A Path Planning Method Based on Artificial Potential Field Improved by Potential Flow Theory

This paper addresses the issues of target unreachability and local optima in traditional artificial potential field (APF) methods for UAV swarm path planning by proposing an improved collaborative obstacle avoidance algorithm. By introducing a virtual target position function to reconstruct the repulsive field model, the repulsive force exponentially decays as the UAV approaches the target, effectively resolving the problem where excessive obstacle repulsion prevents UAVs from reaching the goal. Additionally, we design a dynamic virtual target point generation mechanism based on mechanical state detection to automatically create temporary target points when UAVs are trapped in local optima, thereby breaking force equilibrium. For multi-UAV collaboration, intra-formation UAVs are treated as dynamic obstacles, and a 3D repulsive field model is established to avoid local optima in planar scenarios. Combined with a leader–follower control strategy, a hybrid potential field position controller is designed to enable rapid formation reconfiguration post-obstacle avoidance. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed improved APF method ensures safe obstacle avoidance and formation maintenance for UAV swarms in complex environments, significantly enhancing path planning reliability and effectiveness.

Abstract. Urban traffic congestion, obstacle avoidance, and driving efficiency are the challenges faced by autonomous-vehicle path-planning technology in cities. The traditional artificial potential field (APF) algorithm is insufficient to meet the requirements of efficiency and safety in path planning, as it easily gets trapped in local optima when dealing with complex environments. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel AS-IAPF path-planning algorithm to more efficiently enhance the target reachability of autonomous vehicles in complex traffic environments. Firstly, this paper analyzes and elucidates the macroscopic traffic model, achieving effective modeling of dynamic traffic flow stability based on Lyapunov stability theorem and a classical 1D flow model. Thus, the threshold discriminant formula for traffic element stability is obtained. Secondly, based on the aforementioned threshold discriminant formula, a new AS-IAPF algorithm is proposed. The algorithm mainly includes two aspects: firstly, by pre-generating initial paths and introducing a Gaussian oscillation coefficient of force fields, it avoids the algorithm falling into local optima; secondly, by using the aforementioned driving stability threshold discriminant formula as a dimensional adjustment for adaptively improving and adjusting the strength coefficient of the AS-APF repulsive field, the algorithm further improves the efficiency of path planning. Finally, the algorithm is subjected to joint simulations of 2D and 3D scenarios of different types. The research results show that the AS-IAPF algorithm outperforms other algorithms of the same type with respect to comprehensive performance based on multiple 2D scenario simulation experiments. In the 3D simulation experiments of three different typical traffic scenarios, the proposed algorithm can drive autonomous vehicles to effectively perform corresponding obstacle avoidance actions based on the actual traffic scenarios ahead, ultimately achieving safe obstacle avoidance. The path-planning method proposed in this paper can enhance driving efficiency while considering the safety and stability of vehicles, providing a promising approach and reference for the path planning of autonomous vehicles.

Aiming at the problem that the traditional artificial potential field (APF) can not adapt to the complex planning space and fall into the local optimal solution, an improved artificial potential field method is proposed for two-dimensional UAV route planning. This method does not consider the influence of traditional attraction and repulsive force, but abstracts the two — dimensional programming space into a three — dimensional artificial potential field function, which makes the aircraft move to the low potential field intensity field in the potential field. And introduced a new search method. Experimental results show that this method can effectively solve the problem of UAV route planning and can effectively avoid the local optimal solution.

As a simple and effective method, artificial potential field method is often used in robot path planning. Based on this, an improved artificial potential field model is proposed to solve the local minimum problem by using a subgoal strategy. In order to show the subgoal adaptive selection feature of the robot, an obstacle potential field function is established and the effectiveness of the adaptive feature is verified by path planning simulation. A double closed-loop control strategy is adopted to track the trajectory planned by the improved artificial potential field method, and simulation results show that the improved artificial potential method is reliable and the robot can well track the trajectory under the action of the controller.

