Papers for

robotics motion planners

Papers whose findings have a practical use for this group, as judged from the abstract. Open a paper to read what it means in practice.

Safe-horizon control improves motion planning with uncertain obstacle behavior

Distribution-Transfer Safe-Horizon MPC under Mode Uncertainty

Abstract: Scenario-based MPC is an attractive strategy for chance-constrained motion planning that approximates uncertainty via a finite set of sampled scenarios. As a sampling-based method, scenario-based MPC is sensitive to distribution mismatch. We address this problem in the context of Safe-Horizon Model Predictive Control (SH-MPC) with obstacles governed by switching dynamic modes. From finite mode observations, we construct a confidence set for the unknown categorical mode law and derive a multiplicative domination bound that transfers a Safe-Horizon collision-risk certificate from a selected scenario-sampling distribution to every law in the confidence set. Wasserstein geometry is used to regularize probability reallocation among modes according to the similarity of their induced trajectory predictions, while a collision-risk surrogate biases sampling toward dangerous modes. The resulting certificate explicitly quantifies the additional tightening required under distribution mismatch and exposes the multiplicative conservatism that arises when several obstacle-wise transfer factors are combined

Mon 5 OctRobotics
The gist
Motion planning involves steering machines like robots while avoiding obstacles, but obstacles can behave in different ways that aren’t fully known. The authors found a way to safely control movements even when the exact way obstacles move is uncertain. They use a mathematical model that guesses probabilities for different obstacle behaviors and adjust the safety checks to cover all likely scenarios. This helps the system stay safe despite not knowing precisely how obstacles will act.
Open → 2610.07277v1

Fast robust multi-agent motion planning for adversarial space scenarios

Robust Game-theoretic Motion Planning over Extended Time Horizons

Abstract: This work presents a solution to nonconvex, game-theoretic motion planning problems subject to disturbances over long time horizons. The problem is posed as a partially-decoupled generalized Nash equilibrium problem, in which each agent's dynamics depend only on its own state and control, admitting fast solution methods for competitive multi-agent motion planning. An algorithm, WOLF, is developed that applies receding-horizon model predictive control to an open-loop differential games solver based on sequential convexification. In contrast to robust formulations that fix the uncertainty description offline, the robustness tube here is itself a dynamic state, co-optimized with the trajectory, and its thickness directly sets the tightening of the shared coupling constraints. A sufficient condition is derived under which a nominal trajectory satisfying constraints tightened against all agents' error bounds remains feasible for every admissible disturbance realization. The method is demonstrated on two adversarial on-orbit games with coupled translational-attitude dynamics: a stealthy co-orbital jamming game under an active detection-probability bound, and a sun-blocking game in which an adversary disables an evader by decreasing solar power

Sat 26 SeptMultiagent Systems
The gist
Planning safe and effective paths for multiple moving agents is hard when they affect each other and face uncertainty over a long time. The authors propose a method that treats each agent's planning problem separately but links their shared constraints in a game-like setup. They create an algorithm called WOLF that updates the plans repeatedly, accounting for possible disturbances dynamically rather than fixing them in advance. This approach helps keep trajectories safe and feasible even during unexpected problems, demonstrated with space scenarios where satellites compete stealthily or block sunlight.
Open → 2609.32098v1