RAPF: Efficient path planning for lunar microrovers

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Manteaux, Thomas, Rodríguez-Martínez, David, Rajan, Raj Thilak
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Manteaux, Thomas
Rodríguez-Martínez, David
Rajan, Raj Thilak
author_facet Manteaux, Thomas
Rodríguez-Martínez, David
Rajan, Raj Thilak
contents Efficient path planning is key for safe autonomous navigation over complex and unknown terrains. Lunar Zebro (LZ), a project of the Delft University of Technology, aims to deploy a compact rover, no larger than an A4 sheet of paper and weighing not more than 3 kilograms. In this work, we introduce a Robust Artificial Potential Field (RAPF) algorithm, a new path-planning algorithm for reliable local navigation solution for lunar microrovers. RAPF leverages and improves state of the art Artificial Potential Field (APF)-based methods by incorporating the position of the robot in the generation of bacteria points and considering local minima as regions to avoid. We perform both simulations and on field experiments to validate the performance of RAPF, which outperforms state-of-the-art APF-based algorithms by over 15% in reachability within a similar or shorter planning time. The improvements resulted in a 200% higher success rate and 50% lower computing time compared to the conventional APF algorithm. Near-optimal paths are computed in real-time with limited available processing power. The bacterial approach of the RAPF algorithm proves faster to execute and smaller to store than path planning algorithms used in existing planetary rovers, showcasing its potential for reliable lunar exploration with computationally constrained and energy constrained robotic systems.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2405_16659
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle RAPF: Efficient path planning for lunar microrovers
Manteaux, Thomas
Rodríguez-Martínez, David
Rajan, Raj Thilak
Robotics
Efficient path planning is key for safe autonomous navigation over complex and unknown terrains. Lunar Zebro (LZ), a project of the Delft University of Technology, aims to deploy a compact rover, no larger than an A4 sheet of paper and weighing not more than 3 kilograms. In this work, we introduce a Robust Artificial Potential Field (RAPF) algorithm, a new path-planning algorithm for reliable local navigation solution for lunar microrovers. RAPF leverages and improves state of the art Artificial Potential Field (APF)-based methods by incorporating the position of the robot in the generation of bacteria points and considering local minima as regions to avoid. We perform both simulations and on field experiments to validate the performance of RAPF, which outperforms state-of-the-art APF-based algorithms by over 15% in reachability within a similar or shorter planning time. The improvements resulted in a 200% higher success rate and 50% lower computing time compared to the conventional APF algorithm. Near-optimal paths are computed in real-time with limited available processing power. The bacterial approach of the RAPF algorithm proves faster to execute and smaller to store than path planning algorithms used in existing planetary rovers, showcasing its potential for reliable lunar exploration with computationally constrained and energy constrained robotic systems.
title RAPF: Efficient path planning for lunar microrovers
topic Robotics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2405.16659