Internship | Modeling scenario transitions for automated vehicle safety assessment

In the field of automated vehicle (AV) safety, scenarios are crucial for testing and validating driving behaviour. However, scenarios often overlap when extracted from real world driving data, leading to ambiguity in safety assessments. For instance, a cut in scenario may seamlessly transition into a car following (CF) scenario, raising questions about when and how this transition occurs. Understanding these transitions are essential for creating realistic and reliable safety assessments. This thesis aims to develop a framework for scenario extraction and transition definition using real world driving data. The research will focus on defining rules and methodologies to accurately identify and differentiate between driving scenarios, such as CF and cut in scenarios, and to understand the transition dynamics between these scenarios. The goal is to create a logical, sequential and systematic approach to scenario extraction that enhances the safety assessment of AVs.

Proposed approach

• Conduct a thorough review of existing studies on scenario extraction, transition modelling, and AV safety assessment.
• Identify gaps in current research and establish the foundation for novel contributions.
• Utilize publicly available driving datasets (e.g., Waymo Open Dataset, TNO dataset, SHRP 2) for scenario extraction and analysis.
• Develop data mining algorithms to extract scenarios from driving data, considering vehicle kinematics and interactions with other vehicles.
• Develop framework to model scenario transitions, focusing on temporal and spatial dynamics.
• Validate transition models through a simulation test bed.
• Establish methods to assess the AV safety in scenario transitions.

Expected outcomes

• Transition models: Models that effectively predict and describe transitions between driving scenarios, contributing to a deeper understanding of AV behaviour.
• Safety assessment framework: A validated framework for assessing AV safety that incorporates scenario transitions, providing insights into potential safety risks and improvements.

What can you expect of your work situation?
You will work at the Integrated Vehicle Safety department of TNO on the Automotive Campus in Helmond. In this department people are working on developing software for automated driving vehicles. The developed software is tested in pilots and on the public road. (more info on the department: Research on integrated vehicle safety | TNO). The people are young, enthusiastic and driven. You will work in an open area, within your own team. One of our employees will be your mentor. He will help you to get acquainted with the department and give you guidelines for your research in order to help you to get the best out of it.

Related work
https://www.tno.nl/en/digital/smart-traffic-transport/safety-assessment-automated-driving/
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=9693162

You should have a solid background in automotive engineering, data science, machine learning, or a related field. Ideally, they should possess a good understanding of vehicle dynamics, autonomous driving systems, and safety assessment frameworks. Proficiency in programming languages (e.g., Python, MATLAB) with experience in data mining and machine learning techniques is required. Familiarity with driving datasets and simulation tools (e.g., ROS, SUMO) is a plus. We would like you to start as soon as possible. The thesis fits to a 9-month project (based on full time availability). Finally, successful candidates should be able to spend at least 1-2 days a week in our TNO Helmond premises to enable you to work with our tools and to have short communication lines.

You want an internship opportunity on the precursor of your career; an internship gives you an opportunity to take a good look at your prospective future employer. TNO goes a step further. It’s not just looking that interests us; you and your knowledge are essential to our innovation. That’s why we attach a great deal of value to your personal and professional development. You will, of course, be properly supervised during your work placement and be given the scope for you to get the best out of yourself. Furthermore, we provide:

• A highly professional, innovative internship environment, within a team of top experts.
• A suitable internship allowance (615 euro for wo-, hbo- and mbo-students, for a full-time internship).
• Possibility of eight hours of free leave per internship month (for a full-time internship).
• A free membership of Jong TNO, where you can meet other TNO professionals and join several activities, such as sports activities, (work-related) courses or the yearly ski-trip.
• Use of a laptop.
• An allowance for travel expenses in case you don’t receive an OV-card.

At TNO, we innovate for a healthier, safer and more sustainable life. And for a strong economy. Since 1932, we have been making knowledge and technology available for the common good. We find each other in wonder and ingenuity. We are driven to push boundaries. There is all the space and support for your talent and ambition. You work with people who will challenge you: who inspire you and want to learn from you. Our state-of-the-art facilities are there to realize your vision. What you do at TNO matters: impact makes the difference. Because with every innovation you contribute to tomorrow’s world. Read more about TNO as an employer.

At TNO we encourage an inclusive work environment, where you can be yourself. Whatever your story and whatever unique qualities you bring to the table. It is by combining our unique strengths and perspectives that we are able to develop innovations that make a real difference in society. Want to know more? Read what steps we are taking in the area of diversity and inclusion.

After the first CV selection, the application process will be conducted by the concerning department. TNO will provide a suitable internship agreement. If you have any questions about this vacancy, you can contact the contact person mentioned below.

Important to be aware of before applying:

• Before the start of the internship, the internship agreement from TNO needs to be signed. For students at a college or university based in the Netherlands, TNO uses the UNL-template (supplemented with a number of specific agreements from TNO). For students of foreign and MBO educational institutions, the TNO internship agreement applies. TNO does not sign any other internship agreements.
• Before the start of the internship, the educational institution will need to confirm in writing that:
  • 1) you are enrolled at the educational institution during the internship, and;
  • 2) the internship takes place as part of the programme of the study.
• The confirmation of educational institution takes place by signing the UNL template or forms prepared by TNO.
• Interns at TNO must be in possession of a Dutch residential address at the start of the internship. Performance of internship activities from abroad is not possible.