This paper investigates the motion-planning problem for an unmanned surface vehicle (USV), in which the goal is to find the shortest search time, the shortest path in navigational waters, all subject to collision avoidance and USV dynamics constraints. A new motion-planning method is proposed, based on topological position relationships (TPR), to achieve this solution. Firstly, the TPR of the obstacles and the USV are constructed, based on the spatial distribution of the obstacles. This gives an overall topological navigation map, which is different from the usual grid-based map. Secondly, a numerical model of unit decomposition is built to constrain the dynamics of the USV, so that the motion of the USV better fits the exact situation. Motion planning in this study is achieved by combining the topological navigation map and a numerical model of the USV. Finally, Numerical simulations and field tests verify the effectiveness of our formulated model and proposed algorithm.

The maneuvering characteristics of the unmanned surface vehicle itself are very important to motion planning due to the limited water scale area. If the size, motion state, and maneuvering characteristics of the unmanned surface vehicle are not considered, the shortest path obtained is actually not feasible in the restricted waters. In this article, the widely used A* algorithm is improved by accounting for the maneuvering characteristics of the unmanned surface vehicle, named as the Label-A* Algorithm, which is further employed to fix the problem related to the motion planning for the unmanned surface vehicle in restricted waters. The solution to the motion planning mainly contains three stages. First, the unmanned surface vehicle trajectory unit library is established based on its maneuvering characteristics; second, an improved label-A* Algorithm is constructed, and the unmanned surface vehicle motion planning method is proposed with the trajectory unit, which is suitable for the restricted waters; Finally, numerical simulations and filed tests are designed to verify the formulated model and proposed algorithm. The motion planning method can simultaneously meet the state constraints, maneuvering characteristics constraints, and water scale constraints of unmanned surface vehicle.

The essence of the path planning problems is multi-modality constraint. However, most of the current literature has not mentioned this issue. This paper introduces the research progress of path planning based on the multi-modality constraint. The path planning of multi-modality constraint research can be classified into three stages in terms of its basic ingredients (such as shape, kinematics and dynamics et al.): Route Planning, Trajectory Planning and Motion Planning. It then reviews the research methods and classical algorithms, especially those applied to the Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) in every stage. Finally, the paper points out some existing problems in every stage and suggestions for future research.