This study presents the development and implementation of an autonomous obstacle avoidance algorithm for an UGV (Unmanned Ground Vehicle). This research improves the prior work by enhancing the obstacle avoidance capability to handle moving obstacles as well as stationary obstacles. A mathematical representation of the area of operation with obstacles is formulated by PTEM (Probabilistic Threat Exposure Map). The PTEM quantifies the risk in being at a position in an area with different types of obstacles. A LRF (Laser Range Finder) sensor is mounted on the UGV for obstacle data in the area that is used to construct the PTEM. A guidance algorithm processes the PTEM and generates the speed and heading commands to steer the UGV to assigned waypoints while avoiding obstacles. The main contribution of this research is to improve the PTEM framework by updating it continuously as new LRF readings are obtained, on the contrary to the prior work with fixed PTEM. The improved PTEM construction algorithm is implemented in a MATLAB/Simulink simulation environment that includes models of the UGV, LRF, all the sensors and actuators needed for the control of the UGV. The performance of the algorithm is also demonstrated in real time experiments with an actual UGV system.
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Details
Title
PTEM based moving obstacle detection and avoidance for an unmanned ground vehicle
Publication Details
ASME 2017 Dynamic Systems and Control Conference, Vol.2
Resource Type
Conference proceeding
Conference
ASME 2017 Dynamic Systems and Control Conference (Tysons, Virginia, USA, 10/11/2017–10/13/2017)
Publisher
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Series
2
Copyright
2018 American Society for Mechanical Engineering
Identifiers
99380090787406600
Academic Unit
Intelligent Systems and Robotics; Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering