Mapping Workshop
Presented by ERL
Why Mapping?
Every robot's journey begins with a fundamental question: How does a machine see and remember its world? Mapping is the essential robotic process that converts the continuous stream of raw data, from sensors like LiDAR, cameras, sonar, into a structured representation of the environment. This resulting map provides the robot with the critical spatial awareness needed for safe, intelligent navigation, obstacle avoidance, and autonomous task execution. Eventually, with localization calculations this could become SLAM(Simultaneous Localization and Mapping).
Goal
This workshop series aims to introduce basic SLAM robotics concepts to students. Our workshop targets all experience levels and intends to get students more interested in intelligent systems.
Workshop Logistics
Date: January 21st, 2026
Time: 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Location: Qualcomm Conference Center (First Floor of Jacobs Hall)
Itinerary
5:05 - 5:20: Introduction to ERL
5:20 - 6:35: Mapping Algorithm Presentation and Activities
6:35 - 6:50: Pybullet Simulation (optional)
6:50 - 7:00: Live Robot Demo and Food
Workshop Prerequisites
To run the mapping simulation on your own laptop (optional), please download the zip file corresponding to your operating system at the bottom of the page. Then, follow the instructions on the README.
What You Will Make
In the workshop, students will learn and practice creating a mapping algorithm that takes real-time LiDAR data and a known robot pose to create a 2D map of an environment. Students will be tasked with creating three main functions.
- A lidar-observation model using collected LiDAR data and frame transformations to locate obstacles
- A raycasting algorithm drawing lines as pixels to mark on a grid
- A mapping algorithm that continuously updates a grid map with new data
After successfully implementing these three functions, students will have the opportunity to put their functions into a PyBullet simulation, where they can see their functions at work and mapping an environment.
Notebooks (During Workshop)
- Bresenham: link to notebook
- LiDAR and Frame Transformations: link to notebook
- Occupancy Grid Mapping (OGM): link to notebook
Solution to the Bresenham notebook
Solution to Frame Transformation and OGM Notebooks
Workshop Slides
Key Concepts We'll Explore
- LiDAR
- Line Drawing (Bresenham)
- Bayes' Theorem
- Utilizing Simulations
- Log-Odds
- Frame Transformations
- Binary OGM
- Probabilistic OGM
Why should I go to this workshop?
Going to this workshop enables you to get further experience and knowledge in robotics. Robotics is a field that is growing rapidly, and there are many applications of robotics in the real world including:
- Manufacturing
- Healthcare
- Agriculture
- Security
- Construction
- ... and more!
Gaining experience in robotics also can help you gain experience in a wide variety of topics including computer vision, machine learning, actuators, autonomous vehicles, and more! The possibilities are near limitless in robotics.
