The efficiency of Mars exploration can be improved by using a swarm of small independent rovers. Each such rover can estimate its egomotion with a single camera and build a map of the environment at the same time. However, the error accumulation in the tracking strongly limits the accuracy of the positioning and the mapping. We solved the challenges posed by the use of monocular cameras and the lack of loop closures by a sensor fusion method based on images and ranges to a single anchor point, e.g., the landing site. Additionally, ranges can be determined between each pair of rovers in a swarm. We proposed a relative pose and scale estimation with low communication requirements and a swarm navigation solution based on that.
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The efficiency of Mars exploration can be improved by using a swarm of small independent rovers. Each such rover can estimate its egomotion with a single camera and build a map of the environment at the same time. However, the error accumulation in the tracking strongly limits the accuracy of the positioning and the mapping. We solved the challenges posed by the use of monocular cameras and the lack of loop closures by a sensor fusion method based on images and ranges to a single anchor point, e...
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