Cognitive Navigation for Intelligent Mobile Robots:A Learning-Based Approach With Topological Memory Configuration

Autonomous navigation for intelligent mobile robots has gained significant attention,with a focus on enabling robots to generate reliable policies based on maintenance of spatial memory.In this paper,we propose a learning-based visual navigation pipeline that uses topological maps as memory configurations.We introduce a unique online topology construction approach that fuses odometry pose estimation and perceptual similarity estimation.This tackles the issues of topological node redundancy and incorrect edge connections,which stem from the distribution gap between the spatial and perceptual domains.Furthermore,we propose a differentiable graph extraction structure,the topology multi-factor transformer(TMFT).This structure utilizes graph neural networks to integrate global memory and incorporates a multi-factor attention mechanism to underscore elements closely related to relevant target cues for policy generation.Results from photorealistic simulations on image-goal navigation tasks highlight the superior navigation performance of our proposed pipeline compared to existing memory structures.Comprehensive validation through behavior visualization,interpretability tests,and real-world deployment further underscore the adapt-ability and efficacy of our method.

Navigation Map Data Representation and Parallel Display Algorithm in an Embedded Environment

Map data display is the basic information representation mode under embedded real-time navigation. After a navigation display data set （NDIS_SET） with several dimensions and corresponding mathematical description formula are designed, a series of rules and algorithms are advanced to optimize embedded navigation data and promote data index and input efficiency. A new parallel display algorithm with navigation data named N PDIS is then presented to adapt to limited embedded resources of computation and memory after a normal navigation data display algorithm named NDIS and related problems are analyzed, N_PDIS can synchronously create two preparative bitmapa by two parallel threads and switch one of them to screen automatically. Compared with NDIS, the results show that N_PDIS is more effective in improving display efficiency.

Map Aided Pedestrian Dead Reckoning Using Buildings Information for Indoor Navigation Applications

Navigation systems play an important role in many vital disciplines. Determining the location of a user relative to its physical environment is an important part of many indoor-based navigation services such as user navigation, enhanced 911 (E911), law enforcement, location-based and marketing services. Indoor navigation applications require a reliable, trustful and continuous navigation solution that overcomes the challenge of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signal unavailability. To compensate for this issue, other navigation systems such as Inertial Navigation System (INS) are introduced, however, over time there is a significant amount of drift especially in common with low-cost commercial sensors. In this paper, a map aided navigation solution is developed. This research develops an aiding system that utilizes geospatial data to assist the navigation solution by providing virtual boundaries for the navigation trajectories and limits its possibilities only when it is logical to locate the user on a map. The algorithm develops a Pedestrian Dead Reckoning (PDR) based on smart-phone accelerometer and magnetometer sensors to provide the navigation solution. Geospatial model for two indoor environments with a developed map matching algorithm was used to match and project navigation position estimates on the geospatial map. The developed algorithms were field tested in indoor environments and yielded accurate matching results as well as a significant enhancement to positional accuracy. The achieved results demonstrate that the contribution of the developed map aided system enhances the reliability, usability, and accuracy of navigation trajectories in indoor environments.

Progress and Achievements of Multi-sensor Fusion Navigation in China during 2019—2023

Global Navigation Satellite System(GNSS)can provide all-weather,all-time,high-precision positioning,navigation and timing services,which plays an important role in national security,national economy,public life and other aspects.However,in environments with limited satellite signals such as urban canyons,tunnels,and indoor spaces,it is difficult to provide accurate and reliable positioning services only by satellite navigation.Multi-source sensor integrated navigation can effectively overcome the limitations of single-sensor navigation through the fusion of different types of sensor data such as Inertial Measurement Unit(IMU),vision sensor,and LiDAR,and provide more accurate,stable and robust navigation information in complex environments.We summarizes the research status of multi-source sensor integrated navigation technology,and focuses on the representative innovations and applications of integrated navigation and positioning technology by major domestic scientific research institutions in China during 2019—2023.

Data Logic Structure and Key Technologies on Intelligent High-precision Map

Taking autonomous driving and driverless as the research object,we discuss and define intelligent high-precision map.Intelligent high-precision map is considered as a key link of future travel,a carrier of real-time perception of traffic resources in the entire space-time range,and the criterion for the operation and control of the whole process of the vehicle.As a new form of map,it has distinctive features in terms of cartography theory and application requirements compared with traditional navigation electronic maps.Thus,it is necessary to analyze and discuss its key features and problems to promote the development of research and application of intelligent high-precision map.Accordingly,we propose an information transmission model based on the cartography theory and combine the wheeled robot’s control flow in practical application.Next,we put forward the data logic structure of intelligent high-precision map,and analyze its application in autonomous driving.Then,we summarize the computing mode of“Crowdsourcing+Edge-Cloud Collaborative Computing”,and carry out key technical analysis on how to improve the quality of crowdsourced data.We also analyze the effective application scenarios of intelligent high-precision map in the future.Finally,we present some thoughts and suggestions for the future development of this field.

