SLAM Technology: From Fundamental to Applications

Abstract

Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) technology has emerged as a fundamental component in various applications, revolutionizing the way we perceive and interact with the world. SLAM technology is a fusion of computer vision, sensor fusion, and robotics, enabling devices to simultaneously build a map of an unknown environment while estimating their own location within it. By leveraging different sensors such as cameras, LiDAR, inertial measurement unit (IMU), and kinematics odometry, SLAM algorithms are capable of creating accurate and dynamic maps or models in real-time. This ability has opened up countless possibilities across different fields. One of the most prominent applications of SLAM technology lies in autonomous navigation systems. Self-driving cars heavily rely on SLAM to perceive their surroundings, understand the environment, and plan their trajectories. By integrating SLAM algorithms with advanced control systems, vehicles can navigate complex road networks, detect obstacles, and make informed decisions in real-time, ensuring safer and more efficient transportation. Beyond autonomous vehicles, SLAM plays a vital role in robotics. Robots or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with SLAM capabilities can navigate and interact with unknown environments, making them highly adaptable in domains such as warehouse automation, industrial inspection, architectural engineering, and search and rescue operations. By employing SLAM algorithms, robots/UAVs can efficiently explore and map unfamiliar territories, detect objects of interest, changes of terrain, and perform tasks with precision and autonomy. This talk will aim to delve into the fundamentals of SLAM technology, highlighting its significance and broad range of applications.

Speaker

Dr Chao-Chung Peng was born in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, in 1980. He received the BSc degree from the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics (DAA), National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), Tainan, Taiwan, in 2003, and the Ph.D. degree in 2009. From 2008 to 2009, he was a Research Assistant with the Department of Engineering, Leicester University, U.K. From 2010 to 2012, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow with the Department of Mechanical Engineering, NCKU. He was a Senior Engineer with the Embedded System Development Section, Measurement and Automation Department, ADLINK Technology, during 2012-2014. From 2014 to 2016, he was with the Automation and Instrumentation System Development Section, Iron & Steel Research and Development Department, China Steel Corporation (CSC). Since 2016, he has been an Assistant Professor with the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, NCKU. He was promoted as an Associate Professor, in August 2020. He was awarded a membership in the Phi Tau Phi Scholastic Honor Society, in 2009, and the Excellent Young Engineering Professor Award by Chinese Society of Mechanical Engineers (CSME), in 2019. His research interests include high-performance motion control and applications, unmanned vehicle design, advanced flight control system development, autonomous robotics, intelligence SLAM technology, system modelling, and diagnosis. Detailed latest academic research paper list is available from the Google Scholar: https://reurl.cc/M84DOn.