Samper-Mejia, Juan-Pablo (Stanford University), Theodosis, Paul A. (Stanford University), Gerdes, J. Christian (Stanford Univ.)

Using a Path-Fitting Algorithm to Analyze the Racing Techniques of a Skilled Driver

Scheduled for presentation during the Invited session "Vehicle Path Planning and Collision Avoidance" (WeBT1), Wednesday, October 23, 2013, 15:10−15:30, Paul Brest East

6th Annual Dynamic Systems and Control Conference, October 21-23, 2020, Stanford University, Munger Center, Palo Alto, CA

This information is tentative and subject to change. Compiled on April 23, 2024

Abstract

Racecar drivers are skilled at tracking a path, avoiding accidents, and controlling their vehicles at the limits of handling. Better understanding of how a skilled driver selects and drives a racing line, could potentially lead to a new technique for obstacle avoidance. To investigate this, the characteristics of a racecar driver’s line must be captured mathematically. This paper describes an algorithm for fitting a path to the GPS data of a driver’s racing line. A family of path primitives composed of straights, clothoids, and constant radius arcs are used to describe the racing line. The fitted paths provide a method for analyzing racing lines and the different techniques used by skilled drivers to navigate the track.