Main Content

Lidar-Based Navigation

Point cloud registration and map building, 3-D simultaneous localization and mapping, and 2-D lidar object detection

A key components for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) applications and autonomous robots is enabling awareness of where the vehicle or robot is, with respect to its surroundings and using this information to estimate the best path to its destination. The simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) process uses algorithms to estimate the pose of a vehicle and the map of the environment at the same time.

Lidar Toolbox™ provides a point cloud registration workflow that uses the fast point feature histogram (FPFH) algorithm to stitch together point cloud sequences. You can use this feature for progressive map building. Such a map can facilitate path planning for vehicle navigation or can be used for SLAM. For an example of how to use the extractFPFHFeatures function in a 3-D SLAM workflow for aerial data, see Aerial Lidar SLAM Using FPFH Descriptors.

Lidar Toolbox also provides features for scan matching and simulating range-bearing sensor readings. These features can be used in a 2-D obstacle detection workflow that provides collision warnings for vehicles in real-time.

Functions

expand all

matchScansEstimate pose between two laser scans
matchScansGridEstimate pose between two lidar scans using grid-based search
matchScansLineEstimate pose between two laser scans using line features
rangeSensorSimulate range-bearing sensor readings
lidarScanCreate object for storing 2-D lidar scan
pcregistericpRegister two point clouds using ICP algorithm
pcregistercpdRegister two point clouds using CPD algorithm
pcregisterndtRegister two point clouds using NDT algorithm
extractFPFHFeaturesExtract fast point feature histogram (FPFH) descriptors from point cloud
pcmatchfeaturesFind matching features between point clouds
pcshowMatchedFeaturesDisplay point clouds with matched feature points

Featured Examples

Feature-Based Map Building from Lidar Data

Feature-Based Map Building from Lidar Data

Demonstrates how to process 3-D lidar data from a sensor mounted on a vehicle to progressively build a map. Such a map is suitable for automated driving workflows such as localization and navigation. These maps can be used to localize a vehicle within a few centimeters.

Open Live Script
Aerial Lidar SLAM Using FPFH Descriptors

Aerial Lidar SLAM Using FPFH Descriptors

Demonstrates how to implement the simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) algorithm for aerial mapping using 3-D features. The goal of this example is to estimate the trajectory of a robot and create a point cloud map of its environment.

Open Live Script
Collision Warning Using 2-D Lidar

Collision Warning Using 2-D Lidar

Detect obstacles and warn of possible collisions using 2-D lidar data.

Open Live Script

Lidar Toolbox Documentation

Support

Try MATLAB, Simulink, and Other Products

Get trial now