SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING TRAFFIC LIGHTS USING HIERARCHICAL MODELING

System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to accurately distinguishing a traffic light from other illuminated objects in the traffic scene and detecting states using hierarchical modeling. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting, using a machine learning (ML) model, two-dimensional (2D) coordinates of illuminated objects identified from a monocular image of a traffic scene for control adaptation by a control model. The method also includes assigning, using the ML model, computed probabilities to the illuminated objects for categories within a hierarchical ontology of environmental lights associated with the traffic scene, wherein one of the probabilities indicates existence of a traffic light instead of a brake light in the traffic scene. The method also includes executing a task by the control model for a vehicle according to the 2D coordinates and the computed probabilities.