# Leveraging Large Language Models for Enhancing Autonomous Vehicle Perception

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2412.20230 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2412.20230/

## Key facts

- Cited by 3 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Placed in Large language models for driving, one of 9 directions in End-to-end autonomous driving.
- Builds on 7 of its 18 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 28 Dec 2024.

## Placed in

- End-to-end autonomous driving / [Large language models for driving](https://mlsanity.com/driving/large-language-models-for-driving/)

## Builds on (most cited first, 7 of 7)

- [PaLM: Scaling Language Modeling with Pathways](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2204.02311/) (2022)
- [nuScenes: A multimodal dataset for autonomous driving](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1903.11027/) (2019)
- [Driving with LLMs: Fusing Object-Level Vector Modality for Explainable Autonomous Driving](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2310.01957/) (2023)
- [LanguageMPC: Large Language Models as Decision Makers for Autonomous Driving](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2310.03026/) (2023)
- [Drive as You Speak: Enabling Human-Like Interaction with Large Language Models in Autonomous Vehicles](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2309.10228/) (2023)
- [DriVLMe: Enhancing LLM-based Autonomous Driving Agents with Embodied and Social Experiences](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2406.03008/) (2024)
- [Optimizing Autonomous Driving for Safety: A Human-Centric Approach with LLM-Enhanced RLHF](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2406.04481/) (2024)

## Built on by (most cited first, 3 of 3)

- [A Comprehensive Survey on Multi-Agent Cooperative Decision-Making: Scenarios, Approaches, Challenges and Perspectives](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2503.13415/) (2025)
- [Advances in Large Language Models for Medicine](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.18690/) (2025)
- [Towards Autonomous Riding: A Review of Perception, Planning, and Control in Intelligent Two-Wheelers](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2507.11852/) (2025)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) rely on sophisticated perception systems to interpret their surroundings, a cornerstone for safe navigation and decision-making. The integration of Large Language Models (LLMs) into AV perception frameworks offers an innovative approach to address challenges in dynamic environments, sensor fusion, and contextual reasoning. This paper presents a novel framework for incorporating LLMs into AV perception, enabling advanced contextual understanding, seamless sensor integration, and enhanced decision support. Experimental results demonstrate that LLMs significantly improve the accuracy and reliability of AV perception systems, paving the way for safer and more intelligent autonomous driving technologies. By expanding the scope of perception beyond traditional methods, LLMs contribute to creating a more adaptive and human-centric driving ecosystem, making autonomous vehicles more reliable and transparent in their operations. These advancements redefine the relationship between human drivers and autonomous systems, fostering trust through enhanced understanding and personalized decision-making. Furthermore, by integrating memory modules and adaptive learning mechanisms, LLMs introduce continuous improvement in AV perception, enabling vehicles to evolve with time and adapt to changing environments and user preferences.