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SLAM Coverage Audit and Backlog

This audit exists to prevent method-library blind spots like the missing dedicated GLIM page. It consolidates parallel web-search agent findings across LiDAR SLAM, LiDAR-inertial odometry, visual SLAM, dense/RGB-D SLAM, LiDAR-visual-inertial SLAM, radar SLAM, registration, loop closure, and optimization backends.

The current SLAM library is useful, but it is not complete. Treat the P0 backlog below as required coverage before calling the method-level SLAM section comprehensive.

Current Status

ItemStatus
Dedicated GLIM pageAdded as GLIM.
GTSAM coveragePresent in Factor Graph SLAM with iSAM2 and GTSAM and GTSAM Factor Graph Optimization.
Latest promotion statusThe 2026-05-09 deep-dive waves added MOLA, KISS-SLAM, KISS-Matcher, LVI-SAM, FAST-LIVO/FAST-LIVO2, R2LIVE/R3LIVE, Splat-SLAM, S3PO-GS, Gaussian-LIC, GS-LIVM, VIGS-SLAM, Dynamic 4D Gaussian SLAM, RadarSplat-RIO, MapCleaner, ERASOR++, 4dNDF, FreeDOM, STATIC-LIO dynamic-point removal, dynamic-map cleaning benchmarks, robust/certifiable PGO, Kimera-RPGO/PCM, distributed multi-robot PGO, LT-mapper/Khronos, RTMap/DUFOMap, GPR localization, radar teach-repeat, MOVES, Scan Context family, LiDAR bundle-adjustment factors, Kimera-Multi, COVINS/COVINS-G, D2SLAM, UWB/range SLAM, OKVIS2-X, MM-LINS, event-camera VIO/SLAM, thermal-inertial SLAM, 4D imaging-radar RIO/SLAM, and radar-to-LiDAR map localization.
Most severe structural gapDR-REMOVER/ExelMap-style map-change methods, current benchmark pages such as SNAIL Radar/HeRCULES/GEODE/COSMO-Bench, specialized visual/VIO follow-ons, newer degeneracy-robust LIO variants, and emerging radar/Gaussian/foundation-model SLAM methods still need more first-class files.
How to use this auditAdd P0 files first, then P1, then P2 or mention-only aliases. Update this audit whenever a missing method is promoted into the library.

Deep-Dive Promotion Wave (2026-05-09)

The May 9 loop took the highest-value "mentioned but not atomic" SLAM gaps and created dedicated method pages.

ClusterPromoted method files
Production-relevant LiDAR and LIVOMOLA, KISS-SLAM, KISS-Matcher, LVI-SAM, FAST-LIVO/FAST-LIVO2, R2LIVE/R3LIVE
Gaussian and neural SLAMSplat-SLAM, S3PO-GS, Gaussian-LIC, GS-LIVM, VIGS-SLAM, Dynamic 4D Gaussian SLAM
Radar and adverse-weather Gaussian mappingRadarSplat-RIO

Dynamic Map Cleaning Promotion Wave (2026-05-09)

The removal-focused loop promoted dynamic/static map cleaning from a broad synthesis topic into atomic method and benchmark files. The key distinction is between deleting transient moving points, suppressing dynamic-object trails, and rejecting static objects that do not belong in the persistent operational map.

ClusterPromoted files
Classical and learned map cleanersMapCleaner, ERASOR++, 4dNDF, FreeDOM, STATIC-LIO Dynamic-Point Removal
Benchmark and map-change bridgeDynamic Map Cleaning Benchmarks, Moved-Object and Map-Change Datasets, Airside Dynamic Map-Cleaning Benchmark

Robust Backend and Lifelong Localization Promotion Wave (2026-05-09)

The latest web-gap loop promoted backend and long-term localization topics that were previously only backlog rows or hidden inside mapping documents.

ClusterPromoted files
Robust and certifiable backendsRobust PGO / GNC / riSAM, Certifiable Pose-Graph Optimization, Kimera-RPGO / PCM, Distributed Multi-Robot PGO
Lifelong and alternative localizationLT-Mapper / Khronos Lifelong Mapping, RTMap / DUFOMap Recursive Maintenance, GPR Localization, Radar Teach-Repeat Localization, MOVES Label-Free Map Cleaning

Collaborative and Alternative-Sensor Promotion Wave (2026-05-09)

The latest gap loop promoted the strongest "mentioned but not atomic" SLAM families across loop closure, LiDAR-specific backends, collaborative SLAM, and alternative localization sensors.

ClusterPromoted files
Loop closure and LiDAR backendsScan Context Family, LiDAR Bundle-Adjustment Factors
Collaborative SLAM systemsKimera-Multi, COVINS/COVINS-G, D2SLAM
Alternative and degraded-sensor localizationUWB / Radio Ranging SLAM, OKVIS2-X, MM-LINS, Event-Camera VIO/SLAM, Thermal-Inertial SLAM, 4D Imaging Radar RIO/SLAM, Radar-to-LiDAR Map Localization

Next SLAM promotion queue: DR-REMOVER, ExelMap, benchmark pages for SNAIL Radar, HeRCULES, GEODE, and COSMO-Bench, plus PG-LIO, LIR-LIVO, semantic LiDAR-inertial-wheel odometry, NDT variants, SLAM Toolbox, PIN-SLAM, ROMAN, and newer Gaussian/foundation SLAM variants where source maturity justifies atomic pages.

Second Latest-Method Sweep (2026-05-08)

This second sweep used parallel web-search agents plus direct spot checks for 2025-2026 SLAM methods. It focused on methods likely to be missed by older SLAM surveys: degeneracy-robust LIO, LiDAR-visual-inertial odometry, wheel/GNSS factors, 4D radar localization, Gaussian/foundation-model visual SLAM, and current benchmarks.

Interpretation:

  • P0 latest means create a dedicated file before describing the SLAM library as current.
  • P1 latest means create a dedicated file after P0s, or cross-link clearly from the closest existing method page.
  • Watch means the technique is promising but venue status, code release, official source availability, or independent benchmark maturity is not strong enough yet.
  • Venue claims are treated cautiously when only an arXiv comment, project page, or third-party index was found.