A Map-Matching Algorithm forGPS/DR Integrated Navigation Systems Basedon Dempster-Shafer Evidence Reasoning

GPS (Global Positioning System) has been widely used in car navigation systems. Most car navigation systems estimate the car position from GPS and DR (dead reckoning). However, the unknown GPS noise characteristic and the unbounded DR accumulation of errors over time make the position information with undesirable position errors. The map matching can improve the position accuracy and availability of the vehicular position system. In this paper, general principle of map matching is investigated according to segmentation and feature extraction, and a map matching algorithm based on D-S (Dempster-Shafer) evidence reasoning for GPS integrated navigation system is proposed, which can find the exact road on which a car moves. For the experiments, a car navigation system is developed with some sensors and the field test demonstrates the effectiveness and applicability of the algorithm for the car location and navigation.

Correction of Inertial Navigation System’s Errors by the Help of Video-Based Navigator Based on Digital Terrarium Map

This paper deals with the error analysis of a novel navigation algorithm that uses as input the sequence of images acquired from a moving camera and a Digital Terrain (or Elevation) Map (DTM/DEM). More specifically, it has been shown that the optical flow derived from two consecutive camera frames can be used in combination with a DTM to estimate the position, orientation and ego-motion parameters of the moving camera. As opposed to previous works, the proposed approach does not require an intermediate explicit reconstruction of the 3D world. In the present work the sensitivity of the algorithm outlined above is studied. The main sources for errors are identified to be the optical-flow evaluation and computation, the quality of the information about the terrain, the structure of the observed terrain and the trajectory of the camera. By assuming appropriate characterization of these error sources, a closed form expression for the uncertainty of the pose and motion of the camera is first developed and then the influence of these factors is confirmed using extensive numerical simulations. The main conclusion of this paper is to establish that the proposed navigation algorithm generates accurate estimates for reasonable scenarios and error sources, and thus can be effectively used as part of a navigation system of autonomous vehicles.

Terrain-Aided Navigation Considering Map Error

Terrain referenced navigation estimates an aircraft navigation status by utilizing a radar altimeter measuring a distance between the aircraft and terrain elevation. Accurate digital elevation map is essential to estimate the aircraft states correctly. However, the elevation map cannot represent the real terrain perfectly and there exists map error between the estimated and the true maps. In this paper, an influence of the map error on measurement equation is analyzed and a technique to incorporate the error in the filter is proposed. The map error is divided into two sources, accuracy error and resolution error. The effectiveness of the suggested technique is verified by simulation results. The method modifies a sensor noise covariance only so there is no additional computational burden from the conventional filter.

Novel gravity passive navigation system

According to the characteristics of gravity passive navigation, this paper presents a novel gravity passive navigation system （GPNS）, which consists of the rate azimuth platform （RAP）, gravity sensor, digitally stored gravity maps, depth sensor and relative log. The algorithm of rate azimuth platform inertial navigation system, error state-space equations, measurement equations and GPNS optimal filter are described. In view of the measurements made by an onboard gravity sensor the Eotvos effect is introduced in the gravity measurement equation of a GPNS optimal filter. A GPNS is studied with the Matlab/Simulink tools; simulation results demonstrate that a GPNS has small errors in platform attitude and position. Because the inertial navigation platform is the rate azimuth platform in the GPNS and gravity sensor is mounted on the rate azimuth platform, the cost of the GPNS is lower than existing GPNS＇s and according to the above results the GPNS meets the need to maintain accuracy navigation for underwater vehicles over long intervals.

基于E-Navigation的航海保障综合信息系统总体架构

基于E-Navigation的CSSA架构及MSP服务集,提出一套准确、安全、高效的航海保障综合信息系统架构体系,对系统的数据采集和传输、数据处理和增值服务、应用服务层、基础设施层等内容作了详细阐述,此架构体系可为我国构建布局合理、层次分明、功能完善、性能可靠的航海保障体系奠定基础。

An RGB-D Camera Based Visual Positioning System for Assistive Navigation by a Robotic Navigation Aid

