Waymo has launched a new simulator called Waymax, specifically designed for the autonomous vehicle research community. This simulator provides a controlled environment for training intelligent agents, equipped with preconstructed sim agents and access to Waymo perception data.
The purpose of Waymax, according to Waymo, is to facilitate behavioral research within the AV domain. It utilizes the streamlined object representation and bounding box framework from Waymo’s Open Motion Dataset, eliminating the need for users to independently process raw sensor data. Waymax is developed using JAX, a platform that optimizes simulation execution on hardware accelerators.
Key features of Waymax include data management capabilities, allowing seamless retrieval of data from the Waymo Open Motion Dataset. It also incorporates various evaluation criteria for behavior assessment, such as Log Divergence, Collision Detection, Offroad Behavior, Wrong-Way Movement, and Kinematics Infeasibility.
Waymax supports two distinct vehicle simulation models: direct state-based control and control via the kinematic bicycle model. The simulation operates at a frequency of 10Hz, consistent with the settings of the Waymo Open Motion Dataset.
In addition to vehicle simulations, Waymax enables modeling of uncontrolled objects within the environment. Log playback replicates recorded object behavior, while the Intelligent Driver Model (IDM)-based model adjusts speed profiles based on the positions of neighboring vehicles.
Waymax also offers interfaces tailored for Reinforcement Learning (RL) training, catering to various research and development scenarios. This includes a stateless simulation interface similar to the Brax API and a stateful interface implementing the dm-env API.
Waymo’s introduction of Waymax demonstrates their commitment to advancing AV research and providing cutting-edge tools for the research community. Waymax is specifically designed to support behavioral research using the minimal representation of objects and bounding boxes adopted by the Waymo Open Motion Dataset, without the need for users to run their own perception system.
Overall, the launch of Waymax showcases Waymo’s dedication to advancing autonomous vehicle technology and fostering innovation within the AV research community.
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