Enhanced Monte Carlo localization incorporating a mechanism for preventing premature convergence

Robotica ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (7) ◽  
pp. 1504-1522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiang-Heng Chien ◽  
Wei-Yen Wang ◽  
Jun Jo ◽  
Chen-Chien Hsu
Keyword(s):  
Monte Carlo ◽  
Unscented Kalman Filter ◽  
Estimation Error ◽  
Global Optimum ◽  
Premature Convergence ◽  
Global Localization ◽  
Pose Tracking ◽  
Error Covariance ◽  
Previous State ◽  
Monte Carlo Localization

SUMMARYIn this paper, we propose an enhanced Monte Carlo localization (EMCL) algorithm for mobile robots, which deals with the premature convergence problem in global localization as well as the estimation error existing in pose tracking. By incorporating a mechanism for preventing premature convergence (MPPC), which uses a “reference relative vector” to modify the weight of each sample, exploration of a highly symmetrical environment can be improved. As a consequence, the proposed method has the ability to converge particles toward the global optimum, resulting in successful global localization. Furthermore, by applying the unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) to the prediction state and the previous state of particles in Monte Carlo Localization (MCL), an EMCL can be established for pose tracking, where the prediction state is modified by the Kalman gain derived from the modified prior error covariance. Hence, a better approximation that reduces the discrepancy between the state of the robot and the estimation can be obtained. Simulations and practical experiments confirmed that the proposed approach can improve the localization performance in both global localization and pose tracking.

scholarly journals Navigating by touch: haptic Monte Carlo localization via geometric sensing and terrain classification

2021 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 843-857
Author(s):  
Russell Buchanan ◽  
Jakub Bednarek ◽  
Marco Camurri ◽  
Michał R. Nowicki ◽  
Krzysztof Walas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monte Carlo ◽  
Estimation Error ◽  
Extreme Environments ◽  
Legged Robot ◽  
Terrain Classification ◽  
Localization Algorithm ◽  
Geometric Information ◽  
Contact Points ◽  
Monte Carlo Localization ◽  
Geometric Sensing

AbstractLegged robot navigation in extreme environments can hinder the use of cameras and lidar due to darkness, air obfuscation or sensor damage, whereas proprioceptive sensing will continue to work reliably. In this paper, we propose a purely proprioceptive localization algorithm which fuses information from both geometry and terrain type to localize a legged robot within a prior map. First, a terrain classifier computes the probability that a foot has stepped on a particular terrain class from sensed foot forces. Then, a Monte Carlo-based estimator fuses this terrain probability with the geometric information of the foot contact points. Results demonstrate this approach operating online and onboard an ANYmal B300 quadruped robot traversing several terrain courses with different geometries and terrain types over more than 1.2 km. The method keeps pose estimation error below 20 cm using a prior map with trained network and using sensing only from the feet, leg joints and IMU.

scholarly journals Self-adaptive Monte Carlo localization for mobile robots using range finders

Robotica ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 229-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Zhang ◽  
René Zapata ◽  
Pascal Lépinay
Keyword(s):  
Monte Carlo ◽  
Mobile Robots ◽  
Position Tracking ◽  
Localization Algorithm ◽  
Global Localization ◽  
Adaptive Monte Carlo ◽  
Local Sample ◽  
Monte Carlo Localization ◽  
Sample Set ◽  
Self Adaptive

SUMMARYIn order to achieve the autonomy of mobile robots, effective localization is a necessary prerequisite. In this paper, we propose an improved Monte Carlo localization algorithm using self-adaptive samples (abbreviated as SAMCL). By employing a pre-caching technique to reduce the online computational burden, SAMCL is more efficient than the regular MCL. Further, we define the concept of similar energy region (SER), which is a set of poses (grid cells) having similar energy with the robot in the robot space. By distributing global samples in SER instead of distributing randomly in the map, SAMCL obtains a better performance in localization. Position tracking, global localization and the kidnapped robot problem are the three sub-problems of the localization problem. Most localization approaches focus on solving one of these sub-problems. However, SAMCL solves all the three sub-problems together, thanks to self-adaptive samples that can automatically separate themselves into a global sample set and a local sample set according to needs. The validity and the efficiency of the SAMCL algorithm are demonstrated by both simulations and experiments carried out with different intentions. Extensive experimental results and comparisons are also given in this paper.

scholarly journals UKF-Based Vehicle Pose Estimation under Randomly Occurring Deception Attacks