There are about 253 million people with visual impairment worldwide.Many of them use a white cane and/or a guide dog as the mobility tool for daily travel.Despite decades of efforts,electronic navigation aid that can replace white cane is still research in progress.In this paper,we propose an RGB-D camera based visual positioning system(VPS)for real-time localization of a robotic navigation aid(RNA)in an architectural floor plan for assistive navigation.The core of the system is the combination of a new 6-DOF depth-enhanced visual-inertial odometry(DVIO)method and a particle filter localization(PFL)method.DVIO estimates RNA’s pose by using the data from an RGB-D camera and an inertial measurement unit(IMU).It extracts the floor plane from the camera’s depth data and tightly couples the floor plane,the visual features(with and without depth data),and the IMU’s inertial data in a graph optimization framework to estimate the device’s 6-DOF pose.Due to the use of the floor plane and depth data from the RGB-D camera,DVIO has a better pose estimation accuracy than the conventional VIO method.To reduce the accumulated pose error of DVIO for navigation in a large indoor space,we developed the PFL method to locate RNA in the floor plan.PFL leverages geometric information of the architectural CAD drawing of an indoor space to further reduce the error of the DVIO-estimated pose.Based on VPS,an assistive navigation system is developed for the RNA prototype to assist a visually impaired person in navigating a large indoor space.Experimental results demonstrate that:1)DVIO method achieves better pose estimation accuracy than the state-of-the-art VIO method and performs real-time pose estimation(18 Hz pose update rate)on a UP Board computer;2)PFL reduces the DVIO-accrued pose error by 82.5%on average and allows for accurate wayfinding(endpoint position error≤45 cm)in large indoor spaces.

A Technical Framework for Selection of Autonomous UAV Navigation Technologies and Sensors

The autonomous navigation of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle(UAV)relies heavily on the navigation sensors.The UAV’s level of autonomy depends upon the various navigation systems,such as state measurement,mapping,and obstacle avoidance.Selecting the correct components is a critical part of the design process.However,this can be a particularly difficult task,especially for novices as there are several technologies and components available on the market,each with their own individual advantages and disadvantages.For example,satellite-based navigation components should be avoided when designing indoor UAVs.Incorporating them in the design brings no added value to the final product and will simply lead to increased cost and power consumption.Another issue is the number of vendors on the market,each trying to sell their hardware solutions which often incorporate similar technologies.The aim of this paper is to serve as a guide,proposing various methods to support the selection of fit-for-purpose technologies and components whilst avoiding system layout conflicts.The paper presents a study of the various navigation technologies and supports engineers in the selection of specific hardware solutions based on given requirements.The selection methods are based on easy-to-follow flow charts.A comparison of the various hardware components specifications is also included as part of this work.

A Spatio-temporal Data Model for Road Network in Data Center Based on Incremental Updating in Vehicle Navigation System

The technique of incremental updating,which can better guarantee the real-time situation of navigational map,is the developing orientation of navigational road network updating.The data center of vehicle navigation system is in charge of storing incremental data,and the spatio-temporal data model for storing incremental data does affect the efficiency of the response of the data center to the requirements of incremental data from the vehicle terminal.According to the analysis on the shortcomings of several typical spatio-temporal data models used in the data center and based on the base map with overlay model,the reverse map with overlay model (RMOM) was put forward for the data center to make rapid response to incremental data request.RMOM supports the data center to store not only the current complete road network data,but also the overlays of incremental data from the time when each road network changed to the current moment.Moreover,the storage mechanism and index structure of the incremental data were designed,and the implementation algorithm of RMOM was developed.Taking navigational road network in Guangzhou City as an example,the simulation test was conducted to validate the efficiency of RMOM.Results show that the navigation database in the data center can response to the requirements of incremental data by only one query with RMOM,and costs less time.Compared with the base map with overlay model,the data center does not need to temporarily overlay incremental data with RMOM,so time-consuming of response is significantly reduced.RMOM greatly improves the efficiency of response and provides strong support for the real-time situation of navigational road network.

融合改进D*与Gmapping算法的自主导航仿真研究

为了实现移动机器人在未知环境下能够同时进行自主建图与导航,首先通过引入障碍物距离影响系数和四点式的梯度下降法优化了D*算法在动态路径规划时出现效率低下和路径不平滑问题。其次通过梯度式增加粒子数和扫描匹配迭代次数,改善了Gmapping建图容易出现模糊和重叠的现象。接着将优化后的Gmapping算法和基于改进D*算法的全局规划器、基于Teb算法的局部规划器,放在同一tf树下,并加入延时决策设计,融合集成了一个在ROS平台下的自主导航模块。最后仿真结果验证了上述方法实现自主建图与导航的可行性,能够在同时建图与导航的基础上,保证建图的准确性与路径的最佳选取。

A Comprehensive UAV Indoor Navigation System Based on Vision Optical Flow and Laser FastSLAM

