Open Access

Stefan Hensel, Marin B. Marinov, Max Schmitt

• The visual-inertial mapping and localization system maplab is analyzed by its implementation and subsequent evaluation. The mapping or localization is based on environmental feature detection. In addition to creating maps, there is also the option of fusion of several maps and thus mapping extensive areas and using them for further analysis of data. In this way, various software tools can be usedThe visual-inertial mapping and localization system maplab is analyzed by its implementation and subsequent evaluation. The mapping or localization is based on environmental feature detection. In addition to creating maps, there is also the option of fusion of several maps and thus mapping extensive areas and using them for further analysis of data. In this way, various software tools can be used to optimize the existing data sets. Two sensor components are needed: an inertial measuring unit (IMU) and a monochrome camera, which are combined by a hardware rig and put into operation for the analysis of the visual-inertial system. System calibration is crucial for precision and system functioning and is based on nonlinear dynamic state estimation. This ensures the best possible estimate of the position of the environmental feature and the map. Maplab is particularly suitable for mapping rooms or small building complexes as the implementation and evaluation of the results in different application scenarios show. Special emphasis is laid on the evaluation of larger scenarios, in which is shown, that the system is struggling to keep up geometric consistencies and thus provide an accurate map.…