• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.107-115
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• 1998

A path planning using potential field method is very useful for the real-time navigation of mobile robots. However, the method needs high modeling cost to calculate the potential field because of complex preprocessing, and mobile robots may get stuck into local minima. In this paper, An efficient path planning algorithm for multiple mobile robots, based on the potential field method, was proposed. In the algorithm. the concepts of subgoals and obstacle priority were introduced. The subgoals can be used to escape local minima, or to design and change the paths of mobile robots in the work space. In obstacle priority, all the objects (obstacles and mobile robots) in the work space have their own priorities, and the object having lower priority should avoid the objects having higher priority than it has. In this paper, first, potential based path planning method was introduced, next an efficient collision-avoidance algorithm for multiple mobile robots, moving in the obstacle environment, was proposed by using subgoals and obstacle priority. Finally, the developed algorithm was demonstrated graphically to show the usefulness of the algorithm.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1996.10b
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• pp.1140-1143
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• 1996

A new approach based on artificial potential function is proposed for the obstacle avoidance of redundant manipulators. Unlike the so-called "global" path planning method, which requires expensive computation for the path search before the manipulator starts to move, this new approach, "local" path planning, researches the path in real-time using the local distance information. Previous use of artificial potential function has exhibited local minima in some complex environments. This thesis proposes a potential function that has no local minima even for a cluttered environment. This potential function has been implemented for the collision avoidance of a redundant robot in Simulation. The simulation also employ an algorithm that eliminates collisions with obstacles by calculating the repulsive potential exerted on links, based on the shortest distance to object.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Machine Tool Engineers Conference
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• 1998.03a
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• pp.88-93
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• 1998

This paper presents a new solution approach to moving obstacle avoidance problem for a mobile robot. A new concept avoidability measure(AVM) is defined to describe the state of a pair of a robot and an obstacle regarding the collision between them. As an AVM, virtual distance function(VDF) is derived as a function of the distance from the obstacle to the robot and outward speed of the obstacle relative to the robot. By keeping the virtual distance above some positive limit value, the robot avoids the obstacle. In terns of the VDF, an artificial potential field is constructed to repel the robot away from the obstacle and to attract the robot toward a goal location. At every sampling time, the artificial potential field is updated and the force driving the robot is derived form the gradient of the artificial potential field. The suggested algorithm drives the robot to avoid moving obstacles in real time. Since the algorithm considers the mobility of the obstacle as well as the distance, it is effective for moving obstacle avoidance. Some simulation studies show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.186-193
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• 2008

We propose a novel real-time obstacle avoidance method for rescue robots. This method, named the ELA(Emergency Level Around), permits the detection of unknown obstacles and avoids collisions while simultaneously steering the mobile robot toward safe position. In the ELA, we consider two sensor modules, PSD(Position Sensitive Detector) infrared sensors taking charge of obstacle detection in short distance and LMS(Laser Measurement System) in long distance respectively. Hence if a robot recognizes an obstacle ahead by PSD infrared sensors first, and judges impossibility to overcome the obstacle based on driving mode decision process, the order of priority is transferred to LMS which collects data of radial distance centered on the robot to avoid the confronted obstacle. After gathering radial information, the ELA algorithm estimates emergency level around a robot and generates a polar histogram based on the emergency level to judge where the optimal free space is. Finally, steering angle is determined to guarantee rotation to randomly direction as well as robot width for safe avoidance. Simulation results from wandering in closed local area which includes various obstacles and different conditions demonstrate the power of the ELA.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.59.6-59
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• 2001

A virtual obstacle method for escaping local minima encountered by sonar-based mobile robot navigation used in real-time obstacle avoidance is presented. The new algorithm judges the mobile robot falls into local minima and helps the mobile robot escape from Et, which regards a concave obstacle as convex or flat one, virtual obstacle method. In the algorithm, it starts to make virtual-obstacle when the mobile robot meets a certain condition, then the robot mores back slowly taking inside area of local minima as obstacle gradually The new algorithm is simulated. The experimental results are presented to demonstrate the usefulness of the method.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2011

