Path planning and obstacle avoidance for UAVs using Theta* and modulated velocity obstacle avoidance with 2D LiDAR

Abstract

This paper proposes a novel framework for autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) navigation in complex environments, seamlessly integrating Theta* for global path planning with a simplified modulated velocity obstacle avoidance (MVOA) algorithm for local obstacle avoidance. Theta* generates optimal, smooth paths, while MVOA processes 2D LiDAR data as a single obstacle block to compute modulated velocities, enabling efficient avoidance of static and dynamic obstacles with minimal computational overhead. Compared to MVOA-only navigation, the integration of Theta* and MVOA produced shorter trajectories and faster mission completion with smoother velocity adjustments, demonstrating clear improvements in efficiency and stability. Simulation results show the framework maintains a 0.6 m safety distance and operates at 10 Hz, underscoring its robustness and reliability. The resulting control velocity is transmitted to an ArduPilot-based flight controller via MAVLink, ensuring precise, real-time execution. The current implementation focuses on 2D navigation in a planar environment as a foundation for future 3D expansion, with all results obtained through high-fidelity simulation. Building on these findings, the framework shows strong potential for real-time applications such as swarm UAV coordination, terrain surveying, and indoor navigation, offering a scalable solution for autonomous systems in dynamic settings.