A method for ascertaining the pose of a vehicle is described, in which the vehicle ascertains its own position and/or spatial orientation with the aid of information from its environment. In the process, the vehicle ascertains supplementary information about dynamic objects in its environment with the aid of environment sensors and uses the ascertained supplementary information for ascertaining its own position and/or spatial orientation.

A method for ascertaining the pose of a vehicle is described, in which the vehicle ascertains its own position and/or spatial orientation with the aid of information from its environment. In the process, the vehicle ascertains supplementary information about dynamic objects in its environment with the aid of environment sensors and uses the ascertained supplementary information for ascertaining its own position and/or spatial orientation.

A method for object position estimation based on a magnetic field using an underwater sensor network, includes: step of receiving a magnetic field signal that is emitted from an underwater moving object using an underwater sensor network which is configured with a plurality of magnetic field sensors in the water; step of extracting an induced magnetic field signal by removing a geomagnetic field and a noise signal from the received magnetic field signal; step of determining whether or not the moving object enters the underwater sensor network using the induced magnetic field signal; and step of estimating a position of the object using position information of the plurality of sensors that sense the object if it is determined that the object enters the underwater sensor network.

A method for object position estimation based on a magnetic field using an underwater sensor network, includes: step of receiving a magnetic field signal that is emitted from an underwater moving object using an underwater sensor network which is configured with a plurality of magnetic field sensors in the water; step of extracting an induced magnetic field signal by removing a geomagnetic field and a noise signal from the received magnetic field signal; step of determining whether or not the moving object enters the underwater sensor network using the induced magnetic field signal; and step of estimating a position of the object using position information of the plurality of sensors that sense the object if it is determined that the object enters the underwater sensor network.

Techniques are provided for vision-based altitude estimation using one or more platform mounted cameras. An embodiment includes generating projected ground imagery of imagery provided by cameras of the platform, the projection based on a hypothesized altitude. The method also includes obtaining reference ground imagery based on the location of the platform, the location based on platform navigation data. The method further includes registering the projected ground imagery to the reference ground imagery and generating a match score associated with the registration. The method further includes selecting the hypothesized altitude as the estimated altitude based on the match score (e.g., if the match score exceeds a threshold value or is maximized over a set of hypothesized altitudes. The method may further include otherwise adjusting the hypothesized altitude and repeating the altitude estimation process based on the adjusted hypothesized altitude to search for an improved estimated altitude based on the match score.

Techniques are provided for vision-based altitude estimation using one or more platform mounted cameras. An embodiment includes generating projected ground imagery of imagery provided by cameras of the platform, the projection based on a hypothesized altitude. The method also includes obtaining reference ground imagery based on the location of the platform, the location based on platform navigation data. The method further includes registering the projected ground imagery to the reference ground imagery and generating a match score associated with the registration. The method further includes selecting the hypothesized altitude as the estimated altitude based on the match score (e.g., if the match score exceeds a threshold value or is maximized over a set of hypothesized altitudes. The method may further include otherwise adjusting the hypothesized altitude and repeating the altitude estimation process based on the adjusted hypothesized altitude to search for an improved estimated altitude based on the match score.

A method for estimating vehicle location by obtaining change events from an event camera's observations of a ground surface moving relative to the vehicle, determining a signature of the ground surface from the change events; and estimating the location using the signature. The change events may be processed to produce an 1st invariant representation of a ground surface patch for use as the signature. Alternatively, range measurements representing a patch may be used as the signature. A map is constructed having the representations of the ground surface patches including the locations of the patches. The same patch of ground surface is subsequently measured thereby obtaining a sequence of change events which are processed to produce a 2nd representation. The 2nd representation is matched to the map of 1st invariant representations. The location of the vehicle on the ground is determined based on the match.

A method for estimating vehicle location by obtaining change events from an event camera's observations of a ground surface moving relative to the vehicle, determining a signature of the ground surface from the change events; and estimating the location using the signature. The change events may be processed to produce an 1st invariant representation of a ground surface patch for use as the signature. Alternatively, range measurements representing a patch may be used as the signature. A map is constructed having the representations of the ground surface patches including the locations of the patches. The same patch of ground surface is subsequently measured thereby obtaining a sequence of change events which are processed to produce a 2nd representation. The 2nd representation is matched to the map of 1st invariant representations. The location of the vehicle on the ground is determined based on the match.

Provided is a driving assistance system capable of providing more pieces of information to a vehicle side by using magnetic markers. A driving assistance system (1A) is a system including magnetic markers (1) laid on a travelling road so as to be magnetically detectable and also be able to provide code information to a vehicle side, a vehicle (5) configured to be able to magnetically detect the magnetic markers (1) and also read the code information, and a base station (6) configured to make a reply with corresponding information when receiving the code information from the vehicle (5) reading the code information.

Operating an autonomous grounds maintenance machine includes determining a travel path for the machine to reach a destination waypoint in a zone of a work region. The travel path is analyzed for problem areas based on a predetermined terrain map. Rotations of the machine may be planned even before the machine begins to travel down the path to proactively prevent the machine from becoming trapped.