A Review of UAV Path-Planning Algorithms and Obstacle Avoidance Methods for Remote Sensing Applications

Debnath, Dipraj; Vanegas, Fernando; Sandino, Juan; Hawary, Ahmad Faizul; Gonzalez, Felipe

doi:10.3390/rs16214019

Open AccessReview

A Review of UAV Path-Planning Algorithms and Obstacle Avoidance Methods for Remote Sensing Applications

by

Dipraj Debnath

^1,2,*

,

Fernando Vanegas

^1,2

,

Juan Sandino

^1,2,3

,

Ahmad Faizul Hawary

⁴ and

Felipe Gonzalez

^1,2

¹

School of Electrical Engineering & Robotics, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), QUT S Block, 2 George Street, Brisbane City, QLD 4000, Australia

²

QUT Centre for Robotics (QCR), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Level 11, QUT S Block, 2 George Street, Brisbane City, QLD 4000, Australia

³

Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF), Queensland University of Technology, 2 George Street, Brisbane City, QLD 4000, Australia

⁴

School of Aerospace Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang 14300, Malaysia

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Remote Sens. 2024, 16(21), 4019; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16214019

Submission received: 19 September 2024 / Revised: 25 October 2024 / Accepted: 28 October 2024 / Published: 29 October 2024

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Abstract

The rapid development of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) has significantly increased their usefulness in various fields, particularly in remote sensing. This paper provides a comprehensive review of UAV path planning, obstacle detection, and avoidance methods, with a focus on its utilisation in both single and multiple UAV platforms. The paper classifies the algorithms into two main categories: (1) global and local path-planning approaches in single UAVs; and (2) multi-UAV path-planning methods. It further analyses obstacle detection and avoidance methods, as well as their capacity to adapt, optimise, and compute efficiently in different operational environments. The outcomes highlight the advantages and limitations of each method, offering valuable information regarding their suitability for remote sensing applications, such as precision agriculture, urban mapping, and ecological surveillance. Additionally, this review also identifies limitations in the existing research, specifically in multi-UAV frameworks, and provides recommendations for future developments to improve the adaptability and effectiveness of UAV operations in dynamic and complex situations.

Keywords: UAV; path planning; optimisation; collision avoidance; obstacle detection; remote sensing applications

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MDPI and ACS Style

Debnath, D.; Vanegas, F.; Sandino, J.; Hawary, A.F.; Gonzalez, F. A Review of UAV Path-Planning Algorithms and Obstacle Avoidance Methods for Remote Sensing Applications. Remote Sens. 2024, 16, 4019. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16214019

AMA Style

Debnath D, Vanegas F, Sandino J, Hawary AF, Gonzalez F. A Review of UAV Path-Planning Algorithms and Obstacle Avoidance Methods for Remote Sensing Applications. Remote Sensing. 2024; 16(21):4019. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16214019

Chicago/Turabian Style

Debnath, Dipraj, Fernando Vanegas, Juan Sandino, Ahmad Faizul Hawary, and Felipe Gonzalez. 2024. "A Review of UAV Path-Planning Algorithms and Obstacle Avoidance Methods for Remote Sensing Applications" Remote Sensing 16, no. 21: 4019. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16214019

APA Style

Debnath, D., Vanegas, F., Sandino, J., Hawary, A. F., & Gonzalez, F. (2024). A Review of UAV Path-Planning Algorithms and Obstacle Avoidance Methods for Remote Sensing Applications. Remote Sensing, 16(21), 4019. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16214019

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

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A Review of UAV Path-Planning Algorithms and Obstacle Avoidance Methods for Remote Sensing Applications

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