A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for learning to generate maps from raw geospatial observations from sensors traveling within an environment. Methods may include: receiving a plurality of sequences of geospatial observations from discrete trajectories; aligning the trajectories to generate aligned geospatial observations; concatenating the aligned geospatial observations; processing the concatenated, aligned geospatial observations using one or more Set Transformers; generating, from the at least one Set Transformer, map geometries including objects from the geospatial observations; and providing at least one of navigational assistance or at least semi-autonomous vehicle control based on the map geometries. According to some embodiments, aligning the trajectories includes applying a geospatial offset for one or more of the trajectories.

According to the present disclosure, a map matching apparatus includes a map information acquisition unit configured to acquire map information expressed by a plurality of links, a movement information acquisition unit configured to acquire movement information of a moving body on a predetermined route, and a matching unit configured to specify a link string, which is a string of the links corresponding to the route, based on the map information and the movement information, in which the matching unit is configured to generate a physical network, which is a road network, based on the connection relationship and the map information, generate a hierarchical logical network in which the physical network is duplicated in a plurality of layers and configured in a hierarchical manner, and specify the link string indicating a minimized cost in the hierarchical logical network.

According to the present disclosure, a map matching apparatus includes a map information acquisition unit configured to acquire map information expressed by a plurality of links, a movement information acquisition unit configured to acquire movement information of a moving body on a predetermined route, and a matching unit configured to specify a link string, which is a string of the links corresponding to the route, based on the map information and the movement information, in which the matching unit is configured to generate a physical network, which is a road network, based on the connection relationship and the map information, generate a hierarchical logical network in which the physical network is duplicated in a plurality of layers and configured in a hierarchical manner, and specify the link string indicating a minimized cost in the hierarchical logical network.

Described herein are methods of generating learning data to facilitate de-biasing the labeled location of an object of interest within an image. Methods may include: receiving sensor data, where the sensor data is a first image; determining reference corner locations of an object in the first image using image processing; generating observed corner locations of the object in the first image from the determined reference corner locations; generating a bias transformation based, at least in part, on a difference between the reference corner locations and the observed corner locations of the object in the first image; receiving sensor data from another image sensor of a second image; receiving observed corner locations of an object in the second image from a user; and applying the bias transformation to the observed corner locations of the object in the second image to generate de-biased corners for the object in the second image.

A method and control system for generating and updating digital maps using a plurality of passages along a road portion by at least one road vehicle is provided. The method comprises obtaining positioning data and sensor data of each passage from the at least one road vehicle. Further, the method comprises forming a sub-map representation of the surrounding environment at each obtained longitudinal position based on the obtained sensor data, and estimating a longitudinal error for each obtained longitudinal position within each segment. Furthermore, the method comprises determining a new plurality of longitudinal positions of each road vehicle for each passage by applying the estimated longitudinal error on each corresponding obtained longitudinal position, and applying the determined new plurality of longitudinal positions on associated sensor data in order to generate a first layer of a map representation of the surrounding environment along the road portion.

An approach is provided for pattern-based map matching of a probe trace to a digital map. The approach involves querying the digital map for a set of road links within a threshold distance of a probe point. The approach also involves determining a match starting point for each road link of a set of road links. The approach further involves selecting a sampled probe point from the probe trace. The approach also involves generating one or more patterns for said each road link based on the match starting point, the sampled probe point, the topology polyline, or a combination thereof. The approach further involves selecting a matched road link from among the set of road links based on the one or more patterns. The probe point is then snapped to the matched road link.

An approach is provided for pattern-based map matching of a probe trace to a digital map. The approach involves querying the digital map for a set of road links within a threshold distance of a probe point. The approach also involves determining a match starting point for each road link of a set of road links. The approach further involves selecting a sampled probe point from the probe trace. The approach also involves generating one or more patterns for said each road link based on the match starting point, the sampled probe point, the topology polyline, or a combination thereof. The approach further involves selecting a matched road link from among the set of road links based on the one or more patterns. The probe point is then snapped to the matched road link.

Systems and methods for navigating a host vehicle. The system may perform operations including receiving, from an image capture device, at least one image representative of an environment of the host vehicle; analyzing the at least one image to identify an object in the environment of the host vehicle; determining a location of the host vehicle; receiving map information associated with the determined location of the host vehicle, wherein the map information includes elevation information associated with the environment of the host vehicle; determining a distance from the host vehicle to the object based on at least the elevation information; and determining a navigational action for the host vehicle based on the determined distance.

Systems and methods for navigating a host vehicle. The system may perform operations including receiving, from an image capture device, at least one image representative of an environment of the host vehicle; analyzing the at least one image to identify an object in the environment of the host vehicle; determining a location of the host vehicle; receiving map information associated with the determined location of the host vehicle, wherein the map information includes elevation information associated with the environment of the host vehicle; determining a distance from the host vehicle to the object based on at least the elevation information; and determining a navigational action for the host vehicle based on the determined distance.

A mobile robot is configured to navigate on a sidewalk and deliver a delivery to a predetermined location. The robot has a body and an enclosed space within the body for storing the delivery during transit. At least two cameras are mounted on the robot body and are adapted to take visual images of an operating area. A processing component is adapted to extract straight lines from the visual images taken by the cameras and generate map data based at least partially on the images. A communication component is adapted to send and receive image and/or map data. A mapping system includes at least two such mobile robots, with the communication component of each robot adapted to send and receive image data and/or map data to the other robot. A method involves operating such a mobile robot in an area of interest in which deliveries are to be made.