Hybrid GNSS Visual Positioning via Server Map Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current civil positioning and navigation technologies, such as GNSS, struggle with high accuracy errors at a meter level, and SLAM technology is limited to local, relative positioning, making global positioning challenging.

Innovation Solution

A positioning method that involves a terminal and a server, where the server searches for matched local map data and mapping parameters based on a low-precision global coordinate, and the terminal performs accurate positioning using this local data and real-time environmental information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If GNSS is used for global positioning, then global coverage is achieved, but positioning accuracy deteriorates to meter level

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveglobal coverageVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the global positioning task into two segments: (1) GNSS provides coarse global location, and (2) visual positioning using local map data provides fine-grained accurate positioning. This segmentation allows each method to operate in its optimal range, resolving the contradiction between global coverage and positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces local map data as an intermediary between GNSS and the final positioning result. The server generates and provides local map data that bridges the gap between low-precision GNSS coordinates and high-precision visual positioning, enabling accurate global positioning through coordinate transformation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If SLAM technology is used for positioning, then positioning accuracy is improved, but global positioning capability deteriorates due to limited local map coverage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidglobal positioning capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the visual positioning system universal by enabling it to operate globally through the server-generated local map data. The same visual positioning algorithm that works accurately in local environments can now be applied globally by simply changing the local map data provided by the server, achieving both accuracy and global capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The server acts as an intermediary that provides local map data with known global coordinates, enabling SLAM technology to achieve global positioning capability while maintaining its high accuracy performance in local environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If visual positioning with local map data is performed, then positioning accuracy is improved, but calculation load and resource requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidcalculation load
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the computationally intensive task of generating and storing local map data from the terminal device and relocates it to the server. The terminal only needs to receive pre-generated local map data and perform lightweight matching operations, significantly reducing its calculation load and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The server performs preliminary actions by pre-generating and storing local map data before the terminal needs it. This allows the terminal to perform positioning using pre-processed data, avoiding the need to perform complex map generation and reducing real-time calculation requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3543650B1Locating method, terminal and server
Publication Date: 2025.02.05 CLOUDMINDS SHANGHAI ROBOTICS CO LTD
  • EP3543650B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3543650B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3543650B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention provides a positioning method, a terminal and a server, and relates to the field of positioning and navigation, for performing accurate global positioning. The positioning method includes: a terminal sends a first global coordinate to a server, the server receives the first global coordinate from the terminal, the server searches for corresponding local map data and mapping parameters corresponding to the local map data according to the first global coordinate, the server sends the local map data and the mapping parameters to the terminal, and the terminal obtains a local coordinate of the current location according to the local map data and surrounding environment information of the current location, and obtains a second global coordinate of the current location according to the local coordinate of the current location and the mapping parameters. The embodiment of the present invention is applied to accurate positioning.