Probabilistic Sampling Networks for Hybrid Structure Planning in Semi-Structured Environments

The advancement of adaptable industrial robots in intelligent manufacturing is hindered by the inefficiency of traditional motion planning methods in high-dimensional spaces. Therefore, a Dempster–Shafer evidence theory-based hybrid motion planner is proposed, in which a probabilistic sampling network (PSNet) and an enhanced artificial potential field (EAPF) cooperate with each other to improve the planning performance. The PSNet architecture comprises two modules: a motion planning module (MPM) and a fusion sampling module (FSM). The MPM utilizes sensor data alongside the robot’s current and target configurations to recursively generate diverse multimodal distributions of the next configuration. Based on the distribution information, the FSM was used as a decision-maker to ultimately generate globally connectable paths. Moreover, the FSM is equipped to correct collision path points caused by network inaccuracies through Gaussian resampling. Simultaneously, an augmented artificial potential field with a dynamic rotational field is deployed to repair local paths when worst-case collision scenarios occur. This collaborative strategy harmoniously unites the complementary strengths of both components, thereby enhancing the overall resilience and adaptability of the motion planning system. Experiments were conducted in various environments. The results demonstrate that the proposed method can quickly find directly connectable paths in diverse environments while reliably avoiding sudden obstacles.