Jiajun Liu’s research while affiliated with Huazhong Agricultural University and other places

To address the path planning problem for automated guided vehicles (AGVs) in challenging and complex industrial environments, a hybrid optimization approach is proposed, integrating a Kalman filter with grey wolf optimization (GWO), as well as incorporating partially matched crossover (PMX) mutation operations and roulette wheel selection. Paths are first optimized using GWO, then refined with Kalman filter corrections every ten iterations. Moreover, roulette wheel selection guides robust parent path selection, while an elite strategy and partially matched crossover (PMX) with mutation generate diverse offspring. Extensive simulations and experiments were carried out under a densely packed goods scenario and complex indoor layout scenario, within a fully automated warehouse environment. The results showed that this hybrid method not only enhanced the various optimization metrics but also ensured more predictable and collision-free navigation paths, particularly in environments with complex obstacles. These improvements lead to increased operational efficiency and safety, highlighting the method’s potential in real-world applications.