Two potential fields fused adaptive path planning system for autonomous vehicle under different velocities

Artificial potential field method is widely used in robot path planning because of its simplicity, efficiency and smooth path generation. In this paper, based on the introduction of the basic principle of the artificial potential field method, the limitations of the algorithm are analysed in depth, and improvement methods are summarized for these problems. Aiming at the problem that the target near the obstacle is unreachable in the traditional artificial potential field method, an improved repulsive force potential field function is used to introduce the distance between the robot and the target point into the potential field function, so that the potential field of the target position is minimized in the global potential field, so that the robot can successfully reach the target. Using the obstacle connection method, the robot can quickly get rid of the local minimum point, go out of the local minimum area, and complete the path planning. The simulation results show that the method is effective.

Background: With the development of robotics, more and more robots are being used in industrial production. However, as the production environment surrounding the robots becomes increasingly complex, there is a need for more intelligent industrial robots. For improving the intelligence of industrial robots, the most important thing is to ensure that they can carry out safe industrial production activities in a complex production environment. Therefore, studying the autonomous dynamic obstacle avoidance path planning of industrial robots in complex environments is of great significance for improving the intelligence of industrial robots and the application of human-machine collaboration. Objective: The main purpose of this paper is to improve the traditional artificial potential field method. It aims to improve the disadvantages of the traditional artificial potential field method, such as falling into the local minimum and failing to reach the target. Secondly, the background difference method, which is based on binocular vision and Kalman filtering algorithm, is used, and the environmental map containing the static and dynamic obstacles is obtained. After obtaining the information on the position of static and dynamic obstacles, the robot arm can make good use of the improved artificial potential field method to plan its own trajectory, thus realizing the dynamic obstacle avoidance of the robot arm in a complex environment. Methods: This paper proposes an improved artificial potential field method. First of all, in order to solve the problem of not being able to achieve the goal, the method of modifying the repulsion field function, as proposed by Wang Huili and others, has been cited. In the traditional repulsion function, the relative distance between the robot and the target is introduced. Due to this, the target point is always the minimum point of the potential field. It is necessary to ensure that the robot can reach the target position smoothly. For the local minimum problem, by adding a gravitational increase factor β, the gravitational force received is greater than the repulsive force, thereby breaking the balance of the resultant force. Finally, for the traditional artificial potential field method that does not consider the path planning problem in the presence of dynamic obstacles, the velocity vector of the dynamic obstacle is brought into the potential field function to improve the traditional artificial potential field method. Results: The robot easily falls into the local optimum during path planning, and the improved artificial potential field method overcomes this shortcoming. Therefore, the manipulator can perform autonomous dynamic obstacle avoidance path planning in an environment with dynamic obstacles, finally reaching the target point safely. Conclusions: The industrial production field faces an increasing demand for intelligent industrial robots. This paper improves on the traditional artificial potential field method based on binocular vision so that the mechanical arm can avoid dynamic obstacles autonomously in the presence of dynamic obstacles, thereby improving the degree of intelligence of the robotic arm, enabling the technology to meet the needs of future industrial development and contribute to the development of future industrial robot technology.

We consider the problem of warehouse multi-robot automation system in discrete-time and discrete-space configuration with focus on the task allocation and conflict-free path planning. We present a system design where a centralized server handles the task allocation and each robot performs local path planning distributively. A genetic-based task allocation algorithm is firstly presented, with modification to enable heuristic learning. A semi-complete potential field based local path planning algorithm is then proposed, named the recursive excitation/relaxation artificial potential field (RERAPF). A mathematical proof is also presented to show the semi-completeness of the RERAPF algorithm. The main contribution of this paper is the modification of conventional artificial potential field (APF) to be semi-complete while computationally efficient, resolving the traditional issue of incompleteness. Simulation results are also presented for performance evaluation of the proposed path planning algorithm and the overall system.

