SLAM dunk? real-time mapping technology could take gaming, movies to new level

A technology to simultaneously localize and map a single camera´s surroundings in an unknown environment called Visual SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping), the technology will let users combine real-life and computer-generated images in real time. Along with having an array of possible applications - from interior decorating to TV broadcasting - Visual SLAM could revolutionize the film, robotics, and computer gaming industries - if it can deliver on its promise. At its core, the technology is an algorithm that processes images from a video camera in real time (that is, 30 frames per second). Using motion from image features automatically extracted in each frame, the algorithm works out the camera position and the features´ 3D locations at each instant in time. Researchers believe that by adding a visual component, Visual SLAM stands to take SLAM research to the next level.