The arrival of self-driving cars is one of the most anticipated technological advancements of our time. However, despite much progress in the recent years, highly automated driving systems are still a long way from being able to freely drive on the streets of our cities. A major bottleneck on the way to the many potential benefits of these systems is making them capable to safely and efficiently share the road with human-driven cars and pedestrians. This is a very complex issue, in which AI can play a decisive role.
The HERALD Lab will develop new AI methods which will enable automated driving systems to interact with the humans around them in a responsible and robust way. In order to do this, we will combine machine learning, cognitive modelling, control theory, and multi-agent simulations. Ultimately, our goal is to lay foundation for a new generation of autonomous vehicles that are truly reliable partners for the humans around them.