P0 Latest Additions and Upgrades

Suggested fileMethod or techniqueCategoryWhy it mattersPrimary sources
Promoted: OKVIS2-XOKVIS2-XMulti-modal VI/LiDAR/GNSS SLAMModern open keyframe VI SLAM configurable with dense depth, LiDAR, GNSS, volumetric submaps, and map-alignment factors; good companion to OKVIS/ROVIO/BASALT and VILENS.https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.04612, https://github.com/ethz-mrl/OKVIS2-X
Promoted: MM-LINSMM-LINSDegeneracy-robust LIOMulti-map LiDAR-inertial system for over-degenerate environments such as warehouses, crowds, smoke, temporary LiDAR blindness, and long corridors.https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.19506
pg-lio.mdPG-LIOIntensity/photometric-geometric LIOUses LiDAR intensity to stabilize self-similar tunnels and corridors; directly relevant to GPS-denied indoor/outdoor transitions and long feature-poor routes.https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.18583
lir-livo.mdLIR-LIVOLiDAR-visual-inertial odometryLightweight LIVO using illumination-resilient learned features, LiDAR depth association, SuperPoint, and LightGlue; upgrades FAST-LIVO-style coverage for poor lighting.https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.08676
semantic-liw-odometry.mdSemantic LiDAR-Inertial-Wheel odometryVehicle/industrial multi-sensor odometryStrong deployment signal from automated-port operation; important for low-speed industrial vehicles where wheel odometry, semantics, and LiDAR need to coexist.https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.14999
gv-iriom-4d-radar.mdGV-iRIOMGNSS/visual/4D-radar inertial odometry and mappingLarge-scale 4D radar SLAM extension combining radar inertial odometry, visual-inertial odometry, GNSS, loop closure, and map fusion for adverse weather.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924271625000449
cfear-teach-repeat.mdCFEAR-Teach-and-RepeatRadar-only teach-and-repeat localizationMarch 2026 radar-only localization pipeline with Boreas evaluation, reported 29 Hz operation, and strong adverse-weather relevance.https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.06501
radarsplat-rio.mdRadarSplat-RIORadar bundle adjustment / Gaussian radar mapApril 2026 radar-inertial method that frames radar SLAM drift reduction as local bundle adjustment over range-azimuth-Doppler data with Gaussian splatting.https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.13492
vggt-slam-plus-plus.mdVGGT-SLAM++Foundation-model visual SLAMApril 2026 VGGT-based SLAM with DEM graph construction, DINOv2 retrieval, and local optimization; belongs beside SLAM3R/VGGT/AIM-SLAM coverage.https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.06830
vista-slam.mdViSTA-SLAMFoundation/pointmap monocular SLAMCalibration-free monocular SLAM using lightweight pointmap/pose prediction and Sim(3) loop closure; relevant to the foundation-geometry SLAM lineage.https://ganlinzhang.xyz/vista-slam/, https://github.com/zhangganlin/vista-slam, https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.01584
s3po-gs.mdS3PO-GSOutdoor monocular Gaussian SLAMICCV 2025 outdoor RGB-only Gaussian SLAM with global scale-consistent 3D Gaussian pointmaps; fills the outdoor 3DGS gap beyond indoor MonoGS/SplaTAM.https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.03737, https://openaccess.thecvf.com/content/ICCV2025/html/Cheng_Outdoor_Monocular_SLAM_with_Global_Scale-Consistent_3D_Gaussian_Pointmaps_ICCV_2025_paper.html
vigs-slam.mdVIGS-SLAMVisual-inertial Gaussian SLAMTightly couples visual, inertial, depth/pose optimization, and Gaussian mapping for blur, low texture, and exposure variation; promote out of the watchlist.https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.02293, https://vigs-slam.github.io/
gaussianflow-slam.mdGaussianFlow SLAMMonocular Gaussian SLAMApril 2026 monocular 3DGS SLAM using optical-flow-guided GaussianFlow constraints to regularize pose and structure.https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.15612
hi-slam2.mdHI-SLAM2Geometry-aware monocular Gaussian SLAMT-RO 2025 RGB-only Gaussian SLAM with monocular priors, scale alignment, loop closure, and instant map updates.https://hi-slam2.github.io/, https://doi.org/10.1109/TRO.2025.3626627
segs-slam.mdSEGS-SLAMStructure-enhanced Gaussian SLAMICCV 2025 3DGS SLAM across monocular, stereo, and RGB-D inputs; useful for organizing the fast-moving Gaussian SLAM family.https://segs-slam.github.io/
scalemaster-benchmark.mdScaleMasterLearned monocular SLAM benchmarkFebruary 2026 benchmark for scale consistency and map-to-map quality in deep monocular SLAM, especially large indoor and multi-floor sequences.https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.18174
snail-radar-benchmark.mdSNAIL Radar4D radar SLAM benchmarkIJRR 2025 radar benchmark with 4D radar, stereo, LiDAR, IMU, GNSS/INS, rain/night/tunnel coverage, and updated 2025 poses/extrinsics.https://snail-radar.github.io/, https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.11705
hercules-radar-benchmark.mdHeRCULESHeterogeneous radar benchmarkICRA 2025 benchmark combining 4D radar, spinning radar, FMCW LiDAR, IMU, GPS, and cameras for radar SLAM, place recognition, and fusion.https://sites.google.com/view/herculesdataset, https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.01946
geode-degenerate-lidar-benchmark.mdGEODEDegenerate LiDAR benchmarkLarge multi-LiDAR benchmark with many geometrically degenerate settings; directly supports the degeneracy-robust LIO backlog.https://thisparticle.github.io/geode/, https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.04961