This paper presents a method about amorphous obstacles avoidance for local path planning in the two-dimensional sensor environment. In particular, the proposed method is extended from some of the recent studies about a point obstacle avoidance. In the paper, repulsive forces of two types are proposed in order that the robot avoids from the amorphous obstacle with various size and form. A judgment of curvatures in the proposed method simplifies the recognition of obstacles to make the path-planning efficient. In addition, the line of sight(LOS) and the range of recognition are considered in the environment. By simulation results, the proposed method for amorphous obstacle avoidance shows better performance than the related existing method and we confirmed advantages of proposed method.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.150-158
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• 2009

For the autonomous movement, the optimal path planning connecting between current and target positions is essential, and the optimal path of mobile robot means obstacle-free and the shortest length path to a target position. Many actual mobile robots should move without any information of surrounded obstacles. Thus, this paper suggests new methods of path planning and obstacle avoidment, suitable in unknown environments. This method of path planning always tracks the local target expected as the optimal one, and the result of continuous tracking becomes the first generated moving path. This path, however, do not regard the collision with obstacles. Thus, this paper suggests a new method of obstacle avoidance resembled with the Potential Field method. Finally, a simulation confirms the performance and correctness of the path planning and obstacle avoidance, suggested in this paper.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.1876-1885
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• 2003

The artificial potential field (APF) methods provide simple and efficient motion planners for practical purposes. However, these methods have a local minimum problem, which can trap an object before reaching its goal. The local minimum problem is sometimes inevitable when an object moves in unknown environments, because the object cannot predict local minima before it detects obstacles forming the local minima. The avoidance of local minima has been an active research topic in the potential field based path planing. In this study, we propose a new concept using a virtual obstacle to escape local minima that occur in local path planning. A virtual obstacle is located around local minima to repel an object from local minima. We also propose the discrete modeling method for the modeling of arbitrary shaped objects used in this approach. This modeling method is adaptable for real-time path planning because it is reliable and provides lower complexity.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.64 no.7
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• pp.1081-1087
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• 2015

Recently, the researches of aerial drones are actively executed in various areas, the researches of surface drones and underwater drones are also executed in marine areas. In case of surface drones, they essentially utilize acoustic information by the sonar and consequently have the local information in the obstacle avoidance as the sonar has the limitations due to the beam width and detection range. In order to overcome this, more global method that utilizes optical images by the camera is required. Related to this, the aerial drone with the camera is desirable as the obstacle detection of the surface drone with the camera is impossible in case of the existence of clutters. However, the dynamic-floating aerial drone is not desirable for the long-term operation as its power consumption is high. To solve this problem, a collaborative obstacle avoidance method based on the acoustic information by the sonar of the surface drone and the optical image by the camera of the static-floating aerial drone is proposed. To verify the performance of the proposed method, the collaborative obstacle avoidances of a MSD(Micro Surface Drone) with an OAS(Obstacle Avoidance Sonar) and a BMAD(Balloon-based Micro Aerial Drone) with a camera are executed. The test results show the possibility of real applications and the need for additional studies.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.145-155
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• 2010

This paper presents a new approach to obstacle avoidance for mobile robot in unknown or partially unknown environments. The method combines two navigation subsystems: low level and high level. The low level subsystem takes part in the control of linear, angular velocities using a multivariable PI controller, and the nonlinear position control. The high level subsystem uses ultrasonic and IR sensors to detect the unknown obstacle include static and dynamic obstacle. This approach provides both obstacle avoidance and target-following behaviors and uses only the local information for decision making for the next action. Also, we propose a new algorithm for the identification and solution of the local minima situation during the robot's traversal using the set of fuzzy rules. The system has been successfully demonstrated by simulations and experiments.