Navigational strategies of mobile robots: a review

Abstract

Present research and development in the area of mobile robots mainly aims at study of various techniques, methods and sensors being used for navigation of mobile robots. Different techniques have been discussed for the navigation of mobile robots in the first part. These techniques can be subdivided as (1) fuzzy logic technique, (2) neural network technique and (3) genetic algorithm technique. In the second part, five methods are being discussed for navigation of mobile robots. These methods are (1) potential field method, (2) grid-type method, (3) heuristic method, (4) adaptive navigation method and (5) Virtual Impedance method. The last segment focuses on different sensors being used for navigation of mobile robots. The sensors discussed are (1) ultrasonic sensor, (2) laser sensor, (3) magnetic compass disk sensor, (4) infrared sensor and (5) vision (camera) sensor. Keeping the above strategies in forefront, a comprehensive discussion has been made and is described methodologically in the current paper.