Systems and methods for detecting erroneous lidar data

Abstract

Techniques for detecting erroneous LIDAR data are disclosed herein. One embodiment receives LIDAR point-cloud data pertaining to a robot's environment; receives image data and generates segmented optical-flow data therefrom; fuses, in a 2D grid, a plurality of objects including LIDAR points and optical-flow pixels; executes a hash function that generates, for the plurality of objects, a 1D hash table and an associated index; performs one or more queries using the 1D hash table and the associated index to measure the extent of spatial correspondence between the LIDAR points and the optical-flow pixels; identifies the LIDAR point-cloud data as erroneous, when the extent of spatial correspondence fails to satisfy one or more predetermined criteria; and identifies the LIDAR point-cloud data as valid and controls operation of the robot based, at least in part, on the LIDAR point-cloud data, when the extent of spatial correspondence satisfies the one or more predetermined criteria.