Sony patents robot tech that fills in missing map data to save memory
Sony describes a system for mobile robots that builds a 3D map of their surroundings using sensor data. To save processing power and memory, the system estimates missing details in the map by looking at nearby known areas, rather than storing every single piece of data.
In the filing’s own words
There is provided an information processing apparatus that can reduce the processing burden or the memory usage. An information processing apparatus includes: a sensor-information analysis unit configured to analyze sensor information and create map base data that is data used for updating an environment map including environment information; a map accumulation unit configured to hold the environment map and update the environment map on the basis of the map base data; and a map analysis unit configured to analyze the environment map and compensate for or correct the environment information in the environment map.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. An information processing apparatus comprising: processing circuitry configured to analyze sensor information acquired by a sensor sensing an environment around a mobile object and create map base data that is data used for updating an environment map that describes the environment around the mobile object and includes environment information recorded in association with each of a plurality of voxels of the environment map; store the environment map and update the environment map based on the map base data; analyze the environment map and compensate for a missing part of the environment information in the environment map; estimate content of a missing part of a predetermined kind of environment information in a first region of the environment map where the predetermined kind of environment information is missing by evaluating continuity of another kind of environment information in the environment map with a second region of the environment map where the predetermined kind of environment information is recorded; provide the estimated content as compensation for the missing part; prepare action planning of the mobile object based on the environment map; and control an actuator to move the mobile object through the environment according to the action planning.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (Sony Group Corporation)
- Official title
- Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and computer program
- Patent number
- US12761040B2
- Application number
- 18567027
- Filed
- Feb 15, 2022
- Granted
- Oct 13, 2026
- Inventors
- 1
- Claims
- 11
Classified under
G01C 21/3804 Physics & computingMore from Sony in Robots & automation
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.