This work proposes a model predictive control approach of a wheeled mobile robot based on a local-minima free navigation function. The constructed navigation function includes information on a goal location and obstacles. Novel conservative navigation is introduced that is simple to compute and yields convergent control behavior. To solve the optimization problem the combined optimization is proposed by a fixed candidate set and particle swarm optimization. The efficiency of the proposed approaches is validated on simulations, by experimental results on the Husky A200 mobile robot and comparisons to Stable Sparse RRT planner.

This article proposes a hybrid path-planning algorithm, the HE* algorithm, which combines the discrete grid-based E* search and continuous Bernstein-Bézier (BB) motion primitives. Several researchers have addressed the smooth path planning problem and the sample-based integrated path planning techniques. We believe that the main benefits of the proposed approach are: directly drivable path, no additional post-optimization tasks, reduced search branching, low computational complexity, and completeness guarantee. Several examples and comparisons with the state-of-the-art planners are provided to illustrate and evaluate the main advantages of the HE* algorithm. HE* yields a collision-safe and smooth path that is close to spatially optimal (the Euclidean shortest path) with a guaranteed continuity of curvature. Therefore, the path is easily drivable for a wheeled robot without any additional post-optimization and smoothing required. HE* is a two-stage algorithm which uses a direction-guiding heuristics computed by the E* search in the first stage, which improves the quality and reduces the complexity of the hybrid search in the second stage. In each iteration, the search is expanded by a set of BBs, the parameters of which adapt continuously according to the guiding heuristics. Completeness is guaranteed by relying on a complete node mechanism, which also provides an upper bound for the calculated path cost. A remarkable feature of HE* is that it produces good results even at coarse resolutions.

In this paper, the problem of path planning for active simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) is addressed. In order to improve its localization accuracy while autonomously exploring an unknown environment the robot needs to revisit positions seen before. To that end, we propose a path planning algorithm for active SLAM that continuously improves robot's localization while moving smoothly, without stopping, toward a goal position. The algorithm is based on the D* shortest path graph search algorithm with negative edge weights for finding the shortest path taking into account localization uncertainty. The proposed path planning algorithm is suitable for exploration of highly dynamic environments with moving obstacles and dynamic changes in localization demands. While the algorithm operation is illustrated in simulation experiments, its effectiveness is verified experimentally in real-world scenarios.

This paper presents a motion control method for mobile robots in partially unknown environments populated with moving obstacles. The proposed method is based on the integration of focused D* search algorithm and dynamic window local obstacle avoidance algorithm with some adaptations that provide efficient avoidance of moving obstacles. The moving obstacles are modelled as moving cells in the occupancy grid map and their motion is predicted by applying a procedure similar to the dynamic window approach. The collision points of the robot predicted trajectory and moving cells predicted trajectories form the new active obstacles in the environment, which should be avoided. The algorithms are implemented and verified using a Pioneer 3DX mobile robot equipped with laser range finder.