这份报纸论述为室内的 quadrotor 的全面控制，航行，本地化和印射的答案无人的天线车辆(UAV ) 系统。三个主要传感器在 quadrotor 站台上被使用，也就是，一个惯性的测量单位，一个向下看起来的照相机和扫描激光变化查找者。与这安装， UAV 能要用体力地估计它的自己的速度和位置，当没有碰撞，沿着一个房间的内部墙飞时。在一个以后完成飞行，与收集了数据历史性的 UAV 路径和室内的环境能很好被估计。系统的自治航行部分不要求任何遥远的感觉信息或离线的计算力量，当印射被做时离线。完全的飞行测试被执行了验证忠实和性能航行答案。

Control of Velocity-Constrained Stepper Motor-Driven Hilare Robot for Waypoint Navigation

Finding an optimal trajectory from an initial point to a final point through closely packed obstacles, and controlling a Hilare robot through this trajectory, are challenging tasks. To serve this purpose, path planners and trajectory-tracking controllers are usually included in a control loop. This paper highlights the implementation of a trajectory-tracking controller on a stepper motor-driven Hilare robot, with a trajectory that is described as a set of waypoints. The controller was designed to handle discrete waypoints with directional discontinuity and to consider different constraints on the actuator velocity. The control parameters were tuned with the help of multi-objective particle swarm optimization to minimize the average cross-track error and average linear velocity error of the mobile robot when tracking a predefined trajectory. Experiments were conducted to control the mobile robot from a start position to a destination position along a trajectory described by the waypoints. Experimental results for tracking the trajectory generated by a path planner and the trajectory specified by a user are also demonstrated. Experiments conducted on the mobile robot validate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy for tracking different types of trajectories.

Localization and navigation using a novel artificial landmark for indoor mobile robots

This paper presents a practical topological navigation system for indoor mobile robots, making use of a novel artificial landmark which is called MR code. This new kind of paper-made landmarks earl be easi- ly attached on the ceilings or on the walls, lmealization algorithms for the two cases are given respective- ly. A docking control algorithm is also described, which a robot employs to approach its current goal. A simple topological navigation algorithm is proposed. Experiment results show the effectiveness of the method in real environment.

Investigation on mobile robot navigation based on Kinect sensor

Mobile robot navigation in unknown environment is an advanced research hotspot.Simultaneous localization and mapping(SLAM)is the key requirement for mobile robot to accomplish navigation.Recently,many researchers study SLAM by using laser scanners,sonar,camera,etc.This paper proposes a method that consists of a Kinect sensor along with a normal laptop to control a small mobile robot for collecting information and building a global map of an unknown environment on a remote workstation.The information(depth data)is communicated wirelessly.Gmapping(a highly efficient Rao-Blackwellized particle filer to learn grid maps from laser range data)parameters have been optimized to improve the accuracy of the map generation and the laser scan.Experiment is performed on Turtlebot to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.

基于优化RTAB-Map的室内巡检机器人视觉导航方法

巡检机器人对室内场景进行自主导航监测时,采用视觉同时定位与地图构建(simultaneous localization and mapping,SLAM)方法构建的三维深度地图存在实时性不高、定位精度下降的问题。对此,提出了一种基于RGB-D相机和优化RTAB-Map(real time appearance based mapping)算法的巡检机器人视觉导航方法。首先,通过重新配置RTAB-Map点云更新频率,实现算法优化,构建稠密的点云地图后;采用启发式A*算法、动态窗口法(dynamic window approach,DWA)分别制定全局与局部巡检路径,通过自适应蒙特卡罗定位(adaptive Monte Carlo localization,AMCL)方法更新机器人的实时位姿信息,再将搭建好的实体巡检机器人在软件、硬件平台上完成视觉导航测试实验。结果表明:优化后的RTAB-Map算法运行时的内存占比稍有增加,但获得与真实环境一致性更高的三维深度地图,在一定程度上提高视觉导航的准确性与实用性。

Review of Simultaneous Localization and Mapping Technology in the Agricultural Environment

Simultaneous localization and mapping(SLAM)is one of the most attractive research hotspots in the field of robotics,and it is also a prerequisite for the autonomous navigation of robots.It can significantly improve the autonomous navigation ability of mobile robots and their adaptability to different application environments and contribute to the realization of real-time obstacle avoidance and dynamic path planning.Moreover,the application of SLAM technology has expanded from industrial production,intelligent transportation,special operations and other fields to agricultural environments,such as autonomous navigation,independent weeding,three-dimen-sional(3D)mapping,and independent harvesting.This paper mainly introduces the principle,sys-tem framework,latest development and application of SLAM technology,especially in agricultural environments.Firstly,the system framework and theory of the SLAM algorithm are introduced,and the SLAM algorithm is described in detail according to different sensor types.Then,the devel-opment and application of SLAM in the agricultural environment are summarized from two aspects:environment map construction,and localization and navigation of agricultural robots.Finally,the challenges and future research directions of SLAM in the agricultural environment are discussed.