A MATLAB App for Teaching Multi-Objective Speed Planning: Minimizing Time and Energy Consumption

Abstract

An important problem in motion planning is the computation of the speed profile along a predefined path, with the objective of minimizing travel time and energy consumption. This is a multi-objective optimization problem of clear industrial relevance. For control engineering students, addressing this problem requires the development of key skills. These include writing the dynamic equations of a road vehicles, formulating a multi-objective optimization problem, and using both convex and non-convex solvers for solving optimization problems. This paper presents a teaching unit focused on the speed planning problem, consisting of an initial lecture-based component delivered by the lecturer, followed by an interactive session supported by the use of a dedicated MATLAB-based application with a graphical user interface. This tool allows users to visualize instances of the speed planning problem and observe how solutions change as the problem parameters vary. Unlike traditional analytical approaches, this tool provides an interactive learning environment, where students can experiment with different scenarios in real time, gaining a more intuitive understanding of the trade-offs in multi-objective optimization.