A Predictive Guidance Obstacle Avoidance Algorithm for AUV in Unknown Environments

A predictive guidance obstacle avoidance algorithm (PGOA) in unknown environments is proposed for autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) that must adapt to multiple complex obstacle environments. Using the environmental information collected by the Forward-looking Sonar (FLS), the obstacle boundary is simplified by the convex algorithm and Bessel interpolation. Combining the predictive control secondary optimization function and the obstacle avoidance weight function, the predicting obstacle avoidance trajectory parameters are obtained. According to different types of obstacle environments, the corresponding obstacle avoidance rules are formulated. Lastly, combining with the obstacle avoidance parameters and rules, the AUV’s predicting obstacle avoidance trajectory point is obtained. Then AUV can successfully achieve obstacle avoidance using the guidance algorithm. The simulation results show that the PGOA algorithm can better predict the trajectory point of the obstacle avoidance path of AUV, and the secondary optimization function can successfully achieve collision avoidance for different complex obstacle environments. Lastly, comparing the execution efficiency and cost of different algorithms, which deal with various complex obstacle environments, simulation experiment results indicate the high efficiency and great adaptability of the proposed algorithm.