Systems and methods for updating an electronic map of a facility are disclosed. The electronic map includes a set of map nodes. Each map node has a stored image data associated with a position within the facility. The method includes collecting image data at a current position of a self-driving material-transport vehicle; searching the electronic map for at least one of a map node associated with the current position and one or more neighboring map nodes within a neighbor threshold to the current position; comparing the collected image data with the stored image data of the at least one of the map node and the one or more neighboring map nodes to determine a dissimilarity level. The electronic map may be updated based at least on the collected image data and the dissimilarity level. The image data represents one or more features observable from the current position.

Systems and methods for updating an electronic map of a facility are disclosed. The electronic map includes a set of map nodes. Each map node has a stored image data associated with a position within the facility. The method includes collecting image data at a current position of a self-driving material-transport vehicle; searching the electronic map for at least one of a map node associated with the current position and one or more neighboring map nodes within a neighbor threshold to the current position; comparing the collected image data with the stored image data of the at least one of the map node and the one or more neighboring map nodes to determine a dissimilarity level. The electronic map may be updated based at least on the collected image data and the dissimilarity level. The image data represents one or more features observable from the current position.

A computer-implemented method may include monitoring an age of a tile of a map, where the map includes multiple tiles including the tile. The method may also include, based on the age exceeding a threshold age, determining that the tile of the map is to be updated, and receiving a location indicator from a vehicle. The method may additionally include transmitting an update message to a vehicle traversing a track within the tile as indicated by the location indicator, where the update message includes instructions to cause the vehicle to gather and submit sensor data to a computing system. The method may also include receiving the sensor data from the vehicle, and updating the tile of the map based on the received sensor data.

A computer-implemented method may include monitoring an age of a tile of a map, where the map includes multiple tiles including the tile. The method may also include, based on the age exceeding a threshold age, determining that the tile of the map is to be updated, and receiving a location indicator from a vehicle. The method may additionally include transmitting an update message to a vehicle traversing a track within the tile as indicated by the location indicator, where the update message includes instructions to cause the vehicle to gather and submit sensor data to a computing system. The method may also include receiving the sensor data from the vehicle, and updating the tile of the map based on the received sensor data.

A system and a method are provided that are capable of providing map data for supporting a variety of user network environments and selecting data zones freely. A navigation terminal includes a reception unit adapted to receive a file in which map data of a specific zone is stored, from a map provision server; and an execution unit adapted to execute a navigation function on the specific zone using the file. The file is produced by an individual unit with respect to each of geographic areas divided by a mesh unit having a variable size. The size of the mesh unit is decided according to the amount of information included in the geographic area such that the file has an equalized size.

There is disclosed a method of updating a database of spatial features, said spatial features being associated with a region, and the method comprising: receiving positioning data that has been collected at a plurality of locations within the region; processing the collected positioning data to identify at least one candidate spatial feature associated with the region; identifying at least one other spatial feature corresponding to said at least one candidate spatial feature, said at least one other spatial feature and said at least one candidate spatial feature as a whole constituting matching spatial features; processing said matching spatial features; and updating the database of spatial features in dependence on the processing of said matching spatial features.

Methods, apparatuses, systems, and computer program products are provided. An example method comprises receiving a change trigger; and providing two or more map versions to a plurality of vehicle apparatuses. The map versions may comprise a stable map version and a changed map version. The example method further comprises receiving two or more responses from at least two of the plurality of vehicle apparatuses. A response comprises an indicator of a preferred map version selected by a vehicle apparatus of the plurality of vehicle apparatuses from the two or more map versions. The example method further comprises analyzing the responses to determine a most preferred map version; and when it is determined that the most preferred map version is a changed map version, updating one or more map databases based at least in part on the changed map version.

Systems and methods are provided for navigating a host vehicle. In an embodiment, a processing device may be configured to receive images captured over a time period; analyze images to identify a target vehicle; receive map information associated including a plurality of target trajectories; determine, based on analysis of the images, first and second estimated positions of the target vehicle within the time period; determine, based on the first and second estimated positions, a trajectory of the target vehicle over the time period; compare the determined trajectory to the plurality of target trajectories to identify a target trajectory traversed by the target vehicle; determine, based on the identified target trajectory, a position of the target vehicle; and determine a navigational action for the host vehicle based on the determined position.

Systems and methods are provided for navigating a host vehicle. In an embodiment, a processing device may be configured to receive images captured over a time period; analyze images to identify a target vehicle; receive map information associated including a plurality of target trajectories; determine, based on analysis of the images, first and second estimated positions of the target vehicle within the time period; determine, based on the first and second estimated positions, a trajectory of the target vehicle over the time period; compare the determined trajectory to the plurality of target trajectories to identify a target trajectory traversed by the target vehicle; determine, based on the identified target trajectory, a position of the target vehicle; and determine a navigational action for the host vehicle based on the determined position.

The disclosure describes systems (2) of navigating a hazardous environment (8). The system includes personal protective equipment (PPE) (13) and computing device(s) (32) configured to process sensor data from the PPE (13), generate pose data of an agent (10) based on the processed sensor data, and track the pose data as the agent (10) moves through the hazardous environment (8). The PPE (13) may include an inertial measurement device to generate inertial data and a radar device to generate radar data for detecting a presence or arrangement of objects in a visually obscured environment (8). The PPE (13) may include a thermal image capture device to generate thermal image data for detecting and classifying thermal features of the hazardous environment (8). The PPE (13) may include one or more sensors to detect a fiducial marker (21) in a visually obscured environment (8) for identifying features in the visually obscured environment (8). In these ways, the systems (2) may more safely navigate the agent (10) through the hazardous environment (8).