Potential Field Navigation

Robotics Engineering

How It Works

Artificial potential field navigation is a reactive robotic path-planning framework that models the navigating robot as a mass particle operating under the influence of a synthesized artificial potential energy field. The target goal configuration establishes an attractive parabolic potential gradient pulling the robot toward completion, while obstacles generate repulsive potential barriers. The robot continuously descends along the net resultant potential force vector to circumvent barriers.

Governing Equation
F_{net} = -∇ U_{att}(q) - ∇ U_{rep}(q) = -k_{att}(q - q_{goal}) + k_{rep}(1 / d - 1 / d_0)1 / d^2∇ d