On-line real-time path planning of mobile robots in dynamic uncertain environment

A new path planning method for mobile robots in globally unknown environment with moving obstacles is pre- sented. With an autoregressive (AR) model to predict the future positions of moving obstacles, and the predicted position taken as the next position of moving obstacles, a motion path in dynamic uncertain environment is planned by means of an on-line real-time path planning technique based on polar coordinates in which the desirable direction angle is taken into consideration as an optimization index. The effectiveness, feasibility, high stability, perfect performance of obstacle avoidance, real-time and optimization capability are demonstrated by simulation examples.

Real-time UAV path planning based on LSTM network

To address the shortcomings of single-step decision making in the existing deep reinforcement learning based unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV)real-time path planning problem,a real-time UAV path planning algorithm based on long shortterm memory(RPP-LSTM)network is proposed,which combines the memory characteristics of recurrent neural network(RNN)and the deep reinforcement learning algorithm.LSTM networks are used in this algorithm as Q-value networks for the deep Q network(DQN)algorithm,which makes the decision of the Q-value network has some memory.Thanks to LSTM network,the Q-value network can use the previous environmental information and action information which effectively avoids the problem of single-step decision considering only the current environment.Besides,the algorithm proposes a hierarchical reward and punishment function for the specific problem of UAV real-time path planning,so that the UAV can more reasonably perform path planning.Simulation verification shows that compared with the traditional feed-forward neural network(FNN)based UAV autonomous path planning algorithm,the RPP-LSTM proposed in this paper can adapt to more complex environments and has significantly improved robustness and accuracy when performing UAV real-time path planning.

Efficient Route Planning for Real-Time Demand-Responsive Transit

Demand Responsive Transit (DRT) responds to the dynamic users’ requests without any fixed routes and timetablesand determines the stop and the start according to the demands. This study explores the optimization of dynamicvehicle scheduling and real-time route planning in urban public transportation systems, with a focus on busservices. It addresses the limitations of current shared mobility routing algorithms, which are primarily designedfor simpler, single origin/destination scenarios, and do not meet the complex demands of bus transit systems. Theresearch introduces an route planning algorithm designed to dynamically accommodate passenger travel needsand enable real-time route modifications. Unlike traditional methods, this algorithm leverages a queue-based,multi-objective heuristic A∗ approach, offering a solution to the inflexibility and limited coverage of suburbanbus routes. Also, this study conducts a comparative analysis of the proposed algorithm with solutions based onGenetic Algorithm (GA) and Ant Colony Optimization Algorithm (ACO), focusing on calculation time, routelength, passenger waiting time, boarding time, and detour rate. The findings demonstrate that the proposedalgorithmsignificantly enhances route planning speed, achieving an 80–100-fold increase in efficiency over existingmodels, thereby supporting the real-time demands of Demand-Responsive Transportation (DRT) systems. Thestudy concludes that this algorithm not only optimizes route planning in bus transit but also presents a scalablesolution for improving urban mobility.

Real-Time Indoor Path Planning Using Object Detection for Autonomous Flying Robots

Unknown closed spaces are a big challenge for the navigation of robots since there are no global and pre-defined positioning options in the area.One of the simplest and most efficient algorithms,the artificial potential field algorithm(APF),may provide real-time navigation in those places but fall into local mini-mum in some cases.To overcome this problem and to present alternative escape routes for a robot,possible crossing points in buildings may be detected by using object detection and included in the path planning algorithm.This study utilized a proposed sensor fusion method and an improved object classification method for detecting windows,doors,and stairs in buildings and these objects were classified as valid or invalid for the path planning algorithm.The performance of the approach was evaluated in a simulated environment with a quadrotor that was equipped with camera and laser imaging detection and ranging(LIDAR)sensors to navigate through an unknown closed space and reach a desired goal point.Inclusion of crossing points allows the robot to escape from areas where it is con-gested.The navigation of the robot has been tested in different scenarios based on the proposed path planning algorithm and compared with other improved APF methods.The results showed that the improved APF methods and the methods rein-forced with other path planning algorithms were similar in performance with the proposed method for the same goals in the same room.For the goals outside the current room,traditional APF methods were quite unsuccessful in reaching the goals.Even though improved methods were able to reach some outside targets,the proposed method gave approximately 17%better results than the most success-ful example in achieving targets outside the current room.The proposed method can also work in real-time to discover a building and navigate between rooms.

