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Multiple manipulators path planning using double A*

Pedro Tavares (University of Porto, Porto, Portugal, and INESC TEC, Porto, Portugal)
José Lima (INESC TEC, Porto, Portugal and Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Bragança, Portugal)
Pedro Costa (University of Porto, Porto, Portugal, and INESC TEC, Porto, Portugal)
A. Paulo Moreira (University of Porto, Porto, Portugal, and INESC TEC, Porto, Portugal)

Industrial Robot

ISSN: 0143-991x

Article publication date: 17 October 2016

461

Abstract

Purpose

Streamlining automated processes is currently undertaken by developing optimization methods and algorithms for robotic manipulators. This paper aims to present a new approach to improve streamlining of automatic processes. This new approach allows for multiple robotic manipulators commonly found in the industrial environment to handle different scenarios, thus providing a high-flexibility solution to automated processes.

Design/methodology/approach

The developed system is based on a spatial discretization methodology capable of describing the surrounding environment of the robot, followed by a novel path-planning algorithm. Gazebo was the simulation engine chosen, and the robotic manipulator used was the Universal Robot 5 (UR5). The proposed system was tested using the premises of two robotic challenges: EuRoC and Amazon Picking Challenge.

Findings

The developed system was able to identify and describe the influence of each joint in the Cartesian space, and it was possible to control multiple robotic manipulators safely regardless of any obstacles in a given scene.

Practical implications

This new system was tested in both real and simulated environments, and data collected showed that this new system performed well in real-life scenarios, such as EuRoC and Amazon Picking Challenge.

Originality/value

The new proposed approach can be valuable in the robotics field with applications in various industrial scenarios, as it provides a flexible solution for multiple robotic manipulator path and motion planning.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The research leading to these results has received funding from the project “NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000020”, which is financed by the North Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, and through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Citation

Tavares, P., Lima, J., Costa, P. and Paulo Moreira, A. (2016), "Multiple manipulators path planning using double A*", Industrial Robot, Vol. 43 No. 6, pp. 657-664. https://doi.org/10.1108/IR-01-2016-0006

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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