Advancements in Sensor Fusion for Underwater SLAM: A Review on Enhanced Navigation and Environmental Perception

Underwater simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) has significant challenges due to the complexities of underwater environments, marked by limited visibility, variable conditions, and restricted global positioning system (GPS) availability. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of senso...

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Main Authors: Fomekong Fomekong Rachel Merveille, Baozhu Jia, Zhizun Xu, Bissih Fred
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Sensors
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/24/23/7490
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author Fomekong Fomekong Rachel Merveille
Baozhu Jia
Zhizun Xu
Bissih Fred
author_facet Fomekong Fomekong Rachel Merveille
Baozhu Jia
Zhizun Xu
Bissih Fred
author_sort Fomekong Fomekong Rachel Merveille
collection DOAJ
description Underwater simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) has significant challenges due to the complexities of underwater environments, marked by limited visibility, variable conditions, and restricted global positioning system (GPS) availability. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of sensor fusion techniques in underwater SLAM, highlighting the amalgamation of proprioceptive and exteroceptive sensors to improve UUV navigational accuracy and system resilience. Essential sensor applications, including inertial measurement units (IMUs), Doppler velocity logs (DVLs), cameras, sonar, and LiDAR (light detection and ranging), are examined for their contributions to navigation and perception. Fusion methodologies, such as Kalman filters, particle filters, and graph-based SLAM, are evaluated for their benefits, limitations, and computational demands. Additionally, innovative technologies like quantum sensors and AI-driven filtering techniques are examined for their potential to enhance SLAM precision and adaptability. Case studies demonstrate practical applications, analyzing the compromises between accuracy, computational requirements, and adaptability to environmental changes. This paper proceeds to emphasize future directions, stressing the need for advanced filtering and machine learning to address sensor drift, noise, and environmental unpredictability, hence improving autonomous underwater navigation through reliable sensor fusion.
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spelling doaj-art-2c46dca702d342aea6fa55313268cecd2025-08-20T01:55:33ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202024-11-012423749010.3390/s24237490Advancements in Sensor Fusion for Underwater SLAM: A Review on Enhanced Navigation and Environmental PerceptionFomekong Fomekong Rachel Merveille0Baozhu Jia1Zhizun Xu2Bissih Fred3School of Naval Architecture and Maritime, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524000, ChinaSchool of Naval Architecture and Maritime, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524000, ChinaSchool of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UKCollege of Fisheries, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, ChinaUnderwater simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) has significant challenges due to the complexities of underwater environments, marked by limited visibility, variable conditions, and restricted global positioning system (GPS) availability. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of sensor fusion techniques in underwater SLAM, highlighting the amalgamation of proprioceptive and exteroceptive sensors to improve UUV navigational accuracy and system resilience. Essential sensor applications, including inertial measurement units (IMUs), Doppler velocity logs (DVLs), cameras, sonar, and LiDAR (light detection and ranging), are examined for their contributions to navigation and perception. Fusion methodologies, such as Kalman filters, particle filters, and graph-based SLAM, are evaluated for their benefits, limitations, and computational demands. Additionally, innovative technologies like quantum sensors and AI-driven filtering techniques are examined for their potential to enhance SLAM precision and adaptability. Case studies demonstrate practical applications, analyzing the compromises between accuracy, computational requirements, and adaptability to environmental changes. This paper proceeds to emphasize future directions, stressing the need for advanced filtering and machine learning to address sensor drift, noise, and environmental unpredictability, hence improving autonomous underwater navigation through reliable sensor fusion.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/24/23/7490underwater simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM)sensor fusionunmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs)Kalman filterparticle filtergraph-based SLAM
spellingShingle Fomekong Fomekong Rachel Merveille
Baozhu Jia
Zhizun Xu
Bissih Fred
Advancements in Sensor Fusion for Underwater SLAM: A Review on Enhanced Navigation and Environmental Perception
Sensors
underwater simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM)
sensor fusion
unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs)
Kalman filter
particle filter
graph-based SLAM
title Advancements in Sensor Fusion for Underwater SLAM: A Review on Enhanced Navigation and Environmental Perception
title_full Advancements in Sensor Fusion for Underwater SLAM: A Review on Enhanced Navigation and Environmental Perception
title_fullStr Advancements in Sensor Fusion for Underwater SLAM: A Review on Enhanced Navigation and Environmental Perception
title_full_unstemmed Advancements in Sensor Fusion for Underwater SLAM: A Review on Enhanced Navigation and Environmental Perception
title_short Advancements in Sensor Fusion for Underwater SLAM: A Review on Enhanced Navigation and Environmental Perception
title_sort advancements in sensor fusion for underwater slam a review on enhanced navigation and environmental perception
topic underwater simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM)
sensor fusion
unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs)
Kalman filter
particle filter
graph-based SLAM
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/24/23/7490
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AT baozhujia advancementsinsensorfusionforunderwaterslamareviewonenhancednavigationandenvironmentalperception
AT zhizunxu advancementsinsensorfusionforunderwaterslamareviewonenhancednavigationandenvironmentalperception
AT bissihfred advancementsinsensorfusionforunderwaterslamareviewonenhancednavigationandenvironmentalperception