P1 Latest Additions

Suggested fileMethod or techniqueCategoryWhy it mattersPrimary sources
genz-icp.mdGenZ-ICPDegeneracy-robust LiDAR odometry / ICPAlready mentioned in broader LiDAR docs, but now deserves a focused file because degeneracy-robust registration is a 2025-2026 hotspot.https://github.com/cocel-postech/genz-icp
bev-lio-lc.mdBEV-LIO-LCLIO plus learned BEV loop closureBridges FAST-LIO-style odometry with BEV image place recognition for long warehouse, campus, and outdoor loops.https://github.com/HxCa1/BEV-LIO-LC
omni-livo.mdOmni-LIVOMulti-camera LiDAR-visual-inertial odometryExtends LIVO toward surround/multi-camera FoV coverage, a better fit for AV-style sensor suites than monocular LIVO.https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.15673
online-neural-liw-factor.mdOnline neural LiDAR-IMU-wheel factor graphWheel/vehicle state estimationLearns skid-steer or terrain-dependent wheel kinematics inside the estimator rather than treating wheel odometry as fixed noise.https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.08907
cm-liuw-odometry.mdCM-LIUW-OdometryLiDAR-IMU-UWB-wheel odometryUnderground/tunnel-focused fusion with nonholonomic constraints, lever-arm compensation, and adaptive mode switching.https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.01379
4dral-radar-lidar-place-recognition.md4DRaL4D radar / LiDAR place recognitionLiDAR-teacher distillation for radar-to-radar and radar-to-LiDAR retrieval; important for all-weather map lookup and loop closure.https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.26206
sherloc-radar-place-recognition.mdSHeRLocHeterogeneous radar place recognitionCross-modal place recognition across spinning radar, 4D radar, and FMCW LiDAR for mixed-sensor fleets.https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.15175
cao-ronet.mdCAO-RONetLearning-based 4D radar odometry2025 ICRA line for low-quality 4D radar point completion and context-aware association, useful for AV radar odometry comparison.https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.01438, https://github.com/NEU-REAL/CAO-RONet
radar-correspondence-rio.mdRadar point correspondence learning for RIORadar-inertial frontendTransformer-based radar point correspondences that can plug into radar-inertial odometry pipelines.https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.18580, https://github.com/aau-cns/radar_transformer
point-uncertainty-radar-slam.mdPoint uncertainty in radar SLAMRadar backend modelingExplicit radar point uncertainty improves association and backend estimation; useful ingredient across radar SLAM pages.https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.16082, https://github.com/HKUST-Aerial-Robotics/RIO
radar-inertial-online-calibration.mdOnline radar-IMU spatial and temporal calibrationRadar-inertial deployment hardeningMarch 2026 continuous-time calibration for radar-inertial odometry, important for productizing radar fusion.https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.19958
gs-livm.mdGS-LIVMLiDAR-inertial-visual Gaussian mappingICCV 2025 real-time outdoor Gaussian mapping using LIVO poses, voxel GPR, and CUDA; compare with Gaussian-LIC and FAST-LIVO2.https://openaccess.thecvf.com/content/ICCV2025/html/Xie_GS-LIVM_Real-Time_Photo-Realistic_LiDAR-Inertial-Visual_Mapping_with_Gaussian_Splatting_ICCV_2025_paper.html, https://github.com/xieyuser/GS-LIVM
4dtam.md4DTAMDynamic/non-rigid 4D Gaussian SLAMCVPR 2025 dynamic-surface-Gaussian tracking and mapping; lower AV-localization priority but important for dynamic Gaussian maps.https://github.com/muskie82/4dtam
ace-slam.mdACE-SLAMNeural implicit RGB-D SLAMScene-coordinate regression as live implicit map, compact relocalization angle; promote after code maturity is checked.https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.14032, https://ialzugaray.github.io/ace-slam/
dropd-slam.mdDropD-SLAMMonocular dense/RGB-D replacementUses pretrained metric depth, learned keypoints, and segmentation to drive an RGB-D-style backend from monocular video.https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.06216
levio.mdLEVIOEmbedded visual-inertial odometryUltra-low-power VIO for RISC-V/embedded devices; useful if the corpus covers small robots or auxiliary wearable/camera nodes.https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.03294
iilabs-3d-benchmark.mdIILABS 3DIndoor LiDAR SLAM benchmarkIndoor wheeled-robot benchmark with heterogeneous 3D LiDARs, IMU, wheel odometry, and MoCap ground truth.https://jorgedfr.github.io/3d_lidar_slam_benchmark_at_iilab/
smapper-benchmark.mdSMapper / SMapper-lightOpen-hardware SLAM benchmark platformReproducible acquisition platform with public indoor/outdoor sequences and sub-cm offline SLAM ground truth.https://snt-arg.github.io/smapper_docs/, https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.09509
agrilira4d-benchmark.mdAgriLiRa4DUAV LiDAR/radar benchmarkAgricultural UAV benchmark with 3D LiDAR, 4D radar, IMU, and RTK; useful for vegetation, repetitive texture, and outdoor robustness.https://zhan994.github.io/AgriLiRa4D/, https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.01753
diter-plus-plus-benchmark.mdDiTer++Multi-robot/multi-session benchmarkLegged-robot, thermal, RGB/RGB-D, LiDAR, IMU, and proprioception coverage for outdoor multi-session SLAM.https://arxiv.org/abs/2412.05839

Latest Watchlist

Method or techniqueWhy watchCurrent concernSources
LTR^2 / LiDAR Teach, Radar RepeatVery relevant cross-modal LiDAR-teach and 4D-radar-repeat navigation, with long-term deployment claims across smoke/night/changed environments.Primary arXiv link surfaced in the third sweep, but keep watch until code and independent validation mature.https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.02809
CUBE-LIOIntensity-assisted cubemap projection for degenerate LIO.Venue listing found, but paper/repo not found in this sweep.https://ras.papercept.net/conferences/conferences/ICRA26/program/ICRA26_ContentListWeb_4.html
RMGS-SLAMReal-time LIV Gaussian SLAM with loop closure on a global Gaussian map.Preprint-only in this sweep.https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.12942
R-VoxelMap2026 VoxelMap successor candidate.Code/release maturity unclear.https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.12377
LIO-MARSNon-uniform continuous-time B-spline LIO.Submitted status; wait for venue/code.https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.13985
AKF-LIOAdaptive covariance and Gaussian map for degraded/dynamic scenes.Code appears not released yet.https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.06891
Super4DR, DNOI-4DRO, Equi-ROFast-moving 4D radar odometry and Gaussian/radar learning line.Good technical signal, but code and repeated external evaluation are not yet mature.https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.09608, https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.12310, https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.20674
SCE-SLAM and GSO-SLAMScene-coordinate and Gaussian/direct-VO visual SLAM variants worth tracking.Strong preprint signal, but not yet core AV 3D SLAM coverage without code/benchmark maturity checks.https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.09665, https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.11714
D-GVIO and CT-VIRDecentralized GNSS-VIO and visual-inertial-ranging fusion.Interesting for multi-agent or UWB work, but not yet core AV 3D SLAM coverage.https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.01404, https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.14545

Third Gap-Discovery Sweep (2026-05-08)

This sweep deliberately looked outside the latest neural/Gaussian and LIO-heavy lanes. Five parallel agents searched for backend/tooling, specialized visual/VIO, LiDAR map representation, alternative-sensor, and collaborative/lifelong SLAM gaps. The result is a more structural backlog: the library is missing several mature method families, not just new papers.

