Optimizing Autonomous Navigation: Advances in LiDAR-based Object Recognition with Modified Voxel-RCNN

This study aimed to enhance the object recognition capabilities of autonomous vehicles in constrained and dynamic environments. By integrating Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology with a modified Voxel-RCNN framework, the system detected and classified six object classes: human, wall, car, cyclist, tree, and cart. This integration improved the safety and reliability of autonomous navigation. The methodology included the preparation of a point cloud dataset, conversion into the KITTI format for compatibility with the Voxel-RCNN pipeline, and comprehensive model training. The framework was evaluated using metrics such as precision, recall, F1-score, and mean average precision (mAP). Modifications to the Voxel-RCNN framework were introduced to improve classification accuracy, addressing challenges encountered in complex navigation scenarios. Experimental results demonstrated the robustness of the proposed modifications. Modification 2 consistently outperformed the baseline, with 3D detection scores for the car class in hard scenarios increasing from 4.39 to 10.31. Modification 3 achieved the lowest training loss of 1.68 after 600 epochs, indicating significant improvements in model optimization. However, variability in the real-world performance of Modification 3 highlighted the need for balancing optimized training with practical applicability. Overall, the study found that the training loss decreased up to 29.1% and achieved substantial improvements in detection accuracy under challenging conditions. These findings underscored the potential of the proposed system to advance the safety and intelligence of autonomous vehicles, providing a solid foundation for future research in autonomous navigation and object recognition.