Optimal search path planning of UUV in battlefeld ambush scene

Aiming at the practical application of Unmanned Underwater Vehicle(UUV)in underwater combat,this paper proposes a battlefield ambush scene with UUV considering ocean current.Firstly,by establishing these mathematical models of ocean current environment,target movement,and sonar detection,the probability calculation methods of single UUV searching target and multiple UUV cooperatively searching target are given respectively.Then,based on the Hybrid Quantum-behaved Particle Swarm Optimization(HQPSO)algorithm,the path with the highest target search probability is found.Finally,through simulation calculations,the influence of different UUV parameters and target parameters on the target search probability is analyzed,and the minimum number of UUVs that need to be deployed to complete the ambush task is demonstrated,and the optimal search path scheme is obtained.The method proposed in this paper provides a theoretical basis for the practical application of UUV in the future combat.

Heuristic Expanding Disconnected Graph:A Rapid Path Planning Method for Mobile Robots

Existing mobile robots mostly use graph search algorithms for path planning,which suffer from relatively low planning efficiency owing to high redundancy and large computational complexity.Due to the limitations of the neighborhood search strategy,the robots could hardly obtain the most optimal global path.A global path planning algorithm,denoted as EDG*,is proposed by expanding nodes using a well-designed expanding disconnected graph operator(EDG)in this paper.Firstly,all obstacles are marked and their corners are located through the map pre-processing.Then,the EDG operator is designed to find points in non-obstruction areas to complete the rapid expansion of disconnected nodes.Finally,the EDG*heuristic iterative algorithm is proposed.It selects the candidate node through a specific valuation function and realizes the node expansion while avoiding collision with a minimum offset.Path planning experiments were conducted in a typical indoor environment and on the public dataset CSM.The result shows that the proposed EDG*reduced the planning time by more than 90%and total length of paths reduced by more than 4.6%.Compared to A*,Dijkstra and JPS,EDG*does not show an exponential explosion effect in map size.The EDG*showed better performance in terms of path smoothness,and collision avoidance.This shows that the EDG*algorithm proposed in this paper can improve the efficiency of path planning and enhance path quality.

Ground threat prediction-based path planning of unmanned autonomous helicopter using hybrid enhanced artificial bee colony algorithm

Unmanned autonomous helicopter(UAH)path planning problem is an important component of the UAH mission planning system.Aiming to reduce the influence of non-complete ground threat information on UAH path planning,a ground threat prediction-based path planning method is proposed based on artificial bee colony(ABC)algorithm by collaborative thinking strategy.Firstly,a dynamic threat distribution probability model is developed based on the characteristics of typical ground threats.The dynamic no-fly zone of the UAH is simulated and established by calculating the distribution probability of ground threats in real time.Then,a dynamic path planning method for UAH is designed in complex environment based on the real-time prediction of ground threats.By adding the collision warning mechanism to the path planning model,the flight path could be dynamically adjusted according to changing no-fly zones.Furthermore,a hybrid enhanced ABC algorithm is proposed based on collaborative thinking strategy.The proposed algorithm applies the leader-member thinking mechanism to guide the direction of population evolution,and reduces the negative impact of local optimal solutions caused by collaborative learning update strategy,which makes the optimization performance of ABC algorithm more controllable and efficient.Finally,simulation results verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed ground threat prediction path planning method.

A Reverse Path Planning Approach for Enhanced Performance of Multi-Degree-of-Freedom Industrial Manipulators

In the domain of autonomous industrial manipulators,precise positioning and appropriate posture selection in path planning are pivotal for tasks involving obstacle avoidance,such as handling,heat sealing,and stacking.While Multi-Degree-of-Freedom(MDOF)manipulators offer kinematic redundancy,aiding in the derivation of optimal inverse kinematic solutions to meet position and posture requisites,their path planning entails intricate multiobjective optimization,encompassing path,posture,and joint motion optimization.Achieving satisfactory results in practical scenarios remains challenging.In response,this study introduces a novel Reverse Path Planning(RPP)methodology tailored for industrial manipulators.The approach commences by conceptualizing the manipulator’s end-effector as an agent within a reinforcement learning(RL)framework,wherein the state space,action set,and reward function are precisely defined to expedite the search for an initial collision-free path.To enhance convergence speed,the Q-learning algorithm in RL is augmented with Dyna-Q.Additionally,we formulate the cylindrical bounding box of the manipulator based on its Denavit-Hartenberg(DH)parameters and propose a swift collision detection technique.Furthermore,the motion performance of the end-effector is refined through a bidirectional search,and joint weighting coefficients are introduced to mitigate motion in high-power joints.The efficacy of the proposed RPP methodology is rigorously examined through extensive simulations conducted on a six-degree-of-freedom(6-DOF)manipulator encountering two distinct obstacle configurations and target positions.Experimental results substantiate that the RPP method adeptly orchestrates the computation of the shortest collision-free path while adhering to specific posture constraints at the target point.Moreover,itminimizes both posture angle deviations and joint motion,showcasing its prowess in enhancing the operational performance of MDOF industrial manipulators.

