A Method For Guidance of a Wheeled Mobile Robot Based on Received Radio Signal Strength Measurements ⋆

We propose a new guidance law for the problem of wheeled mobile robot (WMR) navigation towards an unknown target based on Received Signal Strength (RSS) Information. Given a mobile robot moving with a constant linear velocity, we use the miss-distance derivative as a measure for the angle at which the robot approaches the target. Miss-distance derivative is estimated from RSS, using a Robust Extended Kalman Filter (REKF). Having applied the proposed steering control law, termed Equiangular Navigation Guidance (ENG), the robot approaches the stationary or maneuvering target along a semi-equiangular spiral and eventually goes into a circular trajectory around it. In order to avoid circling, the algorithm is modified to decrease the robot’s linear velocity to that of the target as it approaches the moving target and follow it in a smooth trajectory while preserving a safety distance from the target. Eventually, the performance of the guidance law and its effectiveness is confirmed with an extensive simulation study.