Path Planning Optimization for Driverless Vehicle in Parallel Parking Integrating Radial Basis Function Neural Network

To optimize performances such as continuous curvature, safety, and satisfying curvature constraints of the initial planning path for driverless vehicles in parallel parking, a novel method is proposed to train control points of the Bézier curve using the radial basis function neural network method. Firstly, the composition and working process of an autonomous parking system are analyzed. An experiment concerning parking space detection is conducted using an Arduino intelligent minicar with ultrasonic sensor. Based on the analysis of the parallel parking process of experienced drivers and the idea of simulating a human driver, the initial path is planned via an arc-line-arc three segment composite curve and fitted by a quintic Bézier curve to make up for the discontinuity of curvature. Then, the radial basis function neural network is established, and slopes of points of the initial path are used as input to train and obtain horizontal ordinates of four control points in the middle of the Bézier curve. Finally, simulation experiments are carried out by MATLAB, whereby parallel parking of driverless vehicle is simulated, and the effects of the proposed method are verified. Results show the trained and optimized Bézier curve as a planning path meets the requirements of continuous curvature, safety, and curvature constraints, thus improving the abilities for parallel parking in small parking spaces.