Nonlinear Model Predictive Control for Omnidirectional Robot Motion Planning and Tracking With Avoidance of Moving Obstacles

This paper presents a nonlinear model predictive control algorithm for online motion planning and tracking of an omnidirectional autonomous robot. The formalism is based on a Hamiltonian minimization to optimize a control path as evaluated by a cost function. This minimization is constrained by a nonlinear plant model, which confines the solution space to those paths which are physically feasible. The cost function penalizes tracking error, control amplitude, and the presence in a potential field cast by moving obstacles and Boards. An experiment is presented demonstrating the successful navigation of a field of stationary obstacles. Simulations are presented demonstrating that the algorithm enables the robot to react dynamically to moving obstacles.