Efficient Local Path Planning Algorithm Using Artificial Potential Field Supported by Augmented Reality

Abstract

Mobile robots in industry are commonly used in warehouses and factories. To achieve the highest production rate, requirements for path planning algorithms have caused researchers to pay significant attention to this problem. The artificial potential field algorithm, which is a local path planning algorithm, has been previously modified to obtain higher smoothness of path, to solve the stagnation problem and to jump off the local minimum. The last itemized problem is taken into account in this paper—local minimum avoidance. Most of the modifications of artificial potential field algorithms focus on a mechanism to jump off a local minimum when robots stagnate. From the efficiency point of view, the mobile robot should bypass the local minimum instead of jumping off it. This paper proposes a novel artificial potential field supported by augmented reality to bypass the upcoming local minimum. The algorithm predicts the upcoming local minimum, and then the mobile robot’s perception is augmented to bypass it. The proposed method allows the generation of shorter paths compared with jumping-off techniques, due to lack of stagnation in a local minimum. This method was experimentally verified using a Husarion ROSbot 2.0 PRO mobile robot and Robot Operating System in a laboratory environment.