A Game-Theoretic Approach for Autonomous Robots to Block Opponents in Competitive Racing Scenarios

Основні поняття

A game-theoretic decision-making strategy is proposed for an autonomous ego robot to block a racing opponent that aims to overtake it, by considering the opponent's level of reasoning and potential for strategy changes.

Анотація

The paper presents a game-theoretic approach for an autonomous ego robot to block a racing opponent that aims to overtake it. The key aspects are:

Trajectory Planning:

The trajectories for both the ego robot and opponent are generated as fifth-order polynomials, with parameters determined based on the initial state and target points.
A set of trajectory candidates is constructed for each agent, considering different acceleration and lateral target values.

Interaction Modeling using Level-K Framework:

The level-K framework is used to model the strategies of the agents, where a level-K agent makes optimal decisions while assuming the other agents are level-(K-1).
The ego robot's reward function is designed as the negative of the opponent's reward, forming a zero-sum game.
The opponent's level is estimated online based on its past behavior, and the ego robot selects a trajectory one level higher than the estimated opponent's level.

Adaptive Trajectory Mixing Approach:

To account for potential changes in the opponent's strategy, the ego robot mixes its best trajectory with a fail-safe trajectory that is the best response to the opponent's least likely trajectory.
The mixing proportion is determined by a level change potential, which is updated based on whether the opponent's estimated level changes.

The proposed approach is evaluated through simulations and human-in-the-loop experiments, demonstrating superior performance in blocking the opponent's overtaking attempts compared to the conventional level-K framework.

Статистика

The maximum speed limit for the opponent is 0.61 m/s, while the maximum speed limit for the ego robot is 0.6 m/s.

Цитати

None

Ключові висновки, отримані з

Competition-Aware Decision-Making Approach for Mobile Robots in Racing Scenarios

by Kyoungtae Ji... о arxiv.org 04-02-2024

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2404.00520.pdf

Глибші Запити

How can the proposed approach be extended to handle more than two agents in the racing scenario

To extend the proposed approach to handle more than two agents in the racing scenario, the level-K framework can be adapted to incorporate multiple opponents. Each opponent can be assigned a level based on their rationality and strategy, similar to the current implementation with a single opponent. The trajectory mixing strategy can be expanded to blend the ego agent's trajectory with fail-safe trajectories for multiple opponents, considering the potential level changes of each opponent. By updating the opponent's level estimation and level change potential for each agent, the ego agent can dynamically adjust its trajectory to block multiple opponents effectively. Additionally, the reward function can be modified to account for interactions between multiple opponents, ensuring that the ego agent optimizes its trajectory selection based on the collective behavior of all opponents.

What are the potential challenges in implementing this approach on a physical robotic platform, and how can they be addressed

Implementing this approach on a physical robotic platform may pose several challenges. One challenge is the real-time computation required for trajectory planning and decision-making, especially with multiple opponents. This challenge can be addressed by optimizing the algorithm for efficiency and leveraging parallel processing capabilities. Another challenge is the accuracy of opponent modeling and level estimation, which can be affected by sensor noise and uncertainties in the environment. Using advanced sensor fusion techniques and machine learning algorithms can enhance the accuracy of opponent modeling. Furthermore, ensuring robustness and safety in physical interactions between robots during racing scenarios is crucial. Implementing collision avoidance mechanisms and incorporating robust control strategies can mitigate the risk of collisions and ensure safe interactions between agents.

How can the reward function and trajectory planning be further optimized to improve the overall racing performance, beyond just blocking the opponent's overtaking attempts

To further optimize the reward function and trajectory planning for improved racing performance beyond blocking opponent overtaking attempts, several strategies can be employed. Firstly, the reward function can be refined to include additional performance metrics such as energy efficiency, speed consistency, and trajectory smoothness. By balancing these metrics with the primary goal of blocking opponents, the ego agent can achieve a more holistic racing strategy. Secondly, the trajectory planning can be enhanced by incorporating dynamic obstacle avoidance techniques to navigate complex racing environments with obstacles and dynamic changes. Utilizing predictive modeling and adaptive planning algorithms can enable the ego agent to proactively adjust its trajectory to avoid collisions and optimize racing performance. Additionally, integrating machine learning algorithms for continuous learning and adaptation based on real-time racing data can further enhance the overall racing performance and competitiveness of the autonomous agents.