Multiple relative pose graphs for cooperative mapping

This thesis describes a new representation and algorithm for cooperative and persistent simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) using multiple robots. Recent pose graph representations have proven very successful for single robot mapping and localization. Among these methods, iSAM (incremental smoothing and mapping) gives an exact incremental solution to the SLAM problem by solving a full nonlinear optimization problem in real-time. In this paper, we present a novel extension to iSAM to facilitate multi-robot mapping based on multiple pose graphs. Our main contribution is a relative formulation of the relationship between multiple pose graphs. Our formulation avoids the initialization problem and leads to an efficient solution when compared to a completely global solution. Efficient access to covariances at any time for relative parameters is also provided, facilitating data association and loop closing. Each individual pose graph still uses a global parameterization, so that the overall system provides a globally consistent multi-robot solution. The performance of the technique is illustrated on a publicly available multi-robot data set as well as other data including a helicopter-ground robot combination.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Author dc:creator

• Kim, Been

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• John Leonard.

• Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/59680

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/59680