Artifical potential fields with extended Bug algorithm for Mars rover path planning in an unknown environment

In this paper artificial potential fields method applied to autonomous mobile robot -mars rover is presented. It is assumed that Mars rover operates in an unknown environment. In order to visualize the robot's path in environment Matlab software is used. The object can be inserted by graphic data input interface in top view mode. The method of artificial potential fields is extended by an additional algorithm to avoid a local minimum. The proposed algorithm is implemented as a state machine. In this paper simulations results of the developed algorithm are presented. Extended algorithm is used because in the environment may be located complex obstacles.