Autonomous mobile robot global path planning: a prior information-based particle swarm optimization approach

The path planning of autonomous mobile robots(PPoAMR)is a very complex multi-constraint problem.The main goal is to find the shortest collision-free path from the starting point to the target point.By the fact that the PPoAMR problem has the prior knowledge that the straight path between the starting point and the target point is the optimum solution when obstacles are not considered.This paper proposes a new path planning algorithm based on the prior knowledge of PPoAMR,which includes the fitness value calculation method and the prior knowledge particle swarm optimization(PKPSO)algorithm.The new fitness calculation method can preserve the information carried by each individual as much as possible by adding an adaptive coefficient.The PKPSO algorithm modifies the particle velocity update method by adding a prior particle calculated from the prior knowledge of PPoAMR and also implemented an elite retention strategy,which improves the local optima evasion capability.In addition,the quintic polynomial trajectory optimization approach is devised to generate a smooth path.Finally,some experimental comparisons with those state-of-the-arts are carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed path planning algorithm.

Glass Recognition and Map Optimization Method for Mobile Robot Based on Boundary Guidance

Current research on autonomous mobile robots focuses primarily on perceptual accuracy and autonomous performance.In commercial and domestic constructions,concrete,wood,and glass are typically used.Laser and visual mapping or planning algorithms are highly accurate in mapping wood panels and concrete walls.However,indoor and outdoor glass curtain walls may fail to perceive these transparent materials.In this study,a novel indoor glass recognition and map optimization method based on boundary guidance is proposed.First,the status of glass recognition techniques is analyzed comprehensively.Next,a glass image segmentation network based on boundary data guidance and the optimization of a planning map based on depth repair are proposed.Finally,map optimization and path-planning tests are conducted and compared using different algorithms.The results confirm the favorable adaptability of the proposed method to indoor transparent plates and glass curtain walls.Using the proposed method,the recognition accuracy of a public test set increases to 94.1%.After adding the planning map,incorrect coverage redundancies for two test scenes reduce by 59.84%and 55.7%.Herein,a glass recognition and map optimization method is proposed that offers sufficient capacity in perceiving indoor glass materials and recognizing indoor no-entry regions.

State-chain sequential feedback reinforcement learning for path planning of autonomous mobile robots

This paper deals with a new approach based on Q-learning for solving the problem of mobile robot path planning in complex unknown static environments.As a computational approach to learning through interaction with the environment,reinforcement learning algorithms have been widely used for intelligent robot control,especially in the field of autonomous mobile robots.However,the learning process is slow and cumbersome.For practical applications,rapid rates of convergence are required.Aiming at the problem of slow convergence and long learning time for Q-learning based mobile robot path planning,a state-chain sequential feedback Q-learning algorithm is proposed for quickly searching for the optimal path of mobile robots in complex unknown static environments.The state chain is built during the searching process.After one action is chosen and the reward is received,the Q-values of the state-action pairs on the previously built state chain are sequentially updated with one-step Q-learning.With the increasing number of Q-values updated after one action,the number of actual steps for convergence decreases and thus,the learning time decreases,where a step is a state transition.Extensive simulations validate the efficiency of the newly proposed approach for mobile robot path planning in complex environments.The results show that the new approach has a high convergence speed and that the robot can find the collision-free optimal path in complex unknown static environments with much shorter time,compared with the one-step Q-learning algorithm and the Q(λ)-learning algorithm.

The Intellectualized Architecture of the Autonomous Micro- Mobile Robot Based- Behavior

Given the difficulty in hand coding task schemes, an intellectualized architecture of the autonomous micro mobile robot based behavior for fault repair was presented. Integrating the reinforcement learning and the group behavior evolution simulating the human's learning and evolution, the autonomous micro mobile robot will automatically generate the suited actions satisfied the environment. However, the designer only devises some basic behaviors, which decreases the workload of the designer and cognitive deficiency of the robot to the environment. The results of simulation have shown that the architecture endows micro robot with the ability of learning, adaptation and robustness, also with the ability of accomplishing the given task.

Mobile Robot Indoor Autonomous Navigation with Position Estimation Using RF Signal Triangulation

In the mobile robotic systems a precise estimate of the robot pose (Cartesian [x y] position plus orientation angle theta) with the intention of the path planning optimization is essential for the correct performance, on the part of the robots, for tasks that are destined to it, especially when intention is for mobile robot autonomous navigation. This work uses a ToF (Time-of-Flight) of the RF digital signal interacting with beacons for computational triangulation in the way to provide a pose estimative at bi-dimensional indoor environment, where GPS system is out of range. It’s a new technology utilization making good use of old ultrasonic ToF methodology that takes advantage of high performance multicore DSP processors to calculate ToF of the order about ns. Sensors data like odometry, compass and the result of triangulation Cartesian estimative, are fused in a Kalman filter in the way to perform optimal estimation and correct robot pose. A mobile robot platform with differential drive and nonholonomic constraints is used as base for state space, plants and measurements models that are used in the simulations and for validation the experiments.

