An Efficient Fast-Mapping SLAM Method for UAS Applications Using Only Range Measurements

This paper deals with 3D Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM), where the UAS uses only range measurements to build a local map of an unknown environment and to self-localize in that map. In the recent years Range Only (RO) SLAM has attracted significant interest, it is suitable for non line-of-sight conditions and bad lighting, being superior to visual SLAM in some problems. However, some issues constrain its applicability in practical cases, such as delays in map building and low map and UAS estimation accuracies. This paper proposes a 3D RO-SLAM scheme for UAS that specifically focuses on improving map building delays and accuracy levels without compromising efficiency in the consumption of resources. The scheme integrates sonar measurements together with range measurements between the robot and beacons deployed in the scenario. The proposed scheme presents two main advantages: (1) it integrates direct range measurements between the robot and the beacons and also range measurements between beaco...