| Project Reference: | ITP/028/23LP |
| Project Title: | UniMap: One Map Fits Multiple Robots with Supportive Map Services |
| Hosting Institution: | LSCM R&D Centre (LSCM) |
| Abstract: | Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) are increasingly being used in Hong Kong for tasks such as cleaning, disinfection, and patrol. However, before an AMR can effectively navigate and operate in a particular site, it must undergo a mapping procedure. This process is time-consuming and laborious as each robot creates its own map without sharing this information with other robots, resulting in redundancy and wastage of resources. The exact time required for mapping a new site is depending on the site's complexity and structure. This process can require around 1.5 to 2 mandays for both scanning and post-processing in 100m² area. To address this issue, we propose a robot map repository with supporting services in this project. The services include Map Sharing, Map Import, Map Updating, and Backend Interfacing, which will facilitate the exchange of mapping results among robots, support map format conversions, incremental updates and manual manipulation, and enable robots from different developers to connect and use a comprehensive map service platform. The benefits of this repository are twofold. Firstly, it helps robot developers avoid repeated mapping of the same location, and secondly, it enables venue owners to easily manage robots and maintain their maps in a unified platform. This is a crucial first step towards breaking down the barriers to robot deployment and simplifying multiple robots' control and management. |
| Project Coordinator: | Dr Ka Lun FAN |
| Approved Funding Amount: | HK$ 2.79 M |
| Project Period: | 29 Sep 2023 - 28 Mar 2025 |
