Version 1.0, August 31, 2001, Copyright, Hugh Jack 1993-2001
Errors are inherent in every sort of system. Robotics is no exception, but in robotics errors can be very costly and dangerous. Thus there is a definite need to deal with error trapping, error reduction, error recovery, error simulation, and error prediction. All of these errors can arise in any part of the system, and in the domain of path planning they can have a drastic effect. An error in world modelling can result in a faulty path that may be less than optimal, or at worst cause a collision. In a feedback system, the errors could indicate fictitious collisions, or empty space when it is actually occupied. Thus all aspects of robotic path planning should eventually encorporate the ability to deal with unexpected events, and eliminate errors.