Based on the artificial potential field algorithm and bacterial foraging algorithm, research method for obstacle avoidance and path planning of the mobile robot. Firstly, analysis method of bacterial foraging three operations: trends, replication, migration, establishment of bacterial foraging algorithm process; secondly establish the bacterial foraging algorithm model; and then analyze the artificial potential field algorithm and bacterial foraging the advantage and disadvantage of the algorithm, proposed a new hybrid algorithm has the global search ability and fast convergence. Using artificial potential field and bacterial foraging method on mobile robot global path planning and then compared with the mixture algorithm, based on the simulation results, the global path planning of mobile robot Simulation results show the feasibility and effectiveness of the hybrid algorithm.

In order to improve the work efficiency of the quadruped robot autonomous operation, this paper uses the improved potential field theory to overcome the shortage of the tradition theory based on the traditional artificial potential field. The system identifies and extracts features of targets and obstacles by perception sensors mounted on the robot, and potential fields of targets and obstacles are established. The virtual traction force is captured from targets and obstacles using the gradient of potential fields. Therefore, the force could be transformed into the robot control signals and transferred into the spring-damp virtual controller for the robot body to achieve the autonomous efficient traction control of the robot. The results of the simulation experiment validate the feasibility of this control strategy.

In this paper, an elliptic influence domain and improved artificial potential field method (EID-IAPF) is proposed for online path planning of mobile robots. This paper has established a collision risk area model and has obtained dynamical elliptic influence domain of obstacles. Also, the velocity-repulsive potential equation is introduced to modify the traditional artificial potential field method (APF), which improves the capacity of path planning of the robots. Finally, a simulation of complex environment with narrow channels is constructed to verify the feasibility of the method, and to compare with the traditional APF. It proves that EID-IAPF can effectively improve the path planning efficiency of mobile robots.

Energy-optimal adaptive artificial potential field method for path planning of free-flying space robots

Wireless ultraviolet light MIMO assisted UAV direction perception and collision avoidance method

Efficient and effective path planning can significantly enhance the task execution capabilities of UAVs in complex environments. This paper proposes an improved sampling-based path planning algorithm, Bi-APF-RRT*, which integrates an Artificial Potential Field (APF) method with a newly introduced repulsive coefficient and incorporates dynamic step size adjustments. To further improve path planning performance, the algorithm introduces strategies such as dynamic goal biasing, target switching, and region-based adaptive sampling probability. The improved Bi-APF-RRT* algorithm effectively controls sampling direction and spatial distribution during the path search process, avoiding local optima and significantly improving the success rate and quality of path planning. To validate the performance of the algorithm, this paper conducts a comparative analysis of Bi-APF-RRT* against traditional RRT* in multiple simulation experiments. Quantitative results demonstrate that Bi-APF-RRT* achieves a 59.6% reduction in average computational time (from 5.97 s to 2.41 s), a 20.6% shorter path length (from 691.56 to 549.21), and a lower average path angle (reduced from 33.28° to 29.53°), while maintaining a 100% success rate compared to 95% for RRT*. Additionally, Bi-APF-RRT* reduces the average number of nodes in the search tree by 45.8% (from 381.17 to 206.5), showcasing stronger obstacle avoidance capabilities, faster convergence, and smoother path generation in complex 3D environments. The results highlight the algorithm’s robust adaptability and reliability in UAV path planning.

Considering the collision-prone problem near the initial point, goal non-reachable with obstacle nearby (GNWON) and the chattering problem of the traditional artificial potential field algorithm(TAPF), the attractive potential field function and the repulsive potential field function are improved respectively, and an improved adaptive artificial potential field algorithm(AAPF) is proposed. The algorithm can calculate the different potential field of each path point on-line in real time. On this basis, a 2D improved adaptive artificial potential field algorithm is extended to 3D space for autonomous obstacle avoidance planning of quadrotor UAV. A 3D obstacle model is established, and the principle of obstacle avoidance at the nearest contact point is designed to calculate the repulsive potential field. Then the obstacle avoidance planning strategy of Four-rotor UAV based on 3D adaptive potential field algorithm is designed. The simulation results show that the improved adaptive algorithm effectively compensates for the shortcomings of the traditional artificial potential field method and can be applied in 3D.