Movement Estimation with SLAM through Multimodal Sensor Fusion

Sammanfattning: In the field of robotics and self-navigation, Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) is a technique crucial for estimating poses while concurrently creating a map of the environment. Robotics applications often rely on various sensors for pose estimation, including cameras, inertial measurement units (IMUs), and more. Traditional discrete SLAM, utilizing stereo camera pairs and inertial measurement units, faces challenges such as time offsets between sensors. A solution to this issue is the utilization of continuous-time models for pose estimation. This thesis delves into the exploration and implementation of a continuous-time SLAM system, investigating the advantages of multi-modal sensor fusion over discrete stereo vision models. The findings indicate that incorporating an IMU into the system enhances pose estimation, providing greater robustness and accuracy compared to relying solely on visual SLAM. Furthermore, leveraging the continuous model's derivative and smoothness allows for decent pose estimation with fewer measurements, reducing the required quantity of measurements and computational resources.