Comparative Benchmark of Sampling-Based and DRL Motion Planning Methods for Industrial Robotic Arms

This study presents a comprehensive comparison between classical sampling-based motion planners from the Open Motion Planning Library (OMPL) and a learning-based planner based on Soft Actor–Critic (SAC) for motion planning in industrial robotic arms. Using a UR3e robot equipped with an RG2 gripper, we constructed a large-scale dataset of over 100,000 collision-free trajectories generated with MoveIt-integrated OMPL planners. These trajectories were used to train a DRL agent via curriculum learning and expert demonstrations. Both approaches were evaluated on key metrics such as planning time, success rate, and trajectory smoothness. Results show that the DRL-based planner achieves higher success rates and significantly lower planning times, producing more compact and deterministic trajectories. Time-optimal parameterization using TOPPRA ensured the dynamic feasibility of all trajectories. While classical planners retain advantages in zero-shot adaptability and environmental generality, our findings highlight the potential of DRL for real-time and high-throughput motion planning in industrial contexts. This work provides practical insights into the trade-offs between traditional and learning-based planning paradigms, paving the way for hybrid architectures that combine their strengths.