A decentralized, harmonic, potential field-based controller for steering dynamic agents in a cluttered environment

Ahmad A. Masoud

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

In this paper a separation maintenance controller is developed for continuously steering a purposive, dynamic group of mobile agents away from each other in a confined, cluttered environment. The controller allows conflict-free, simultaneous use of space by the agents. It has a decentralized form that is constructed in conformity with the artificial life approach to behavior synthesis. The G-type control action used individually by the agents to govern their motion (also known as the control protocol) is extracted from a harmonic potential field. The overall controller governing the group (P-type control) has a decentralized, self-organizing, asynchronous nature with a computational effort that linearly grows with the number of agents. The capabilities of the controller are demonstrated by simulation. Proofs that the agents can avoid self and environment collision as well as converge to their targets are provided.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2010 IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics, AIM 2010
Pages503-508
Number of pages6
DOIs
StatePublished - 2010

Publication series

NameIEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics, AIM

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Control and Systems Engineering
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Software

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