Evolution of path finding

Abstract

Based on evolutionary computation (EC) concepts, we developed an evolutionary navigator (EN) as an approach to path planning and navigation. The EN is characterized by generality, flexibility and adaptability. It integrates the planning process in the evolutionary algorithm, which: (1) accommodates different optimization criteria and changes in these criteria; (2) incorporates various types of problem specific domain knowledge; and (3) enables good tradeoffs among near-optimality of paths, high planning efficiency and effective handling of unknown obstacles.