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Alessandro Bonetti

Publications and source records attributed to Alessandro Bonetti.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

A traffic management system for large and heterogeneous vehicles in narrow industrial environments

The coordination of Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) in high-density industrial environments represents a critical challenge within Logistics 4.0, as traditional traffic management methods often lead to inefficiencies caused by negotiation-based priority assignment. To overcome the resulting limitations, this paper presents an innovative AGV traffic management system based on a Lifelong Multi-Agent Path Finding (L-MAPF) algorithm operating on roadmaps generated with Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS) curves. The approach guarantees locally optimal coordination and ensures safe operation of large and heterogeneous AGVs. Building on this concept, the proposed framework integrates a modified version of the Bounded Horizon Conflict Based Search (CBS) technique within a Rolling Horizon Conflict Resolution strategy, utilizing an extended time horizon for each agent to enable effective conflict resolution in corridors identified by a topological map. In contrast to state-of-the-art methods for AGV fleet traffic management, the proposed solution is designed for real-world, non-standardized (i.e., non-grid-like) industrial settings characterized by narrow bidirectional corridors and high-traffic density, where AGVs of various sizes and capabilities operate simultaneously. Key contributions include an anytime conflict resolution strategy with adaptive time horizon regulation, an execution layer for safe and standard-compliant interaction with real AGVs, and an advanced mechanism for deadlock detection and resolution. Experimental results obtained in realistic industrial environments demonstrate higher throughput, with improvements of up to 11% over a conventional rule-based traffic management system, a state-of-the-art industrial method, and a priority-based L-MAPF variant, while maintaining continuous operation and improved efficiency.

cs.RO

Improved path planning algorithms for non-holonomic autonomous vehicles in industrial environments with narrow corridors: Roadmap Hybrid A* and Waypoints Hybrid B*. Roadmap hybrid A* and Waypoints hybrid A* Pseudocodes

This paper proposes two novel path planning algorithms, Roadmap Hybrid A* and Waypoints Hybrid A*, for car-like autonomous vehicles in logistics and industrial contexts with obstacles (e.g., pallets or containers) and narrow corridors. Roadmap Hybrid A* combines Hybrid A* with a graph search algorithm applied to a static roadmap. The former enables obstacle avoidance and flexibility, whereas the latter provides greater robustness, repeatability, and computational speed. Waypoint Hybrid A*, on the other hand, generates waypoints using a topological map of the environment to guide Hybrid A* to the target pose, reducing complexity and search time. Both algorithms enable predetermined control over the shape of desired parts of the path, for example, to obtain precise docking maneuvers to service machines and to eliminate unnecessary steering changes produced by Hybrid A* in corridors, thanks to the roadmap and/or the waypoints. To evaluate the performance of these algorithms, we conducted a simulation study in an industrial plant where a robot must navigate narrow corridors to serve machines in different areas. In terms of computational time, total length, reverse length path, and other metrics, both algorithms outperformed the standard Hybrid A*.

cs.RO

Dielectrophoretic Assembly of High-Density Arrays of Individual Graphene Devices for Rapid Screening

We establish the use of dielectrophoresis for the directed parallel assembly of individual flakes and nanoribbons of few-layer graphene into electronic devices. This is a bottom-up approach where source and drain electrodes are prefabricated and the flakes are deposited from a solution using an alternating electric field applied between the electrodes. These devices are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and electron transport measurements. They are shown to be electrically active and their current carrying capacity and subsequent failure mechanism is revealed. Akin to carbon nanotubes, we show that the dielectrophoretic deposition is self-limiting to one flake per device and is scalable to ultra-large-scale integration densities, thereby enabling the rapid screening of a large number of devices.

cond-mat.mes-hall