Simplicity of a navigational path. What does that actually mean?

Abstract The understanding and interpretation of simplicty in the context of a navigational path can be ambiguous. Different approaches to path planning are briefly juxtaposed, focusing on their simplicity-based distinctive features. This takes into consideration the response to drift caused by air or water currents and the geometric background. Special attention is paid to the straight-line-based solutions which are preferred by the human convenience and perception, recalling some well-known applications in navigation and including their (dis)advantages. In particular, this refers to the Euclidean simplicity applied at the cost of effectiveness in the standard search and rescue (SAR) patterns in the presence of relatively stronger position-dependent currents.