In recent years, multi-robot systems have attracted many researchers’ attention owing to their important applications in industry, agriculture and human life, etc. Path planning with obstacle avoidance is one of the most fundamental functions for mobile robots. Path planning that serves as the basis for the wheeled robot, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), cleaning robot, automated harvesters, and rescue robot, etc., includes formation path planning and coverage path planning. Finding an optimal path that achieves tasks is NP-hard problem. In order to find the optimal path, robots need to be equipped with sophisticated task planners that employ symbolic reasoning to move in dynamic environments. Intelligent algorithms used for path planning have not been understood completely.

In order to adjust the robot’s controller, a mathematical modeling with kinematic and dynamic analysis of a mobile robot also is needed. A functional model of robot, which is created afterwards, has a better maneuverability and stability to accomplish different tasks in different environments. Quantitative measures and calculations of the mathematical modeling and intelligent algorithms are required in multi-robot path planning.

The special issue aims to collect original mathematical modeling and intelligent algorithms for multi-robot path planning and its practical applications. All new theoretical and technological achievements in multi-robot path planning can be submitted in the special issue.

We invite investigators to contribute original papers related to all aspects of this special issue.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Mathematical modeling
• Multi-robot path planning
• Formation path planning
• Coverage path planning
• Multi-robot cooperation
• Intelligent algorithm
• Practical applications