LeGO-LOAM-SC: An Improved Simultaneous Localization and Mapping Method Fusing LeGO-LOAM and Scan Context for Underground Coalmine

Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) is one of the key technologies for coal mine underground operation vehicles to build complex environment maps and positioning and to realize unmanned and autonomous operation. Many domestic and foreign scholars have studied many SLAM algorithms, but the mapping accuracy and real-time performance still need to be further improved. This paper presents a SLAM algorithm integrating scan context and Light weight and Ground-Optimized LiDAR Odometry and Mapping (LeGO-LOAM), LeGO-LOAM-SC. The algorithm uses the global descriptor extracted by scan context for loop detection, adds pose constraints to Georgia Tech Smoothing and Mapping (GTSAM) by Iterative Closest Points (ICP) for graph optimization, and constructs point cloud map and an output estimated pose of the mobile vehicle. The test with KITTI dataset 00 sequence data and the actual test in 2-storey underground parking lots are carried out. The results show that the proposed improved algorithm makes up for the drift of the point cloud map, has a higher mapping accuracy, a better real-time performance, a lower resource occupancy, a higher coincidence between trajectory estimation and real trajectory, smoother loop, and 6% reduction in CPU occupancy, the mean square errors of absolute trajectory error (ATE) and relative pose error (RPE) are reduced by 55.7% and 50.3% respectively; the translation and rotation accuracy are improved by about 5%, and the time consumption is reduced by 2~4%. Accurate map construction and low drift pose estimation can be performed.