Not sure what you will find in the way of researchers addressing the issue, but the primary problem I see with mobile autonomous robots is the lack of usable sensory input. Example, a camera is great, and we can even find a given color or shape with that camera, but not accurately enough, and little beyond that currently.
I would take a look at the problems and solutions presented by entrants in th DARPA challenges. Lots of good information on autonomous vehicles, their challenges and methods being used.