A model-predictive approach to formation control of omnidirectional mobile robots

— This paper presents a solution to the problem of steering a group of real omnidirectional mobile robots along a given path, while maintaining a desired formation pattern. This problem can be divided into a leader agent subproblem and a follower agent subproblem such that a leader agent follows a given path and each follower agent tracks a trajectory, estimated by using the leader’s information. In this paper, we exploit nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) as a local control law for real-world experiments due to its advantages of taking the robot constraints and future information into account. To solve the path following problem for the leader agent, we propose to integrate the rate of progression of a virtual vehicle to be followed along that path into the local cost function of NMPC. After the open-loop optimization problem is solved, the optimal rate of progression at each time step in the future is obtained. This information and the leader’s current state are broadcas...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2008
• Where: IROS
• Authors: Kiattisin Kanjanawanishkul, Andreas Zell
• Keywords: Follower Agent, IROS 2008, Leader Agent, Omnidirectional Mobile Robots, Robotics