Question

How to use the method called potential field in path finding ? Could you give me some codes ? The software is Processing

Answer 1

The use of robotics to minimize human efforts has been a popular topics of research for quite a few years. However, one major problem while dealing with robotic machines is path planning and obstacle detection while minimizing the input energy and getting the optimum results. Potential Field Algorithm is one of the most fundamental and traditional algorithms used for such a problem. A potential field is any physical field that obeys Laplace’s equation. Some common examples of potential fields include electrical, magnetic, and gravitational fields. A potential field algorithm uses the artificial potential field to regulate a robot around in a certain space.

The algorithm assigns an artificial potential field to every point in the world using the potential field functions. The robot simulates from the highest potential to the lowest potential. Here, the goal node has the lowest potential while the starting node will have the maximum potential. Hence, we can say that the robot moves from lowest to the highest potential.

Pseudo Code for Potential Field Algorithm:

Here UAV refers to Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Robot)