SmartExplorer1.0: A Novel Intelligent Framework for Path Planning in Robotics

Autonomous systems require advanced path planning to ensure safe and efficient navigation through complex terrains. The SmartExplorer1.0 algorithm (SE1.0) utilizes Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) as input to identify navigable areas and plan optimal routes by incorporating terrain gradients, obstacle...

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Main Authors: Chiara Furio, Angelo Ugenti, Giulio Reina, Mario Massimo Foglia, Luciano Lamberti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IEEE 2025-01-01
Series:IEEE Access
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Online Access:https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11027135/
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author Chiara Furio
Angelo Ugenti
Giulio Reina
Mario Massimo Foglia
Luciano Lamberti
author_facet Chiara Furio
Angelo Ugenti
Giulio Reina
Mario Massimo Foglia
Luciano Lamberti
author_sort Chiara Furio
collection DOAJ
description Autonomous systems require advanced path planning to ensure safe and efficient navigation through complex terrains. The SmartExplorer1.0 algorithm (SE1.0) utilizes Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) as input to identify navigable areas and plan optimal routes by incorporating terrain gradients, obstacle types, and environmental conditions. Compared to traditional methods such as A<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${}^{\ast }$ </tex-math></inline-formula> or the Artificial Potential Field (APF), and modern metaheuristic methods such as Rapidly-Exploring Random Tree <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\ast $ </tex-math></inline-formula> (RRT<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\ast $ </tex-math></inline-formula>), SE1.0 offers superior adaptability. It complies with varying vehicle specifications while considering factors like soil granularity, slope consistency, heat sources and electromagnetic fields, elements often overlooked by conventional approaches. This integration allows for more precise and context-aware navigation, especially in dynamic or complex environments. The algorithm defines accessible regions and penalizes hazardous zones. Starting from specified initial and target points, it iteratively evaluates potential movements by optimizing an objective function to determine the optimal path. This approach not only visualizes accessible and non-accessible areas but also produces actionable data files for practical use, such as a list of trajectory points, which can be used to activate control sensors with pinpoint accuracy and enables the calculation of both completed trajectory and remaining path to be traveled. Its flexibility and comprehensive integration of environmental and vehicle-specific parameters make SE1.0 a versatile solution for autonomous navigation in challenging environments. The efficiency and versatility of SE1.0 are demonstrated by solving various path planning problems on DTMs also considering real world applications that involve the use of the DUNE rover.
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spelling doaj-art-a2def5172bd54ac5bfc489f55d8b95992025-08-20T03:44:53ZengIEEEIEEE Access2169-35362025-01-011310000210003010.1109/ACCESS.2025.357746411027135SmartExplorer1.0: A Novel Intelligent Framework for Path Planning in RoboticsChiara Furio0https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8552-1094Angelo Ugenti1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8396-3966Giulio Reina2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1793-4419Mario Massimo Foglia3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5352-704XLuciano Lamberti4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9845-8786Department of Mechanics, Mathematics and Management, Polytechnic University of Bari, Bari, ItalyDepartment of Mechanics, Mathematics and Management, Polytechnic University of Bari, Bari, ItalyDepartment of Mechanics, Mathematics and Management, Polytechnic University of Bari, Bari, ItalyDepartment of Mechanics, Mathematics and Management, Polytechnic University of Bari, Bari, ItalyDepartment of Mechanics, Mathematics and Management, Polytechnic University of Bari, Bari, ItalyAutonomous systems require advanced path planning to ensure safe and efficient navigation through complex terrains. The SmartExplorer1.0 algorithm (SE1.0) utilizes Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) as input to identify navigable areas and plan optimal routes by incorporating terrain gradients, obstacle types, and environmental conditions. Compared to traditional methods such as A<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${}^{\ast }$ </tex-math></inline-formula> or the Artificial Potential Field (APF), and modern metaheuristic methods such as Rapidly-Exploring Random Tree <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\ast $ </tex-math></inline-formula> (RRT<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\ast $ </tex-math></inline-formula>), SE1.0 offers superior adaptability. It complies with varying vehicle specifications while considering factors like soil granularity, slope consistency, heat sources and electromagnetic fields, elements often overlooked by conventional approaches. This integration allows for more precise and context-aware navigation, especially in dynamic or complex environments. The algorithm defines accessible regions and penalizes hazardous zones. Starting from specified initial and target points, it iteratively evaluates potential movements by optimizing an objective function to determine the optimal path. This approach not only visualizes accessible and non-accessible areas but also produces actionable data files for practical use, such as a list of trajectory points, which can be used to activate control sensors with pinpoint accuracy and enables the calculation of both completed trajectory and remaining path to be traveled. Its flexibility and comprehensive integration of environmental and vehicle-specific parameters make SE1.0 a versatile solution for autonomous navigation in challenging environments. The efficiency and versatility of SE1.0 are demonstrated by solving various path planning problems on DTMs also considering real world applications that involve the use of the DUNE rover.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11027135/Planetary exploration roversautonomous navigationdigital terrain modelsenvironmental factorsobstacle avoidancepath planning
spellingShingle Chiara Furio
Angelo Ugenti
Giulio Reina
Mario Massimo Foglia
Luciano Lamberti
SmartExplorer1.0: A Novel Intelligent Framework for Path Planning in Robotics
IEEE Access
Planetary exploration rovers
autonomous navigation
digital terrain models
environmental factors
obstacle avoidance
path planning
title SmartExplorer1.0: A Novel Intelligent Framework for Path Planning in Robotics
title_full SmartExplorer1.0: A Novel Intelligent Framework for Path Planning in Robotics
title_fullStr SmartExplorer1.0: A Novel Intelligent Framework for Path Planning in Robotics
title_full_unstemmed SmartExplorer1.0: A Novel Intelligent Framework for Path Planning in Robotics
title_short SmartExplorer1.0: A Novel Intelligent Framework for Path Planning in Robotics
title_sort smartexplorer1 0 a novel intelligent framework for path planning in robotics
topic Planetary exploration rovers
autonomous navigation
digital terrain models
environmental factors
obstacle avoidance
path planning
url https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11027135/
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AT mariomassimofoglia smartexplorer10anovelintelligentframeworkforpathplanninginrobotics
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