Path Planning of Multi-Axis Robotic Arm Based on Improved RRT*

An improved RRT∗algorithm,referred to as the AGP-RRT∗algorithm,is proposed to address the problems of poor directionality,long generated paths,and slow convergence speed in multi-axis robotic arm path planning.First,an adaptive biased probabilistic sampling strategy is adopted to dynamically adjust the target deviation threshold and optimize the selection of random sampling points and the direction of generating new nodes in order to reduce the search space and improve the search efficiency.Second,a gravitationally adjustable step size strategy is used to guide the search process and dynamically adjust the step-size to accelerate the search speed of the algorithm.Finally,the planning path is processed by pruning,removing redundant points and path smoothing fitting using cubic B-spline curves to improve the flexibility of the robotic arm.Through the six-axis robotic arm path planning simulation experiments on the MATLAB platform,the results show that the AGP-RRT∗algorithm reduces 87.34%in terms of the average running time and 40.39%in terms of the average path cost;Meanwhile,under two sets of complex environments A and B,the average running time of the AGP-RRT∗algorithm is shortened by 94.56%vs.95.37%,and the average path cost is reduced by 55.28%vs.47.82%,which proves the effectiveness of the AGP-RRT∗algorithm in improving the efficiency of multi-axis robotic arm path planning.

Multi-UAVs Collaborative Path Planning in the Cramped Environment

Due to its flexibility and complementarity, the multiUAVs system is well adapted to complex and cramped workspaces, with great application potential in the search and rescue(SAR) and indoor goods delivery fields. However, safe and effective path planning of multiple unmanned aerial vehicles(UAVs)in the cramped environment is always challenging: conflicts with each other are frequent because of high-density flight paths, collision probability increases because of space constraints, and the search space increases significantly, including time scale, 3D scale and model scale. Thus, this paper proposes a hierarchical collaborative planning framework with a conflict avoidance module at the high level and a path generation module at the low level. The enhanced conflict-base search(ECBS) in our framework is improved to handle the conflicts in the global path planning and avoid the occurrence of local deadlock. And both the collision and kinematic models of UAVs are considered to improve path smoothness and flight safety. Moreover, we specifically designed and published the cramped environment test set containing various unique obstacles to evaluating our framework performance thoroughly. Experiments are carried out relying on Rviz, with multiple flight missions: random, opposite, and staggered, which showed that the proposed method can generate smooth cooperative paths without conflict for at least 60 UAVs in a few minutes.The benchmark and source code are released in https://github.com/inin-xingtian/multi-UAVs-path-planner.

A digital twins enabled underwater intelligent internet vehicle path planning system via reinforcement learning and edge computing

The Autonomous Underwater Glider(AUG)is a kind of prevailing underwater intelligent internet vehicle and occupies a dominant position in industrial applications,in which path planning is an essential problem.Due to the complexity and variability of the ocean,accurate environment modeling and flexible path planning algorithms are pivotal challenges.The traditional models mainly utilize mathematical functions,which are not complete and reliable.Most existing path planning algorithms depend on the environment and lack flexibility.To overcome these challenges,we propose a path planning system for underwater intelligent internet vehicles.It applies digital twins and sensor data to map the real ocean environment to a virtual digital space,which provides a comprehensive and reliable environment for path simulation.We design a value-based reinforcement learning path planning algorithm and explore the optimal network structure parameters.The path simulation is controlled by a closed-loop model integrated into the terminal vehicle through edge computing.The integration of state input enriches the learning of neural networks and helps to improve generalization and flexibility.The task-related reward function promotes the rapid convergence of the training.The experimental results prove that our reinforcement learning based path planning algorithm has great flexibility and can effectively adapt to a variety of different ocean conditions.

Efficient Penetration Testing Path Planning Based on Reinforcement Learning with Episodic Memory

Intelligent penetration testing is of great significance for the improvement of the security of information systems,and the critical issue is the planning of penetration test paths.In view of the difficulty for attackers to obtain complete network information in realistic network scenarios,Reinforcement Learning(RL)is a promising solution to discover the optimal penetration path under incomplete information about the target network.Existing RL-based methods are challenged by the sizeable discrete action space,which leads to difficulties in the convergence.Moreover,most methods still rely on experts’knowledge.To address these issues,this paper proposes a penetration path planning method based on reinforcement learning with episodic memory.First,the penetration testing problem is formally described in terms of reinforcement learning.To speed up the training process without specific prior knowledge,the proposed algorithm introduces episodic memory to store experienced advantageous strategies for the first time.Furthermore,the method offers an exploration strategy based on episodic memory to guide the agents in learning.The design makes full use of historical experience to achieve the purpose of reducing blind exploration and improving planning efficiency.Ultimately,comparison experiments are carried out with the existing RL-based methods.The results reveal that the proposed method has better convergence performance.The running time is reduced by more than 20%.

