The potential package provides functions to compute potential models as defined by John Q. Stewart. Several options are available to customize the models, for example it is possible to refine the distance friction functions or to use custom distance matrices. Some functions use parallelization to improve their efficiency.

The aim of potential is to replace potential-related functions of the SpatialPosition package. SpatialPosition was built to compute 3 spatial position models (Stewart potentials, Reilly catchment areas, Huff catchment areas) in a time where sf was not published yet (May 2015).  potential functions use a simplified interface and are more efficient than their counterpart in SpatialPostion. My recommendation to SpatialPositon users is thus to switch to potential for the computation of potentials.  

A didactic vignette describing the methodology and functions is provided as well as a website.