P0 Discovered Families

Suggested fileMethod or techniqueCategoryWhy it mattersPrimary sources
Promoted: Robust PGO / GNC / riSAMGraduated Non-Convexity, Black-Rangarajan duality, riSAMRobust graph optimization backendComplements switchable constraints, DCS, max-mixtures, and robust kernels with modern high-outlier and incremental robust-estimation tools.https://arxiv.org/abs/1909.08605, https://arxiv.org/abs/2210.07097
Promoted: Certifiable Pose-Graph OptimizationSE-Sync and Shonan AveragingCertifiable / globally initialized PGOExplains when pose-graph solutions can be certified or initialized beyond local Gauss-Newton; important for offline map QA.https://arxiv.org/abs/1612.07386, https://arxiv.org/abs/2003.01032, https://gtsam.org/doxygen/a05136.html
Promoted: Kimera-RPGO / PCMKimera-RPGO and Pairwise Consistency MaximizationLoop-closure verification / robust PGOFalse loop closure is safety-critical in repeated stands, gates, corridors, and warehouses; PCM deserves first-class coverage.https://github.com/MIT-SPARK/Kimera-RPGO, https://arxiv.org/abs/2003.12932, https://arxiv.org/abs/1711.08632
Promoted: Distributed Multi-Robot PGODPGO and distributed certifiably correct PGODistributed / multi-session SLAM backendMulti-vehicle and multi-session map merging are backend problems, not only front-end SLAM-system problems.https://github.com/MIT-SPARK/DPGO, https://arxiv.org/abs/2011.11929
Promoted: Kimera-MultiKimera-MultiDistributed multi-robot metric-semantic SLAMPeer-to-peer dense metric-semantic C-SLAM with distributed GNC; not covered by the existing Kimera-VIO page.https://arxiv.org/abs/2106.14386, https://github.com/MIT-SPARK/Kimera-Multi
Promoted: COVINS/COVINS-GCOVINS and COVINS-GCentralized/cloud collaborative VI-SLAMStrong pattern for fleet/cloud VI map sharing; COVINS-G generalizes beyond one front end.https://arxiv.org/abs/2108.05756, https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.16641, https://github.com/VIS4ROB-lab/covins
Promoted: D2SLAMD2SLAMDecentralized aerial-swarm VI-SLAMCovers near-field relative localization plus far-field global consistency for aerial swarm and multi-agent systems.https://github.com/HKUST-Aerial-Robotics/D2SLAM, https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10582478
swarm-slam.mdSwarm-SLAMSparse decentralized C-SLAMROS 2, multi-sensor support, decentralized sparse map sharing; practical baseline for indoor, underground, and swarm robotics.https://arxiv.org/abs/2301.06230, https://github.com/MISTLab/Swarm-SLAM
slideslam.mdSlideSLAMDecentralized metric-semantic multi-robot SLAMObject-based metric-semantic maps for heterogeneous robot teams and bandwidth-constrained operation.https://arxiv.org/abs/2406.17249
Promoted: LT-Mapper / KhronosLT-mapper / LT-SLAM / LT-removert / LT-map, KhronosLiDAR lifelong and spatio-temporal map maintenanceExplicit multi-session alignment, dynamic filtering, positive/negative change handling, delta maps, and temporal semantic maps.https://arxiv.org/abs/2107.07712, https://github.com/gisbi-kim/lt-mapper, https://roboticsproceedings.org/rss20/p081.pdf
roman-object-map-alignment.mdROMANObject-map alignment / global localizationOpen-set object map alignment for view-invariant localization and multi-robot loop closure.https://acl.mit.edu/roman/, https://github.com/mit-acl/roman, https://www.roboticsproceedings.org/rss21/p029.pdf
4dndf-dynamic-lidar-mapping.md4D implicit LiDAR mapping / 4dNDFDynamic LiDAR map updating / static-map extractionAV-relevant static map construction from dynamic LiDAR logs with spatio-temporal implicit filtering.https://arxiv.org/abs/2405.03388, https://github.com/PRBonn/4dNDF
lifelong-3d-map-version-control.mdLifelong 3D Mapping FrameworkCloud-native map version controlAdds explicit map versioning, change queries, positive/negative changes, and multi-session alignment.https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.18110
multi-lio.mdMulti-LIOMulti-LiDAR inertial odometryMultiple-LiDAR LIO with parallel updates, voxel maps, and point-wise uncertainty; directly relevant to AV rigs with 4-8 LiDARs.https://dblp.org/pid/59/2133-1, https://lightingooo.github.io/
lta-om.mdLTA-OMLong-term LIO / multisession localizationAdds long-term association mapping, loop correction/rejection, and multisession map reuse on top of FAST-LIO2-style mapping.https://repository.hku.hk/handle/10722/353311, https://github.com/hku-mars/LTAOM
coin-lio.mdCOIN-LIOIntensity-augmented degeneracy-robust LIOUses LiDAR intensity as complementary constraints in tunnels, flat fields, and weak-geometry environments.https://arxiv.org/abs/2310.01235, https://github.com/ethz-asl/COIN-LIO
x-icp-localizability-aware-registration.mdX-ICPLocalizability-aware LiDAR registrationDetects unobservable directions and constrains ICP accordingly; directly actionable for corridor/apron scan-to-map localization.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10328716/, https://www.research-collection.ethz.ch/items/e286a52c-2afc-492f-8b00-a9ab295665be
pin-slam.mdPIN-SLAMNeural implicit LiDAR/RGB-D SLAMStrong missing neural LiDAR SLAM line with compact implicit maps, point-to-implicit registration, and neural point loop detection.https://arxiv.org/abs/2401.09101, https://github.com/PRBonn/PIN_SLAM
Promoted: Event-Camera VIO/SLAMESVIO, ESVO2, EVI-SAM, PL-EVIOEvent-camera visual/event-visual-inertial SLAMMissing whole family for HDR, low light, high-speed motion, blur, and agile robotics.https://arxiv.org/abs/2212.13184, https://github.com/arclab-hku/ESVIO, https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.09374, https://github.com/NAIL-HNU/ESVO2, https://arxiv.org/abs/2312.11911, https://arxiv.org/abs/2209.12160
Promoted: Thermal-Inertial SLAMGraph-based Thermal-Inertial SLAM, TP-TIO, embedded TIOThermal / infrared SLAM and odometryDirectly fills night, smoke, dust, and low-light camera gaps for indoor, tunnel, emergency, and airside night operation.https://arxiv.org/abs/2104.07196, https://github.com/risqiutama/ti-slam, https://arxiv.org/abs/2012.03455, https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.02114
multi-camera-fisheye-visual-inertial-slam.mdBAMF-SLAM, MAVIS/OpenMAVIS, BundledSLAMOmnidirectional/fisheye/multi-camera VI-SLAMAVs and indoor robots use surround/fisheye rigs, not only mono/stereo pinhole; synchronization and overlap are core estimator issues.https://arxiv.org/abs/2306.01173, https://bamf-slam.github.io/, https://arxiv.org/abs/2309.08142, https://github.com/MAVIS-SLAM/OpenMAVIS, https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.19886
structure-plp-slam.mdStructure PLP-SLAM, PL-VINS, point-line-plane SLAMStructural visual SLAMLines and planes matter in low-texture corridors, warehouses, parking garages, terminals, and indoor/outdoor built environments.https://arxiv.org/abs/2207.06058, https://github.com/PeterFWS/Structure-PLP-SLAM, https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.07462, https://github.com/cnqiangfu/PL-VINS
visual-inertial-wheel-odometry.mdVINS-on-Wheels, VIWO, PIEKF-VIWO, PL-VIWO/2, VIPS-OdomVisual-inertial-wheel odometryGround vehicles often have wheel encoders and nonholonomic constraints; this deserves more than generic wheel-factor coverage.https://mars.cs.umn.edu/papers/KejianWu_VINSonWheels.pdf, https://woosiklee.com/downloads/papers/Lee2020IROS.pdf, https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.07668, https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.00551, https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.21563, https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.05017
dynamic-visual-inertial-slam.mdDynaVINS, DynaVINS++, ADUGS-VINS, RD-VIORobust dynamic-scene VIO/VISLAMNon-Gaussian dynamic-scene VIO line for moving people, vehicles, temporary objects, and false visual constraints.https://arxiv.org/abs/2208.11500, https://github.com/url-kaist/dynaVINS, https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.15373, https://adugs-vins.github.io/, https://arxiv.org/abs/2310.15072
Promoted: GPR LocalizationLocalizing Ground Penetrating Radar and Ground EncodingGPR / underground radar localizationTargets rain, snow, fog, dust, darkness, visual-feature loss, and repeatable underground features through subsurface map matching and factor-graph localization.https://tisl.cs.toronto.edu/publication/202005-ral-lgpr/ral20-lgpr.pdf, https://arxiv.org/abs/2107.07606, https://arxiv.org/abs/2103.15317
Promoted: Radar Teach-Repeat LocalizationRadar Teach and Repeat / VT&R3 radar route followingRadar teach-and-repeatBroader adverse-condition route-repeat architecture than CFEAR-TR alone; released VTR3 code.https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.10491, https://github.com/utiasASRL/vtr3
Promoted: UWB / Radio Ranging SLAMUWB Radar SLAM / anchorless UWB radar SLAMUWB / RF SLAMDistinct from fixed-anchor RTLS; relevant to warehouses, tunnels, mines, and industrial corridors.https://arxiv.org/abs/2311.14970
cosmo-bench.mdCOSMO-BenchC-SLAM backend benchmarkDedicated benchmark for distributed C-SLAM optimization with LiDAR-derived datasets, communication models, and loop outlier labels.https://www.cosmobench.com/, https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.16731
s3e-cslam-benchmark.mdS3EMulti-robot multimodal C-SLAM datasetThree UGVs, indoor/outdoor, LiDAR, stereo, IMU, UWB, and RTK; fills a true collaborative sensing benchmark gap.https://pengyu-team.github.io/S3E/, https://arxiv.org/abs/2210.13723

