Research on Navigation Path Planning for An Underground Load Haul Dump

The improved A * algorithm is a method of navigation path planning for articulated underground scrapers. Firstly, an environment model based on a mining Geographic Information System (GIS) map is established, and then combined with improved A * algorithm, the underground global path planning problem of the intelligent Load Haul Dump (LHD) is solved. In this paper, for the articulated structure, the method of expanding nodes by articulation angle is adopted to make expanded nodes meet the trajectory characteristics. In addition, collision threat cost is introduced in the evaluation function to avoid collisions between the LHD and the tunnel walls. As peran analysis of the simulation test to verify the effectiveness of the improved A * algorithm and a comparison with the traditional A * algorithm, the improved A * algorithm can enhance search efficiency. Acontrast of multiple sets of test parameters suggests that when the price weighted coefficient of collision is 0.2, the shortest path can be derived to avoid impact. Finally, tracking results indicate that the proposed algorithm for navigation path planning can maintain the tracking error to within 0.2 m in line with the structural characteristics of the scraper in the laboratory environment to realize the path planning of unmanned scrapers and trajectory tracking. Moreover, the algorithm can enhance the safety of scrapers and prevent roadway collisions. The feasibility and practicality of the proposed method is verified in this work.