Real-Time Indoor Path Planning Using Object Detection for Autonomous Flying Robots

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Unknown closed spaces are a big challenge for the navigation of robots since there are no global and pre-defined positioning options in the area. One of the simplest and most efficient algorithms, the artificial potential field algorithm (APF), may provide real-time navigation in those places but fall into local minimum in some cases. To overcome this problem and to present alternative escape routes for a robot, possible crossing points in buildings may be detected by using object detection and included in the path planning algorithm. This study utilized a proposed sensor fusion method and an improved object classification method for detecting windows, doors, and stairs in buildings and these objects were classified as valid or invalid for the path planning algorithm. The performance of the approach was evaluated in a simulated environment with a quadrotor that was equipped with camera and laser imaging detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensors to navigate through an unknown closed space and reach a desired goal point. Inclusion of crossing points allows the robot to escape from areas where it is congested. The navigation of the robot has been tested in different scenarios based on the proposed path planning algorithm and compared with other improved APF methods. The results showed that the improved APF methods and the methods reinforced with other path planning algorithms were similar in performance with the proposed method for the same goals in the same room. For the goals outside the current room, traditional APF methods were quite unsuccessful in reaching the goals. Even though improved methods were able to reach some outside targets, the proposed method gave approximately 17% better results than the most successful example in achieving targets outside the current room. The proposed method can also work in real-time to discover a building and navigate between rooms.