Unknown environment mapping based on multiple micro-robots

Currently, most mapping researches are deeply dependent on long range sensors such as sonar, laser range finders or cameras, but due to power or cost constraints, which often cannot be mounted in the sensor module. In response to the no long range sensors situation, this paper presents a method to complete indoor mapping tasks in real-time only using short range sensors installed on the multiple micro-robots. The key mapping problem needed to address in the paper is that each single robot created a map based on odometer and short distance sensor data, and then maps from multiple robots were consolidated to generate a greater coherence map. A kind of SRV mobile robots were tested in an artificial rectangular environment. The experimental results show that the multiple micro-robot system has good robustness to odometer and environmental noise.