Abstract: A method of visual navigation for a robot includes integrating a depth map with localization information to generate a three-dimensional (3D) map. The method also includes motion planning based on the 3D map, the localization information, and/or a user input. The motion planning overrides the user input when a trajectory and/or a velocity, received via the user input, is predicted to cause a collision.

Abstract: A method for defining a sensor model includes determining a probability of obtaining a measurement from multiple potential causes in a field of view of a sensor modeled based on a stochastic map. The stochastic map includes a mean occupancy level for each voxel in the stochastic map and a variance of the mean occupancy level for each pixel. The method also includes determining a probability of obtaining an image based on the determined probability of obtaining the measurement. The method further includes planning an action for a robot, comprising the sensor, based on the probability of obtaining the image.

Abstract: A method substantially simultaneously plans a path and maps an environment by a robot. The method determines a mean of an occupancy level for a location in a map. The method also includes determining a probability distribution function (PDF) of the occupancy level. The method further includes calculating a cost function based on the PDF. Finally, the method includes simultaneously planning the path and mapping the environment based on the cost function.

Abstract: A method of visual navigation for a robot includes integrating a depth map with localization information to generate a three-dimensional (3D) map. The method also includes motion planning based on the 3D map, the localization information, and/or a user input. The motion planning overrides the user input when a trajectory and/or a velocity, received via the user input, is predicted to cause a collision.

Abstract: A method for defining a sensor model includes determining a probability of obtaining a measurement from multiple potential causes in a field of view of a sensor modeled based on a stochastic map. The stochastic map includes a mean occupancy level for each voxel in the stochastic map and a variance of the mean occupancy level for each pixel. The method also includes determining a probability of obtaining an image based on the determined probability of obtaining the measurement. The method further includes planning an action for a robot, comprising the sensor, based on the probability of obtaining the image.

Abstract: A method substantially simultaneously plans a path and maps an environment by a robot. The method determines a mean of an occupancy level for a location in a map. The method also includes determining a probability distribution function (PDF) of the occupancy level. The method further includes calculating a cost function based on the PDF. Finally, the method includes simultaneously planning the path and mapping the environment based on the cost function.

Abstract: A method for generating a map includes determining an occupancy level of each of multiple voxels. The method also includes determining a probability distribution function (PDF) of the occupancy level of each voxel. The method further includes performing an incremental Bayesian update on the PDF to generate the map based on a measurement performed after determining the PDF.

Abstract: A method of calculating a most likely map based on batch data includes gathering a corpus of sensor measurements indexed by a location of a sensor throughout an environment to be mapped. The method also includes determining, after gathering the corpus of sensor measurements, a most likely occupancy level of each voxel of multiple voxels of the environment in accordance with the corpus of sensor measurements and a stochastic sensor model. The method further includes calculating the most likely map based on the determined most likely occupancy level.

Abstract: A method for managing synapse plasticity in a neural network includes converting a first set of synapses from a plastic synapse type to a fixed synapse type. The method may also include converting a second set of synapses from the fixed synapse type to the plastic synapse type.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for effecting modulation using global scalar values in a spiking neural network. One example method for operating an artificial nervous system generally includes determining one or more updated values for artificial neuromodulators to be used by a plurality of entities in a neuron model and providing the updated values to the plurality of entities.

Abstract: A method for configuring long short-term memory (LSTM) in a spiking neural network includes decoding input spikes into analog values within the LSTM. The method further includes implementing the LSTM based on an encoded representation of the analog values. The implementing can include encoding the analog values using base expansive coding, rate coding, latency coding or synaptic weight coding.

Abstract: A method for managing synapse plasticity in a neural network includes converting a first set of synapses from a plastic synapse type to a fixed synapse type. The method may also include converting a second set of synapses from the fixed synapse type to the plastic synapse type.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for effecting modulation using global scalar values in a spiking neural network. One example method for operating an artificial nervous system generally includes determining one or more updated values for artificial neuromodulators to be used by a plurality of entities in a neuron model and providing the updated values to the plurality of entities.