The Correcting Approach of Gyroscope-Free Inertial Navigation Based on the Applicable Topological Map

Abstract

The accumulated error and noise sensitivity are the two common problems of ordinary inertial sensors. An accurate gyroscope is too expensive, which is not normally applicable in low-cost missions of mobile robots. Since the accelerometers are rather cheaper than similar types of gyroscopes, using redundant accelerometers could be considered as an alternative. This mechanism is called gyroscope-free navigation. The article deals with autonomous mobile robot (AMR) navigation based on gyroscope-free method. In this research, the navigation errors of the gyroscope-free method in long-time missions are demonstrated. To compensate the position error, the aid information of low-cost stereo cameras and a topological map of the workspace are employed in the navigation system. After precise sensor calibration, an amendment algorithm is presented to fuse the measurement of gyroscope-free inertial measurement unit (GFIMU) and stereo camera observations. The advantages and comparisons of vision aid navigation and gyroscope-free navigation of mobile robots will be also discussed. The experimental results show the increasing accuracy in vision-aid navigation of mobile robot.