Maritime Search Path Planning Method of an Unmanned Surface Vehicle Based on an Improved Bug Algorithm

Due to the complicated and changing circumstances of the sea environment, path planning technology is essential for unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) to fulfill search tasks. In most cases, the location of the underwater target is unknown, so it is necessary to completely cover the search area. In th...

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Main Authors: Xiuling Wang, Yong Yin, Qianfeng Jing
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-12-01
Series:Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/11/12/2320
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author Xiuling Wang
Yong Yin
Qianfeng Jing
author_facet Xiuling Wang
Yong Yin
Qianfeng Jing
author_sort Xiuling Wang
collection DOAJ
description Due to the complicated and changing circumstances of the sea environment, path planning technology is essential for unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) to fulfill search tasks. In most cases, the location of the underwater target is unknown, so it is necessary to completely cover the search area. In this paper, the global static path is planned using a parallel line scan search. When encountering unknown obstacles, the improved Bug algorithm is used for local dynamic path planning according to the sensor detection information. This paper first sets up the safe expansion area to ensure the safety of the USV during the obstacle avoidance process and optimizes the movement direction considering the operation and behavior characteristics of the USV. To meet the requirement of USV steering, the Bezier curve is used to smooth the path points, which greatly improves the smoothness of the path. In this paper, the multi-mode switching strategy of the Bug algorithm based on obstacle boundary width obtained by the sensor is proposed, which ensures no area omissions and meets the requirement of search area coverage during the process of bypassing obstacles. The simulation results show that the improved Bug algorithm can maintain a safe distance along the obstacle boundary to bypass the obstacle. Moreover, the improved Bug algorithm effectively improves the path oscillation phenomenon of traditional Bug and shortens the path length and operating time. Finally, through the global search path planning simulation and comparison experiments, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified.
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spelling doaj.art-5f802e3616c043ad9b92aa3e10658fd22023-12-22T14:18:55ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122023-12-011112232010.3390/jmse11122320Maritime Search Path Planning Method of an Unmanned Surface Vehicle Based on an Improved Bug AlgorithmXiuling Wang0Yong Yin1Qianfeng Jing2Navigation College, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, ChinaNavigation College, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, ChinaNavigation College, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, ChinaDue to the complicated and changing circumstances of the sea environment, path planning technology is essential for unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) to fulfill search tasks. In most cases, the location of the underwater target is unknown, so it is necessary to completely cover the search area. In this paper, the global static path is planned using a parallel line scan search. When encountering unknown obstacles, the improved Bug algorithm is used for local dynamic path planning according to the sensor detection information. This paper first sets up the safe expansion area to ensure the safety of the USV during the obstacle avoidance process and optimizes the movement direction considering the operation and behavior characteristics of the USV. To meet the requirement of USV steering, the Bezier curve is used to smooth the path points, which greatly improves the smoothness of the path. In this paper, the multi-mode switching strategy of the Bug algorithm based on obstacle boundary width obtained by the sensor is proposed, which ensures no area omissions and meets the requirement of search area coverage during the process of bypassing obstacles. The simulation results show that the improved Bug algorithm can maintain a safe distance along the obstacle boundary to bypass the obstacle. Moreover, the improved Bug algorithm effectively improves the path oscillation phenomenon of traditional Bug and shortens the path length and operating time. Finally, through the global search path planning simulation and comparison experiments, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/11/12/2320unmanned surface vehicle (USV)maritime searchpath planningBug algorithm
spellingShingle Xiuling Wang
Yong Yin
Qianfeng Jing
Maritime Search Path Planning Method of an Unmanned Surface Vehicle Based on an Improved Bug Algorithm
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
unmanned surface vehicle (USV)
maritime search
path planning
Bug algorithm
title Maritime Search Path Planning Method of an Unmanned Surface Vehicle Based on an Improved Bug Algorithm
title_full Maritime Search Path Planning Method of an Unmanned Surface Vehicle Based on an Improved Bug Algorithm
title_fullStr Maritime Search Path Planning Method of an Unmanned Surface Vehicle Based on an Improved Bug Algorithm
title_full_unstemmed Maritime Search Path Planning Method of an Unmanned Surface Vehicle Based on an Improved Bug Algorithm
title_short Maritime Search Path Planning Method of an Unmanned Surface Vehicle Based on an Improved Bug Algorithm
title_sort maritime search path planning method of an unmanned surface vehicle based on an improved bug algorithm
topic unmanned surface vehicle (USV)
maritime search
path planning
Bug algorithm
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/11/12/2320
work_keys_str_mv AT xiulingwang maritimesearchpathplanningmethodofanunmannedsurfacevehiclebasedonanimprovedbugalgorithm
AT yongyin maritimesearchpathplanningmethodofanunmannedsurfacevehiclebasedonanimprovedbugalgorithm
AT qianfengjing maritimesearchpathplanningmethodofanunmannedsurfacevehiclebasedonanimprovedbugalgorithm