P1 Discovered Families

Suggested fileMethod or techniqueCategoryWhy it mattersPrimary sources
maplab-rovioli.mdmaplab and ROVIOLIMulti-session VI mapping toolkitFoundational practical toolkit for VI map building, localization, map maintenance, and multi-session workflows.https://arxiv.org/abs/1711.10250, https://github.com/ethz-asl/maplab
slam-toolbox.mdROS 2 SLAM ToolboxPractical 2D pose-graph SLAMAlready mentioned elsewhere, but deserves a page for warehouse, AGV, and Nav2 deployment context.https://github.com/SteveMacenski/slam_toolbox, https://docs.ros.org/en/jazzy/p/slam_toolbox/
voxgraph-submap-sdf-slam.mdVoxgraphSubmap and map-centric volumetric SLAMTSDF submaps plus pose-graph optimization; complements Cartographer's submap pattern.https://arxiv.org/abs/2004.07194, https://github.com/ethz-asl/voxgraph
quatro-quatro-plus-plus.mdQuatro / Quatro++Robust global registrationComplements TEASER++, FGR, Super4PCS, and Go-ICP for loop closing and global localization.https://arxiv.org/abs/2201.13072, https://arxiv.org/abs/2311.18622, https://github.com/url-kaist/Quatro
max-clique-point-cloud-registration.mdSC2-PCR, MAC, maximum-clique registrationGeometric loop verification / global registrationMaximum-clique consistency is a major robust PCR family for high-outlier loop verification.https://openaccess.thecvf.com/content/CVPR2022/html/Chen_SC2-PCR_A_Second_Order_Spatial_Compatibility_for_Efficient_and_Robust_Point_CVPR_2022_paper.html, https://openaccess.thecvf.com/content/CVPR2023/html/Zhang_Robust_Point_Cloud_Registration_With_Maximal_Cliques_CVPR_2023_paper.html
gore-qgore-registration.mdGORE / QGOREGuaranteed outlier removal / registrationFoundational certifiable outlier-pruning line behind robust point-cloud registration.https://arxiv.org/abs/1702.08905, https://arxiv.org/abs/2301.00697
s-graphs-hierarchical-semantic-slam.mdS-Graphs / S-Graphs+ / S-Graphs 2.0Hierarchical semantic graph SLAMOptimizes walls, rooms, floors, objects, and robot poses as a hierarchy rather than only frame poses.https://arxiv.org/abs/2203.15279, https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.13995, https://github.com/snt-arg/s_graphs
ma-lio.mdMA-LIOAsynchronous multi-LiDAR LIOHandles asynchronous multi-LiDAR input and inter-LiDAR uncertainty; important when sensors are not identical or perfectly synchronized.https://arxiv.org/abs/2305.16792, https://github.com/minwoo0611/MA-LIO
multi-modal-multi-lidar-loam.mdMMLOAM / multi-modal multi-LiDAR-inertial odometryMulti-LiDAR LIOTightly coupled heterogeneous multi-LiDAR-inertial system for indoor, warehouse, and hangar mapping.https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.02684, https://github.com/TIERS/multi-modal-loam
clic-coco-lic.mdCLIC and Coco-LICContinuous-time LIO/LICContinuous-time fixed-lag smoothing and non-uniform B-splines for asynchronous LiDAR, IMU, and camera fusion.https://arxiv.org/abs/2302.07456, https://github.com/APRIL-ZJU/clic, https://arxiv.org/abs/2309.09808
wildcat-continuous-time-lio.mdWildcatContinuous-time LIO / field SLAMCSIRO/SubT online continuous-time LiDAR-inertial SLAM with pose-graph support for degraded environments.https://arxiv.org/abs/2205.12595
loner.mdLONERReal-time neural implicit LiDAR-only SLAMBridge between classical LiDAR SLAM and neural implicit scene representations.https://arxiv.org/abs/2309.04937, https://umautobots.github.io/loner
nerf-loam.mdNeRF-LOAMNeural implicit LiDAR odometry/mappingEarly large-scale incremental LiDAR NeRF/SDF LOAM method; mentioned in Splat-LOAM but not audit-promoted.https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10709, https://openaccess.thecvf.com/content/ICCV2023/papers/Deng_NeRF-LOAM_Neural_Implicit_Representation_for_Large-Scale_Incremental_LiDAR_Odometry_and_ICCV_2023_paper.pdf, https://github.com/JunyuanDeng/NeRF-LOAM
shine-mapping.mdSHINE-MappingNeural implicit LiDAR mapping / compressionSparse hierarchical implicit map representation; important for map compression taxonomy even if not full SLAM.https://arxiv.org/abs/2210.02299, https://github.com/PRBonn/SHINE_mapping
slamesh.mdSLAMeshMesh-based LiDAR SLAM/localizationCPU-only real-time LiDAR SLAM against an online mesh map; dense map/storage alternative to points and voxels.https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.05252, https://github.com/lab-sun/SLAMesh
kitware-lidar-slam.mdKitware LiDAR SLAM / LidarView ecosystemOpen-source LiDAR SLAM frameworkPractical ROS/ROS 2/LidarView stack missing from the open-source comparison beyond brief mentions.https://www.kitware.com/kitware-lidar-slam-is-available-with-ros-and-ros2/, https://www.kitware.com/lidar-slam-spotlight-on-kitwares-open-source-library/
range-only-slam.mdRange-only SLAM with radio/acoustic/UWB beaconsInfrastructure-aided SLAMFoundational family behind UWB, BLE, acoustic, and cooperative ranging SLAM.https://www.ri.cmu.edu/publications/range-only-slam-for-robots-operating-cooperatively-with-sensor-networks/
