This article proposes an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) for solving navigation problems of an autonomous ground vehicle (AGV). The system consists of four ANFIS controllers; two of which are used for regulating both the left and right angular velocities of the AGV in order to reach the target position; and other two ANFIS controllers are used for optimal heading adjustment in order to avoid obstacles. The two velocity controllers receive three sensor inputs: front distance (FD); right distance (RD) and left distance (LD) for the low-level motion control. Two heading controllers deploy the angle difference (AD) between the heading of AGV and the angle to the target to choose the optimal direction. The simulation experiments have been carried out under two different scenarios to investigate the feasibility of the proposed ANFIS technique. The simulation results have been presented using MATLAB software package; showing that ANFIS is capable of performing the navigation and path planning task safely and efficiently in a workspace populated with static obstacles.

An optimal control technique is proposed to address the problem of path tracking of an autonomous ground vehicle. This technique utilizes a Fractional Order Proportional Integral Derivative (FOPID) controller to control a non-holonomic autonomous ground vehicle to track the behaviour of the predefined reference path. Two FOPID controllers are designed to control the vehicle's inputs. These inputs represent the torques that are used in order to manipulate the implemented model of the vehicle to obtain the actual path. The implemented model of the non-holonomic autonomous ground vehicle takes into consideration both of the kinematic and dynamic models. In additional, a Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm is used to optimize the FOPID controllers' parameters. These optimal tuned parameters of FOPID controllers minimize the cost function used in the algorithm. The effectiveness and validation of the proposed method have been verified through different patterns of reference paths using MATLAB-SIMULINK software package. The newly obtained results of FOPID controller show the advantage and the performance of the technique in terms of minimizing path tracking error and the complement of the path following.

3-RRR planar parallel robots are utilized for solving precise material-handling problems in industrial automation applications. Thus, robust and stable control is required to deliver high accuracy in comparison to the state of the art. The operation of the mechanism is achieved based on three revolute (3-RRR) joints which are geometrically designed using an open-loop spatial robotic platform. The inverse kinematic model of the system is derived and analyzed by using the geometric structure with three revolute joints. The main variables in our design are the platform base positions, the geometry of the joint angles, and links of the 3-RRR planar parallel robot. These variables are calculated based on Cayley-Menger determinants and bilateration to determine the final position of the platform when moving and placing objects. Additionally, a proposed fractional order proportional integral derivative (FOPID) is optimized using the bat optimization algorithm to control the path tracking of the center of the 3-RRR planar parallel robot. The design is compared with the state of the art and simulated using the Matlab environment to validate the effectiveness of the proposed controller. Furthermore, real-time implementation has been tested to prove that the design performance is practical.

Purpose: The motion control of unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) is a challenge in the industry of automation. The purpose of this paper is to propose a fuzzy inference system (FIS) based on sensory information for solving the navigation challenge of UGV in cluttered and dynamic environments. Design/methodology/approach: The representation of the dynamic environment is a key element for the operational field and for the testing of the robotic navigation system. If dynamic obstacles move randomly in the operation field, the navigation problem becomes more complicated due to the coordination of the elements for accurate navigation and collision-free path within the environmental representations. This paper considers the construction of the FIS, which consists of two controllers. The first controller uses three sensors based on the obstacles distances from the front, right and left. The second controller employs the angle difference between the heading of the vehicle and the targeted angle to obtain the optimal route based on the environment and reach the desired destination with minimal running power and delay. The proposed design shows an efficient navigation strategy that overcomes the current navigation challenges in dynamic environments. Findings: Experimental analyses are conducted for three different scenarios to investigate the validation and effectiveness of the introduced controllers based on the FIS. The reported simulation results are obtained using MATLAB software package. The results show that the controllers of the FIS consistently perform the manoeuvring task and manage the route plan efficiently, even in a complex environment that is populated with dynamic obstacles. The paper demonstrates that the destination was reached optimally using the shortest free route. Research limitations/implications: The paper represents efforts toward building a dynamic environment filled with dynamic obstacles that move at various speeds and directions. The methodology of designing the FIS is accomplished to guide the UGV to the desired destination while avoiding collisions with obstacles. However, the methodology is approached using two-dimensional analyses. Hence, the paper suggests several extensions and variations to develop a three-dimensional strategy for further improvement. Originality/value: This paper presents the design of a FIS and its characterizations in dynamic environments, specifically for obstacles that move at different velocities. This facilitates an improved functionality of the operation of UGV.