A lane based obstacle avoidance method for mobile robot navigation

This paper presents a new local obstacle avoidance method for indoor mobile robots. The method uses a new directional approach called the Lane Method. The Lane Method is combined with a velocity space method i.e., the Curvature-Velocity Method to form the Lane-Curvature Method(LCM). The Lane Method divides the work area into lanes, and then chooses the best lane to follow to optimize travel along a desired goal heading. A local heading is then calculated for entering and following the best lane, and CVM uses this local heading to determine the optimal translational and rotational velocities, considering some physical limitations and environmental constraint. By combining both the directional and velocity space methods, LCM yields safe collision-free motion as well as smooth motion taking the physical limitations of the robot motion into account.