Method, system and apparatus for adaptive ceiling-based localization

1. A method in a navigational controller, the method comprising:

controlling a ceiling-facing camera of a mobile automation apparatus to capture a stream of images of a facility ceiling;

activating a primary localization mode including:

(i) detecting primary features in the captured image stream; and

(ii) updating, based on the primary features, an estimated pose of the mobile automation apparatus and a confidence level corresponding to the estimated pose;

determining whether the confidence level exceeds a confidence threshold;

when the confidence level does not exceed the confidence threshold, switching to a secondary localization mode including:

(i) detecting secondary features in the stream of images captured by the ceiling facing camera;

(ii) updating the estimated pose and the confidence level based on the secondary features; and

(iii) searching the stream of images captured by the ceiling facing camera for the primary features; and

responsive to detecting the primary features in the stream of images captured by the ceiling camera, re-activating the primary localization mode.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

when the confidence level exceeds the confidence threshold, outputting the estimated pose.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the primary features comprises detecting corner features.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the secondary features comprises detecting features corresponding to lamps on the facility ceiling.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the secondary features include at least one of:

point features corresponding to bulb-type lamps; and

linear features corresponding to linear-type lamps.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

storing a configuration setting indicating which lamp types are active in the facility.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

responsive to updating the estimated pose and confidence level based on the secondary features, repeating the determination of whether the confidence level exceeds the confidence threshold;

when the confidence level does not exceed the confidence threshold, switching to a backup localization mode including:

(i) controlling a motion sensor to obtain odometry data;

(ii) updating the estimated pose and confidence level based on the odometry data, and

(iii) searching the image stream for the secondary features; and

responsive to detecting the secondary features, re-activating the secondary localization mode.

8. A mobile automation apparatus comprising:

a chassis;

a ceiling-facing camera supported by the chassis; and

a navigational controller configured to:

control the ceiling-facing camera to capture a stream of images of a facility ceiling;

activate a primary localization mode to:

(i) detect primary features in the stream of images captured by the ceiling facing camera; and

(ii) update, based on the primary features, an estimated pose of the mobile automation apparatus and a confidence level corresponding to the estimated pose;

determine whether the confidence level exceeds a confidence threshold;

when the confidence level does not exceed the confidence threshold, switch to a secondary localization mode to:

(i) detect secondary features in the stream of images captured by the ceiling facing camera;

(ii) update the estimated pose and the confidence level based on the secondary features; and

(iii) search the stream of images captured by the ceiling facing camera for the primary features; and

responsive to detection of the primary features in the stream of images captured by the ceiling facing camera, re-activate the primary localization mode.

9. The mobile automation apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the navigational controller is further configured, when the confidence level exceeds the confidence threshold, to output the estimated pose.

10. The mobile automation apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the navigational controller is further configured, in order to detect the primary features, to detect corner features.

11. The mobile automation apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the navigational controller is further configured, in order to detect the secondary features, to detect features corresponding to lamps on the facility ceiling.

12. The mobile automation apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the secondary features include at least one of:

point features corresponding to bulb-type lamps; and

linear features corresponding to linear-type lamps.

13. The mobile automation apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:

a memory storing a configuration setting indicating which lamp types are active in the facility.

14. The mobile automation apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the navigational controller is further configured to:

responsive to updating of the estimated pose and confidence level based on the secondary features, repeat the determination of whether the confidence level exceeds the confidence threshold;

when the confidence level does not exceed the confidence threshold, switch to a backup localization mode to:

(i) control a motion sensor to obtain odometry data;

(ii) update the estimated pose and confidence level based on the odometry data, and

(iii) search the image stream for the secondary features; and

responsive to detection of the secondary features, re-activate the secondary localization mode.

15. A method in a navigational controller, the method comprising:

controlling a camera of a mobile automation apparatus to capture a stream of images in a facility;

updating an estimated pose of the mobile automation apparatus based on one of primary features and secondary features detected in the stream of images captured by the camera of the mobile automation apparatus; and

selecting whether to detect one of the primary features and the secondary features in the stream of images captured by the camera of the mobile automation apparatus according to a confidence level associated with the estimated pose.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising controlling the camera to capture the images using constant capture parameters.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the capture parameters include a shutter speed and an exposure setting.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the camera faces a ceiling of the facility.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the primary features include corner features, and wherein the secondary features correspond to lamps.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the selecting includes selecting to detect the secondary features when the confidence level associated with the estimated pose falls below a predefined threshold.