NAVIGATION AND FORMATION CONTROL EMPLOYING COMPLEMENTARY VIRTUAL LEADERS FOR COMPLEX MANEUVERS

Abstract

Complex maneuvers of formations of car-like autonomous vehicles are investigated in this paper. The proposed algorithm provides a complete plan for the formation to solve desired tasks and actual control inputs for each robot to ensure collision-free trajectories with respect to neighboring robots as well as dynamic obstacles. The method is based on utilization of complementary virtual leaders whose control inputs are obtained in one merged optimization process using receding horizon control methodologies. The functionality of the system, which enables reverse driving and arbitrary rotations of formations of nonholonomic robots, is verified by simulations of multi-robot tasks and by hardware experiments.