Fast and accurate map merging for multi-robot systems

Abstract

We present a new algorithm for merging occupancy grid maps produced by multiple robots exploring the same environment. The algorithm produces a set of possible transformations needed to merge two maps, i.e translations and rotations. Each transformation is weighted, thus allowing to distinguish uncertain situations, and enabling to track multiple cases when ambiguities arise. Transformations are produced extracting some spectral information from the maps. The approach is deterministic, non-iterative, and fast. The algorithm has been tested on public available datasets, as well as on maps produced by two robots concurrently exploring both indoor and outdoor environments. Throughout the experimental validation stage the technique we propose consistently merged maps exhibiting very different characteristics.