An Improved Artificial Potential Field Method for Path Planning and Formation Control of the Multi-UAV Systems

Zhenhua Pan, Chengxi Zhang, Yuanqing Xia*, Hao Xiong, Xiaodong Shao

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

199 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Path planning and formation control are both challenging and critical issues in robotics, which involve computing an optimal path from the initial position to target while keeping the desired formation. This brief studies the path planning and formation control problem for multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (multi-UAVs) in 3-D constrained space. Considering the local minimum of artificial potential function (APF), an effective improved artificial potential function (IAPF) based path planning approach is proposed for the multi-UAV systems. By introducing a rotating potential field, the UAVs can escape from the common local minimum and oscillations efficiently. Afterwards, by using the leader-follower model, a formation controller based on potential function method is developed to ensure that the follower UAVs keep the desired angles and distances with the leader, and a Lyapunov function is designed to analyze the closed-system stability. Finally, simulation studies under different environmental constraints confirm the efficiency of the proposed approaches in addressing the path planning and formation control issues in 3-D space.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1129-1133
Number of pages5
JournalIEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems II: Express Briefs
Volume69
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2022

Keywords

  • Multi-UAV system
  • artificial potential field
  • formation control
  • path planning

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