A Review on Map-Merging Methods for Typical Map Types in Multiple-Ground-Robot SLAM Solutions

When multiple robots are involved in the process of simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), a global map should be constructed by merging the local maps built by individual robots, so as to provide a better representation of the environment. Hence, the map-merging methods play a crucial rule i...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Shuien Yu, Chunyun Fu, Amirali K. Gostar, Minghui Hu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-12-01
Series:Sensors
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/20/23/6988
Description
Summary:When multiple robots are involved in the process of simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), a global map should be constructed by merging the local maps built by individual robots, so as to provide a better representation of the environment. Hence, the map-merging methods play a crucial rule in multi-robot systems and determine the performance of multi-robot SLAM. This paper looks into the key problem of map merging for multiple-ground-robot SLAM and reviews the typical map-merging methods for several important types of maps in SLAM applications: occupancy grid maps, feature-based maps, and topological maps. These map-merging approaches are classified based on their working mechanism or the type of features they deal with. The concepts and characteristics of these map-merging methods are elaborated in this review. The contents summarized in this paper provide insights and guidance for future multiple-ground-robot SLAM solutions.
ISSN:1424-8220