Tour Planning Design for Mobile Robots Using Pruned Adaptive Resonance Theory Networks

The development of intelligent algorithms for controlling autonomous mobile robots in real-time activities has increased dramatically in recent years.However,conventional intelligent algorithms currently fail to accurately predict unexpected obstacles involved in tour paths and thereby suffer from inefficient tour trajectories.The present study addresses these issues by proposing a potential field integrated pruned adaptive resonance theory(PPART)neural network for effectively managing the touring process of autonomous mobile robots in real-time.The proposed system is implemented using the AlphaBot platform,and the performance of the system is evaluated according to the obstacle prediction accuracy,path detection accuracy,time-lapse,tour length,and the overall accuracy of the system.The proposed system provide a very high obstacle prediction accuracy of 99.61%.Accordingly,the proposed tour planning design effectively predicts unexpected obstacles in the environment and thereby increases the overall efficiency of tour navigation.

CBF-Based Distributed Model Predictive Control for Safe Formation of Autonomous Mobile Robots

A distributed model predictive control(DMPC)method based on robust control barrier function(RCBF)is developed to achieve the safe formation target of multi-autonomous mobile robot systems in an uncertain disturbed environment.The first step is to analyze the safety requirements of the system during safe formation and categorize them into collision avoidance and distance connectivity maintenance.RCBF constraints are designed based on collision avoidance and connectivity maintenance requirements,and security constraints are achieved through a combination.Then,the specified safety constraints are integrated with the objective of forming a multi-autonomous mobile robot formation.To ensure safe control,the optimization problem is integrated with the DMPC method.Finally,the RCBF-DMPC algorithm is proposed to ensure iterative feasibility and stability while meeting the constraints and expected objectives.Simulation experiments illustrate that the designed algorithm can achieve cooperative formation and ensure system security.

Robot navigation system using intrinsic evolvable hardware

Recently there has been great interest in the idea that evolvable system based on the principle of artifcial intelligence can be used to continuously and autonomously adapt the behaviour of physically embedded systems such as autonomous mobile robots and intelligent home devices. Meanwhile, we have seen the introduction of evolvable hardware(EHW): new integrated electronic circuits that are able to continuously evolve to adapt the chages in the environment implemented by evolutionary algorithms such as genetic algorithm(GA) and reinforcement learning. This paper concentrates on developing a robotic navigation system whose basic behaviours are obstacle avoidance and light source navigation. The results demonstrate that the intrinsic evolvable hardware system is able to create the stable robotiiuc behaviours as required in the real world instead of the traditional hardware systems.

Navigation of Non-holonomic Mobile Robot Using Neuro-fuzzy Logic with Integrated Safe Boundary Algorithm

In the present work, autonomous mobile robot（AMR） system is intended with basic behaviour, one is obstacle avoidance and the other is target seeking in various environments. The AMR is navigated using fuzzy logic, neural network and adaptive neurofuzzy inference system（ANFIS） controller with safe boundary algorithm. In this method of target seeking behaviour, the obstacle avoidance at every instant improves the performance of robot in navigation approach. The inputs to the controller are the signals from various sensors fixed at front face, left and right face of the AMR. The output signal from controller regulates the angular velocity of both front power wheels of the AMR. The shortest path is identified using fuzzy, neural network and ANFIS techniques with integrated safe boundary algorithm and the predicted results are validated with experimentation. The experimental result has proven that ANFIS with safe boundary algorithm yields better performance in navigation, in particular with curved/irregular obstacles.

Real-Time Fuzzy Obstacle Avoidance Using Directional Visual Perception

This paper presents a novel vision-based obstacle avoidance approach for the Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) with a Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) camera as its only sensing modality. The approach combines the morphological closing operation based on Sobel Edge Detection Operation and the (μ-kσ) thresholding technique to detect obstacles to soften the various lighting and ground floor effects. Both the morphology method and thresholding technique are computationally simple. The processing speed of the algorithm is fast enough to avoid some active obstacles. In addition, this approach takes into account the history obstacle effects on the current state. Fuzzy logic is used to control the behaviors of AMR as it navigates in the environment. All behaviors run concurrently and generate motor response solely based on vision perception. A priority based on subsumption coordinator selects the most appropriate response to direct the AMR away from obstacles. Validation of the proposed approach is done on a Pioneer 1 mobile robot.