An Improved Iterated Greedy Algorithm for Solving Rescue Robot Path Planning Problem with Limited Survival Time

Effective path planning is crucial for mobile robots to quickly reach rescue destination and complete rescue tasks in a post-disaster scenario.In this study,we investigated the post-disaster rescue path planning problem and modeled this problem as a variant of the travel salesman problem(TSP)with life-strength constraints.To address this problem,we proposed an improved iterated greedy(IIG)algorithm.First,a push-forward insertion heuristic(PFIH)strategy was employed to generate a high-quality initial solution.Second,a greedy-based insertion strategy was designed and used in the destruction-construction stage to increase the algorithm’s exploration ability.Furthermore,three problem-specific swap operators were developed to improve the algorithm’s exploitation ability.Additionally,an improved simulated annealing(SA)strategy was used as an acceptance criterion to effectively prevent the algorithm from falling into local optima.To verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm,the Solomon dataset was extended to generate 27 instances for simulation.Finally,the proposed IIG was compared with five state-of-the-art algorithms.The parameter analysiswas conducted using the design of experiments(DOE)Taguchi method,and the effectiveness analysis of each component has been verified one by one.Simulation results indicate that IIGoutperforms the compared algorithms in terms of the number of rescue survivors and convergence speed,proving the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.

Research on Evacuation Path Planning Based on Improved Sparrow Search Algorithm

Reducing casualties and property losses through effective evacuation route planning has been a key focus for researchers in recent years.As part of this effort,an enhanced sparrow search algorithm(MSSA)was proposed.Firstly,the Golden Sine algorithm and a nonlinear weight factor optimization strategy were added in the discoverer position update stage of the SSA algorithm.Secondly,the Cauchy-Gaussian perturbation was applied to the optimal position of the SSA algorithm to improve its ability to jump out of local optima.Finally,the local search mechanism based on the mountain climbing method was incorporated into the local search stage of the SSA algorithm,improving its local search ability.To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm,the Whale Algorithm,Gray Wolf Algorithm,Improved Gray Wolf Algorithm,Sparrow Search Algorithm,and MSSA Algorithm were employed to solve various test functions.The accuracy and convergence speed of each algorithm were then compared and analyzed.The results indicate that the MSSA algorithm has superior solving ability and stability compared to other algorithms.To further validate the enhanced algorithm’s capabilities for path planning,evacuation experiments were conducted using different maps featuring various obstacle types.Additionally,a multi-exit evacuation scenario was constructed according to the actual building environment of a teaching building.Both the sparrow search algorithm and MSSA algorithm were employed in the simulation experiment for multiexit evacuation path planning.The findings demonstrate that the MSSA algorithm outperforms the comparison algorithm,showcasing its greater advantages and higher application potential.

Distributed collaborative complete coverage path planning based on hybrid strategy

Collaborative coverage path planning(CCPP) refers to obtaining the shortest paths passing over all places except obstacles in a certain area or space. A multi-unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV) collaborative CCPP algorithm is proposed for the urban rescue search or military search in outdoor environment.Due to flexible control of small UAVs, it can be considered that all UAVs fly at the same altitude, that is, they perform search tasks on a two-dimensional plane. Based on the agents’ motion characteristics and environmental information, a mathematical model of CCPP problem is established. The minimum time for UAVs to complete the CCPP is the objective function, and complete coverage constraint, no-fly constraint, collision avoidance constraint, and communication constraint are considered. Four motion strategies and two communication strategies are designed. Then a distributed CCPP algorithm is designed based on hybrid strategies. Simulation results compared with patternbased genetic algorithm(PBGA) and random search method show that the proposed method has stronger real-time performance and better scalability and can complete the complete CCPP task more efficiently and stably.

