Patent ID: 8200423
Filing Date: 2012-06-12
Classification: G01C,G05D

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for autonomous updating of GIS maps, comprising: a) a memory storage device for storing GIS data for a GIS map, the GIS data describing a region of a spatial environment and an attribute of a physical object in the region of the spatial environment; b) a mobile data collecting platform that autonomously patrols at least a portion of the region of the spatial environment; c) a range-finding sensor that collects differential range data for the physical object as the mobile data collecting platform patrols the portion of the region; d) a positional sensor that collects position data representing the locations of the mobile data collecting platform as the differential range data is collected by the range-finding sensor; and e) a computational device, comprising a processor and an application program, the application program having program instructions that, when executed by the processor, will cause the processor to automatically