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Xinghua Liu ◽  
Dandan Bai ◽  
Yunling Lv ◽  
Rui Jiang ◽  
Shuzhi Sam Ge
Keyword(s):  
Kalman Filter ◽  
Pose Estimation ◽  
Upper Bound ◽  
Unscented Kalman Filter ◽  
Estimation Error ◽  
Accurate Estimation ◽  
Ground Vehicles ◽  
Ground Vehicle ◽  
Attack Model ◽  
Error Covariance

Considering various cyberattacks aiming at the Internet of Vehicles (IoV), secure pose estimation has become an essential problem for ground vehicles. This paper proposes a pose estimation approach for ground vehicles under randomly occurring deception attacks. By modeling attacks as signals added to measurements with a certain probability, the attack model has been presented and incorporated into the existing process and measurement equations of ground vehicle pose estimation based on multisensor fusion. An unscented Kalman filter-based secure pose estimator is then proposed to generate a stable estimate of the vehicle pose states; i.e., an upper bound for the estimation error covariance is guaranteed. Finally, the simulation and experiments are conducted on a simple but effective single-input-single-output dynamic system and the ground vehicle model to show the effectiveness of UKF-based secure pose estimation. Particularly, the proposed scheme outperforms the conventional Kalman filter, not only by resulting in more accurate estimation but also by providing a theoretically proved upper bound of error covariance matrices that could be used as an indication of the estimator’s status.

scholarly journals A Robust Indoor Localization System Integrating Visual Localization Aided by CNN-Based Image Retrieval with Monte Carlo Localization

Sensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Song Xu ◽  
Wusheng Chou ◽  
Hongyi Dong
Keyword(s):  
Monte Carlo ◽  
Image Retrieval ◽  
Closed Loop ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Visual Localization ◽  
Place Recognition ◽  
Global Localization ◽  
Localization System ◽  
Monte Carlo Localization ◽  
Fine Localization

This paper proposes a novel multi-sensor-based indoor global localization system integrating visual localization aided by CNN-based image retrieval with a probabilistic localization approach. The global localization system consists of three parts: coarse place recognition, fine localization and re-localization from kidnapping. Coarse place recognition exploits a monocular camera to realize the initial localization based on image retrieval, in which off-the-shelf features extracted from a pre-trained Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) are adopted to determine the candidate locations of the robot. In the fine localization, a laser range finder is equipped to estimate the accurate pose of a mobile robot by means of an adaptive Monte Carlo localization, in which the candidate locations obtained by image retrieval are considered as seeds for initial random sampling. Additionally, to address the problem of robot kidnapping, we present a closed-loop localization mechanism to monitor the state of the robot in real time and make adaptive adjustments when the robot is kidnapped. The closed-loop mechanism effectively exploits the correlation of image sequences to realize the re-localization based on Long-Short Term Memory (LSTM) network. Extensive experiments were conducted and the results indicate that the proposed method not only exhibits great improvement on accuracy and speed, but also can recover from localization failures compared to two conventional localization methods.

scholarly journals An Extended Analysis on Tuning The Parameters of Adaptive Monte Carlo Localization ROS Package in an Automated Guided Vehicle

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wallace Pereira Neves dos Reis ◽  
Guilherme José da Silva ◽  
Orides Morandin Junior ◽  
Kelen Cristiane Teixeira Vivaldini
Keyword(s):  
Monte Carlo ◽  
Indoor Localization ◽  
Parameter Tuning ◽  
Automated Guided Vehicle ◽  
Adaptive Monte Carlo ◽  
Pose Tracking ◽  
Extended Analysis ◽  
Monte Carlo Localization ◽  
Tuning Process ◽  
Best Parameter

Abstract With a growth tendency, the employment of the Adaptive Monte Carlo Localization (AMCL) Robot Operational System (ROS) package does not reflect a more indepth discussion on its parameters tuning process. The authors usually do not describe it. This work aims to extend the analysis of the package’s parameters distinct influence in an Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) indoor localization. The experiments test parameters of the filter, the laser model, and the odometry model. Extending the previous analysis of seven parameters, the present research discusses another ten from the 22 configurable parameters of the package. An external visual vehicle pose tracking is used to compare the pose estimation from the localization package. Although the article does not propose the best parameter tuning, its results discuss how each tested parameter affects the localization. The paper’s contribution is discussing the parameters variation impact on the AGV localization. It may help new researchers in the AMCL ROS package parameter tuning process. The results show minor changes in the default parameters can improve the localization results, even modifying one parameter at a time.

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