Improving path planning efficiency for underwater gravity-aided navigation based on a new depth sorting fast search algorithm

This study focuses on the improvement of path planning efficiency for underwater gravity-aided navigation.Firstly,a Depth Sorting Fast Search(DSFS)algorithm was proposed to improve the planning speed of the Quick Rapidly-exploring Random Trees*(Q-RRT*)algorithm.A cost inequality relationship between an ancestor and its descendants was derived,and the ancestors were filtered accordingly.Secondly,the underwater gravity-aided navigation path planning system was designed based on the DSFS algorithm,taking into account the fitness,safety,and asymptotic optimality of the routes,according to the gravity suitability distribution of the navigation space.Finally,experimental comparisons of the computing performance of the ChooseParent procedure,the Rewire procedure,and the combination of the two procedures for Q-RRT*and DSFS were conducted under the same planning environment and parameter conditions,respectively.The results showed that the computational efficiency of the DSFS algorithm was improved by about 1.2 times compared with the Q-RRT*algorithm while ensuring correct computational results.

A path planning method for robot patrol inspection in chemical industrial parks

Safety patrol inspection in chemical industrial parks is a complex multi-objective task with multiple degrees of freedom.Traditional pointer instruments with advantages like high reliability and strong adaptability to harsh environment,are widely applied in such parks.However,they rely on manual readings which have problems like heavy patrol workload,high labor cost,high false positives/negatives and poor timeliness.To address the above problems,this study proposes a path planning method for robot patrol in chemical industrial parks,where a path optimization model based on improved iterated local search and random variable neighborhood descent(ILS-RVND)algorithm is established by integrating the actual requirements of patrol tasks in chemical industrial parks.Further,the effectiveness of the model and algorithm is verified by taking real park data as an example.The results show that compared with GA and ILS-RVND,the improved algorithm reduces quantification cost by about 24%and saves patrol time by about 36%.Apart from shortening the patrol time of robots,optimizing their patrol path and reducing their maintenance loss,the proposed algorithm also avoids the untimely patrol of robots and enhances the safety factor of equipment.

Path Planning for Robotic Arms Based on an Improved RRT Algorithm

The burgeoning robotics industry has catalyzed significant strides in the development and deployment of industrial and service robotic arms, positioning path planning as a pivotal facet for augmenting their operational safety and efficiency. Existing path planning algorithms, while capable of delineating feasible trajectories, often fall short of achieving optimality, particularly concerning path length, search duration, and success likelihood. This study introduces an enhanced Rapidly-Exploring Random Tree (RRT) algorithm, meticulously designed to rectify the issues of node redundancy and the compromised path quality endemic to conventional RRT approaches. Through the integration of an adaptive pruning mechanism and a dynamic elliptical search strategy within the Informed RRT* framework, our algorithm efficiently refines the search tree by discarding branches that surpass the cost of the optimal path, thereby refining the search space and significantly boosting efficiency. Extensive comparative analysis across both two-dimensional and three-dimensional simulation settings underscores the algorithm’s proficiency in markedly improving path precision and search velocity, signifying a breakthrough in the domain of robotic arm path planning.

Study on Path Selection and Implementation Effect of Counselors in College Students’Career Planning Education

Under the background of a severe job market and fierce talent competition,the career planning education of college students is of great importance.In this study,a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods was used;500 students in Shenzhen Polytechnic of Information Technology were surveyed by questionnaire,and 40 counselors were interviewed in depth to comprehensively analyze the role and practical effect of counselors in career planning education.The research showed that the role positioning of counselors includes the guide of students’career development,emotional support,and job-hunting strategy,and the specific path selection involves the strengthening of professional knowledge,the construction of interpersonal relationship networks,and personalized counseling.Based on the survey and interview data,this paper constructed a model for enhancing the role of counselors in career planning education and put forward a set of targeted work paths.

Adaptive Resource Planning for AI Workloads with Variable Real-Time Tasks

AI(Artificial Intelligence)workloads are proliferating in modernreal-time systems.As the tasks of AI workloads fluctuate over time,resourceplanning policies used for traditional fixed real-time tasks should be reexamined.In particular,it is difficult to immediately handle changes inreal-time tasks without violating the deadline constraints.To cope with thissituation,this paper analyzes the task situations of AI workloads and findsthe following two observations.First,resource planning for AI workloadsis a complicated search problem that requires much time for optimization.Second,although the task set of an AI workload may change over time,thepossible combinations of the task sets are known in advance.Based on theseobservations,this paper proposes a new resource planning scheme for AIworkloads that supports the re-planning of resources.Instead of generatingresource plans on the fly,the proposed scheme pre-determines resourceplans for various combinations of tasks.Thus,in any case,the workload isimmediately executed according to the resource plan maintained.Specifically,the proposed scheme maintains an optimized CPU(Central Processing Unit)and memory resource plan using genetic algorithms and applies it as soonas the workload changes.The proposed scheme is implemented in the opensourcesimulator SimRTS for the validation of its effectiveness.Simulationexperiments show that the proposed scheme reduces the energy consumptionof CPU and memory by 45.5%on average without deadline misses.