Development and Assessment of an Automated Obstacle Avoidance System Based on Laser Ranging Technology

Abstract

The increasing demand for water operations has driven the adoption of small unmanned vessels as essential tools due to their flexibility, compactness, and labor-saving capabilities. However, these vessels face challenges in navigating complex water conditions, where obstacles can cause significant damage. This study develops an automatic obstacle avoidance system leveraging laser ranging technology to provide accurate, low-cost, and robust obstacle detection and navigation for small unmanned ships. The system determines the relative position and velocity of obstacles, enabling proactive avoidance. Testing demonstrated its effectiveness in detecting and evading obstacles, ensuring safe operation. While the system performs well in accuracy, response speed, and robustness, future work will address its adaptability to diverse sea conditions, vessel types, and the recognition of obstacle size, shape, and motion state.