Autonomous Navigation

Autonomous Navigation
Robotic planning and motion through an environment
Category	Robotics technology
Area	Artificial intelligence, robotics and connected systems
Related concepts	Sensor Fusion, Computer Vision, Self-Driving Vehicles

Autonomous navigation is the ability of a mobile machine to estimate its position, plan movement and progress through an environment with limited continuous human control. It combines perception, localization, path planning and physical control.

Perception and localization

Robots can use cameras, inertial sensors, range sensors or wheel measurements to infer where they are and what surrounds them. Sensor Fusion can combine observations, but calibration errors and missing data can reduce confidence.

Planning and execution

Planners evaluate feasible routes or trajectories subject to the machine’s dimensions, turning ability, speed and operating conditions. A controller then converts plans into drive or steering commands and responds to new observations.

Reliability

Navigation performance varies with lighting, terrain, moving obstacles, maps and communications. Navigation software cannot substitute for hazard analysis or physical safeguards when people share the space.

See also

• Sensor Fusion
• Computer Vision
• Self-Driving Vehicles