AVM-SLAM: Semantic Visual SLAM with Multi-Sensor Fusion in a Bird's Eye View for Automated Valet Parking

Automated Valet Parking (AVP) requires precise localization in challenging garage conditions, including poor lighting, sparse textures, repetitive structures, dynamic scenes, and the absence of Global Positioning System (GPS) signals, which often pose problems for conventional localization methods. To address these adversities, we present AVM-SLAM, a semantic visual SLAM framework with multi-sensor fusion in a Bird's Eye View (BEV). Our framework integrates four fisheye cameras, four wheel encoders, and an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). The fisheye cameras form an Around View Monitor (AVM) subsystem, generating BEV images. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) extract semantic features from these images, aiding in mapping and localization tasks. These semantic features provide long-term stability and perspective invariance, effectively mitigating environmental challenges. Additionally, data fusion from wheel encoders and IMU enhances system robustness by improving motion estimation and reducing drift. To validate AVM-SLAM's efficacy and robustness, we provide a large-scale, high-resolution underground garage dataset, available at https://github.com/yale-cv/avm-slam. This dataset enables researchers to further explore and assess AVM-SLAM in similar environments.