An algorithm for 3D terrain-following area coverage path planning is presented. Multiple adjacent paths are generated that are (i) locally apart from each other by a distance equal to the working width of a machinery, while (ii) simultaneously floating at a projection distance equal to a specific working height above the terrain. The complexities of the algorithm in comparison to its 2D equivalent are highlighted. These include uniformly spaced elevation data generation using an Inverse Distance Weighting-approach and a local search. Area coverage path planning results for real-world 3D data within an agricultural context are presented to validate the algorithm.
@article{arxiv.2601.00614,
title = {From 2D to 3D terrain-following area coverage path planning},
author = {Mogens Plessen},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2601.00614},
year = {2026}
}