SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VEHICLE MOTION PLANNING

Systems/methods for operating an autonomous vehicle. The methods comprise: detecting an object in proximity to the autonomous vehicle; determining a path of travel for the object that comprises a number of data points that is equal to a given number of vehicle locations selected based on a geometry of a lane in which the object; generating cost curves respectively associated with the data points, each cost curve representing a displacement cost to be at a particular location along a given cross line that (i) passes through a respective data point of said data points and (ii) extends perpendicular to and between boundary lines of the lane; determining a polyline representing displacements of the cost curves from a center of the lane; defining a predicted path of travel for the object based on the polyline; and using the predicted path of travel for the object to facilitate autonomous driving operation(s).