Hybrid algorithms for drone path optimization
Aryyaneel Sakia, Saifuddin Ahmed, Pubali Sonowal, Bhargab Dutta, Dhruba Jyoti Nath, Diplu Borah, Sabyasachi Bhattacharyya · 2025
The use of UAVs is expanding into search and rescue, surveillance, delivery distribution, and environmental monitoring. Nevertheless, path planning in dynamic environments remains difficult. This study proposes a hybrid approach that combines global and local optimization techniques for safe, real-time navigation. Here, A* is used for global pathfinding while Genetic Algorithms, Dijkstra, RRT, and D* use reactive optimization methods for local recalculation triggered by unforeseen changes in the environment. Simulations in urban, forest, and indoor environments show that this approach enhances computational efficiency, flexibility, and energy in performance compared to classical methods. Path quality improvement along with the speed reduction provides more robust UAV operation for critical missions. This study pinpoints hybrid path planning strategies as a great step forward in UAV navigation.