Interactive 3D Graph SLAM for Map Correction

This letter presents an interactive graph SLAM framework with a 3D LIDAR. This framework allows the user to interactively correct a 3D environmental map generated by an automatic SLAM system. By optimizing a pose graph consisting of pose constraints created by the automatic SLAM and map correction constraints, which are created by the user through a graphical user interface, we obtain a large and globally consistent 3D environmental map. We propose semi-automatic loop closing and plane-based map correction techniques for creating map correction constraints. We also devise a pose constraint update approach to refine the pose constraints given by the automatic SLAM. The evaluation results demonstrate that the proposed system enables us to improve the consistency of mapping results and obtain a mapping accuracy that outperforms state-of-the-art automatic SLAM frameworks with minimal human effort.

Automated summary

This study introduces an interactive graph SLAM framework with a 3D LIDAR, allowing users to correct 3D environmental maps interactively and achieve globally consistent maps through pose graph optimization and map correction constraints. The proposed semi-automatic loop closing and plane-based map correction techniques, along with a pose constraint update approach, improve mapping consistency and accuracy with minimal human effort, outperforming current automatic SLAM frameworks.