radio-wifi-rfid-slam.mdWiFi-SLAM, WiFi GraphSLAM, radio fingerprint SLAM, RFID-SLAMRF SLAM / weak localization factorsWeather-independent infrastructure signals already exist in warehouses, terminals, factories, ports, and tunnels.https://www.ijcai.org/Proceedings/07/Papers/399.pdf, https://dblp.org/rec/conf/icra/HuangMQSTA11, https://repository.sutd.edu.sg/esploro/outputs/journalArticle/Exploiting-Radio-Fingerprints-for-Simultaneous-Localization/9911273209846, https://dblp.org/rec/journals/tii/WuGTTGY23
magnetic-slam-localization.mdMagnetic field maps / MagSLAM / magnetic anomaly localizationMagnetic SLAM / map localizationPassive, lighting/weather-independent fallback for indoor, underground, parking, warehouse, and infrastructure-rich environments.https://elib.dlr.de/83461/, https://arxiv.org/abs/1804.01926
osm-map-prior-localization.mdOpenStreetSLAM and OSM semantic-prior localizationOSM / semantic map priorBroader map-prior family beyond OPAL LiDAR-to-OSM: topology, building footprints, semantics, weak GNSS, and particle/factor graph localization.https://vision.rwth-aachen.de/media/papers/florosicra13.pdf, https://www.ipb.uni-bonn.de/wp-content/papercite-data/pdf/yan2019ecmr.pdf, https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/robotics-and-ai/articles/10.3389/frobt.2023.1064934/full
satellite-crossview-localization.mdSatellite-image-based cross-view localizationSatellite / map-prior localizationRoute bootstrap and global prior when HD maps are absent but satellite imagery is available.https://arxiv.org/abs/2207.13506, https://github.com/Toytiny/SIBCL
panoptic-dynamic-visual-slam.mdPanoptic-SLAM, VAR-SLAMDynamic-scene visual SLAMConcrete ORB-SLAM3-era dynamic systems with panoptic/unknown-object handling.https://arxiv.org/abs/2405.02177, https://github.com/iit-DLSLab/Panoptic-SLAM, https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.16205, https://virgolinosoares.github.io/VAR-SLAM/
object-level-dynamic-visual-slam.mdVI Multi-Instance Dynamic SLAM, OA-SLAM, MCOO-SLAMObject-level / semantic visual SLAMAdds newer dynamic object-level relocalization and surround-camera object SLAM beyond DSP-SLAM.https://arxiv.org/abs/2208.04274, https://arxiv.org/abs/2209.08338, https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.15402
semantic-visual-slam-avp.mdAVM-SLAM, Semantic VI-SLAM for AVP, VIPS-OdomAV / parking semantic SLAMParking slots, BEV surround cameras, wheel speed, and semantic landmarks are relevant to mapped garages and low-speed AV operation.https://arxiv.org/abs/2309.08180, https://github.com/yale-cv/avm-slam, https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.05017, https://openaccess.thecvf.com/content/ACCV2024/papers/Oh_Semantic_Visual-inertial_SLAM_for_Automated_Valet_Parking_ACCV_2024_paper.pdf
visual-teach-repeat.mdVisual/VI teach-and-repeat, FLAF, topo-metric VT&RRoute-repeat navigationRepeated-route navigation is operationally different from globally consistent SLAM and matters for airports, warehouses, mines, and ports.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921889020304176, https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.03457, https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.09089
event-thermal-vio-benchmarks.mdUZH event dataset, TUM-VIE, CART, MA-VIEDEvent/thermal benchmark supportNeeded so event and thermal pages are evaluated on appropriate data rather than EuRoC/KITTI only.https://www.ifi.uzh.ch/en/rpg/software_datasets/davis_datasets.html, https://cvg.cit.tum.de/data/datasets/visual-inertial-event-dataset, https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.08997, https://data.caltech.edu/records/cks6g-ps927, https://github.com/isarlab-department-engineering/MA-VIED
mne-slam.md / magic-slam.mdMNE-SLAM and MAGiC-SLAMMulti-agent neural/Gaussian SLAMCollaborative dense neural/Gaussian SLAM line; useful research contrast, less production-ready for safety-critical pose.https://openaccess.thecvf.com/content/CVPR2025/html/Deng_MNE-SLAM_Multi-Agent_Neural_SLAM_for_Mobile_Robots_CVPR_2025_paper.html, https://arxiv.org/abs/2411.16785, https://github.com/VladimirYugay/MAGiC-SLAM
hydra-multi.md / multi-s-graphs.mdHydra-Multi and Multi S-GraphsMulti-robot scene graphs / semantic-relational C-SLAMCollaborative scene graph and semantic relational maps for low-bandwidth loop closure and high-level map reasoning.https://arxiv.org/abs/2304.13487, https://arxiv.org/abs/2401.05152, https://github.com/snt-arg/multi_s_graphs_docker
dynemo-slam.md / obvi-slam.mdDYNEMO-SLAM and ObVi-SLAMDynamic and long-term object SLAMModels dynamic entities or persistent object maps rather than only masking moving objects.https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.02050, https://arxiv.org/abs/2309.15268, https://github.com/ut-amrl/ObVi-SLAM
cu-multi-benchmark.md / mars-av-multiagent-benchmark.md / cse-cslam-benchmark.md / subt-mrs-benchmark.mdCU-Multi, Open MARS, CSE C-SLAM, SubT-MRSCollaborative and degraded-environment benchmarksAdds multi-robot, multi-traversal, service-environment, and subterranean benchmark coverage beyond single-robot SLAM datasets.https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.19463, https://ai4ce.github.io/MARS/, https://arxiv.org/abs/2406.09383, https://arxiv.org/abs/2411.14775, https://arxiv.org/abs/2307.07607

