Hierarchical Behavior Control of Mobile Robot Based on Space & Time Sensor Fusion(STSF)

Navigation in environments that are densely cluttered with obstacles is still a challenge for Autonomous Ground Vehicles (AGVs), especially when the configuration of obstacles is not known a priori. Reactive local navigation schemes that tightly couple the robot actions to the sensor information have proved to be effective in these environments, and because of the environmental uncertainties, STSF(Space and Time Sensor Fusion)-based fuzzy behavior systems have been proposed. Realization of autonomous behavior in mobile robots, using STSF control based on spatial data fusion, requires formulation of rules which are collectively responsible for necessary levels of intelligence. This collection of rules can be conveniently decomposed and efficiently implemented as a hierarchy of fuzzy-behaviors. This paper describes how this can be done using a behavior-based architecture. The approach is motivated by ethological models which suggest hierarchical organizations of behavior. Experimental results show that the proposed method can smoothly and effectively guide a robot through cluttered environments such as dense forests.