhancing the interpretability of high-dimensional latent spaces.
The authors argue that the VAE-NCP autonomous steering system and the ALP assistant offer a more interpretable autonomous driving solution compared to a CNN-NCP approach. The experiments demonstrate the interpretative power of the VAE-NCP model and the utility of the ALP tool in making the inner workings of autonomous driving systems more transparent.
Statistiche
The training error for the VAE-NCP (19 units) model is 0.73±0.22.
The test error for the VAE-NCP (19 units) model is 4.67±3.74.
Citazioni
"By substituting the traditional convolutional neural network approach to feature extraction with a variational autoencoder, we enhance the system's interpretability, enabling a more transparent and understandable decision-making process."
"The automatic latent perturbation tool automates the interpretability process, offering granular insights into how specific latent variables influence the overall model's behavior."