Third-Sweep Watchlist

Method or techniqueWhy watchCurrent concernSources
ALIVE-LIO, D2-LIO, LODESTARNew degeneracy-aware LIO variants covering learned inertial velocity fallback, directional degeneracy, and adaptive Schmidt-Kalman filtering.Fresh 2025-2026 preprints; code and independent validation need checking.https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.02706, https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.14355, https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.09142
BUFFER-X / BUFFER-X-Lite and TurboRegNew robust point-cloud registration directions for cold start and loop verification.Promising but too new for core method pages until SLAM integration evidence matures.https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.02759, https://github.com/MIT-SPARK/BUFFER-X, https://openaccess.thecvf.com/content/ICCV2025/html/Wang_TurboReg_TurboClique_for_Robust_Fast_and_Accurate_Point_Cloud_Registration_ICCV_2025_paper.html
DeepPointMap / DeepPointMap2Neural descriptors for compact LiDAR maps, odometry, loop closure, and multi-agent SLAM.Good direction but venue/code maturity unclear from primary sources checked.https://arxiv.org/abs/2312.02684
TinyDEVO, Edged USLAM, event teach-and-repeatEvent-camera SLAM is moving toward embedded and route-repeat use.Fresh 2025-2026 preprints; promote only after code and hardware claims are verified.https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.08060, https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.08150, https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.17287
All-UWB SLAM, 5G/mmWave/RIS radio SLAMInfrastructure-localization literature could become practical for indoor/outdoor industrial autonomy.Many papers rely on idealized channels or fixed infrastructure; keep outside core AV SLAM for now.https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.15474, https://arxiv.org/abs/2312.13741
SKiD-SLAM, MCN-SLAM, DVM-SLAM, CoViS-NetNew distributed/collaborative SLAM and spatial-prior work.Preprint/workshop/source maturity varies; compare against COVINS, D2SLAM, Swarm-SLAM, and Kimera-Multi before promotion.https://sparolab.github.io/research/skid_slam/, https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.18678, https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.04126, https://proroklab.github.io/CoViS-Net/

