Method and assembly for creating a landmark map

Abstract

According to the present invention there is provide a method of creating a landmark map comprising the steps of: capturing a plurality of frame using a camera, each frame comprising an image; assigning an image number which denotes the order in which each frame was taken; extracting features from all the images in the captured frames; assigning a distinct identifier to each respective feature which was extracted from the image belonging to the frame which was first captured; for each image belonging to the respective frames which was captured after the first frame was captured, carrying out the following steps: (i) computing a distance between, the location of each respective extracted feature in that image, and the location of each respective feature extracted from image belonging to a previously captured frame; and (ii) determining if said computed distance is less than, a predefined threshold distance; and if the computed distance is not less than said predefined threshold distance then assign that extracted feature the same identifier as is assigned to the extracted feature in the image belonging to the previously captured frame; if the computed distance is greater than the predefined threshold distance, then assign a new identifier to the extracted feature; providing a list of features which comprises image numbers which denotes each of the captured frames; for each respective image number the identifiers which denote the features which were extracted from the image belonging to that frame; and for each identifier the coordinates which represent the location of the extracted feature in that image; carrying out structure-from-motion followed by repeated landmark representation merging and bundle adjustment, using the list of features, so as to create a landmark map. There is further provided an assembly having a processor which is configured to carry out said method of creating a landmark map.