Document Type

Article

Keywords

Multi-robot exploration Potential field path-planning Autonomous systems

Disciplines

Computer Engineering | Robotics

Abstract

This paper proposes a simple and uniform, decentralized approach to the problem of dispersing a team of robots to explore an area quickly. The Decentralized Space-Based Potential Field (D-SBPF) algorithm is a potential field approach that leverages knowledge of the overall bounds of the area to be explored. It includes a monotonic coverage factor in the potential field to avoid minima, realistic sensor bounds, and a distributed map exchange protocol. The D-SBPF approach yields a simple potential field control strategy for all robots but nonetheless has good dispersion and overlap performance in exploring areas with convex geometry while avoiding potential minima. Both simulation and robot experimental results are included as evidence, and performance, speedup and efficiency metrics for each are presented.

Article Number

1052

Publication Date

2015

Comments

Elsevier Robotics & Autonomous Systems 74 (2015), 66-78

Included in

Robotics Commons

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