P0 Dedicated Files

Suggested fileMethod or techniqueCategoryWhy it mattersPrimary sources
lvi-sam.mdLVI-SAMLiDAR-visual-inertial factor-graph SLAMCanonical bridge from LIO-SAM and VINS-Mono into LVIO; relevant for GNSS-denied terminal edges, covered roads, hangars, and weak LiDAR/vision handoff.https://arxiv.org/abs/2104.10831, https://github.com/TixiaoShan/LVI-SAM
fast-livo-fast-livo2.mdFAST-LIVO and FAST-LIVO2Direct LiDAR-inertial-visual odometryNatural companion to FAST-LIO2; high-value open-source LIV baseline for spinning and solid-state LiDAR with camera/IMU fusion.https://arxiv.org/abs/2203.00893, https://arxiv.org/abs/2408.14035, https://github.com/hku-mars/FAST-LIVO, https://github.com/hku-mars/FAST-LIVO2
r2live-r3live.mdR2LIVE and R3LIVELiDAR-inertial-visual fusion and RGB map reconstructionReal-time tightly coupled LIV line from HKU-MARS; useful for colorized survey maps, digital twins, and robustness when either LiDAR geometry or visual texture is weak.https://arxiv.org/abs/2102.12400, https://arxiv.org/abs/2109.07982, https://github.com/hku-mars/r2live, https://github.com/hku-mars/r3live
ground-fusion-m2dgr-m3dgr.mdM2DGR, Ground-Fusion, Ground-Fusion++ / M3DGRGround-robot multi-sensor SLAM and benchmark lineageStrong fit for airport GSE: RGB-D/camera, IMU, wheel, GNSS, LiDAR, indoor/outdoor transitions, wheel slip, GNSS denial, and LiDAR degeneracy.https://arxiv.org/abs/2112.13659, https://github.com/SJTU-ViSYS/M2DGR, https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.14308, https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.08364
gvins-glio-gnss-raw-factor-fusion.mdGVINS and GLIOGNSS-visual-inertial and GNSS-LiDAR-IMU factor graphsCore AV localization gap: raw GNSS pseudorange/Doppler factors, urban-canyon handling, GNSS reacquisition, and drift-free global pose.https://arxiv.org/abs/2103.07899, https://github.com/HKUST-Aerial-Robotics/GVINS, https://github.com/XikunLiu-huskit/GLIO
wheel-odometry-vehicle-motion-factors.mdWheel odometry, nonholonomic constraints, vehicle motion factorsVehicle localization factorsNeeded for low-speed airport vehicles, tug/dolly slip detection, 4WS/skid-steer constraints, and dead reckoning during GNSS/LiDAR degradation.https://mars.cs.umn.edu/papers/KejianWu_VINSonWheels.pdf, https://woosiklee.com/downloads/papers/Lee2020IROS.pdf, https://arxiv.org/abs/2404.02515
Promoted: 4D Imaging Radar RIO/SLAMiRIOM, Go-RIO, x-RIO, multi-radar IO4D imaging radar-inertial SLAMDirect all-weather localization relevance; Doppler/elevation improve observability over 2D spinning radar and sparse automotive radar.https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.13962, https://github.com/wooseongY/Go-RIO, https://christopherdoer.github.io/publications/2022_02_JGN2022, https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~kaess/pub/Huang24icra.pdf
robust-global-registration.mdTEASER++, Fast Global Registration, Super4PCS/4PCS, Go-ICPCoarse/global point-cloud registrationRequired for cold start, loop verification, map merging, and kidnapped-robot recovery when ICP/NDT initialization is weak.https://github.com/MIT-SPARK/TEASER-plusplus, https://arxiv.org/abs/2001.07715, https://github.com/isl-org/FastGlobalRegistration, https://nmellado.github.io/Super4PCS/, https://jlyang.org/go-icp/
Promoted: Scan Context FamilyScan Context, Scan Context++, ISC, FreSCo-style variantsLiDAR place recognitionDeterministic LiDAR loop/relocalization baseline; easier to validate for airside/warehouse use than learned descriptors.https://github.com/SignalImageCV/scancontext, https://gisbi-kim.github.io/publications/gkim-2018-iros.pdf, https://arxiv.org/abs/2109.13494
robust-loop-closure-backends.mdSwitchable constraints, DCS, max-mixtures, robust kernels, loop quarantineRobust graph backendFalse loop closure is one of the highest-severity SLAM failures; this should explain backend insertion, rejection, rollback, and robust factors.https://doi.org/10.1109/IROS.2012.6385590, https://www.tu-chemnitz.de/etit/proaut/ICRAWorkshopFactorGraphs/ICRA_Workshop_on_Robust_and_Multimodal_Inference_in_Factor_Graphs/Program_files/4 - DCS.pdf, https://gtsam.org/docs/
Promoted: LiDAR Bundle-Adjustment FactorsBALM, BALM 2.0, BA-CLM, LiDAR BA cost factors, gtsam_points factorsLiDAR mapping backendVisual BA is already covered, but LiDAR BA optimizes poses against geometric edge/plane/voxel structure and matters for HD-map quality.https://arxiv.org/abs/2010.08215, https://github.com/hku-mars/BALM, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11398242/, https://github.com/koide3/gtsam_points
bad-slam.mdBAD SLAMRGB-D dense SLAMStrong missing dense RGB-D baseline: direct bundle adjustment over dense RGB-D maps with calibration/sync sensitivity and ETH3D relevance.https://openaccess.thecvf.com/content_CVPR_2019/html/Schops_BAD_SLAM_Bundle_Adjusted_Direct_RGB-D_SLAM_CVPR_2019_paper.html, https://github.com/ETH3D/badslam
okvis-rovio-basalt.mdOKVIS, ROVIO, BASALT, VI-DSO lineClassical VIOFills the gap between OpenVINS, VINS, Kimera, and ORB-SLAM3; key estimator tradeoffs across EKF, direct filtering, and nonlinear optimization.https://github.com/ethz-asl/okvis, https://www.research-collection.ethz.ch/handle/20.500.11850/236658, https://www.research-collection.ethz.ch/handle/20.500.11850/187364, https://cvg.cit.tum.de/research/vslam/basalt, https://arxiv.org/abs/1904.06504
colmap-sfm-mvs.mdCOLMAP / SfM + MVSOffline visual mapping backendNot online SLAM, but industry-standard for offline camera poses, 3D reconstruction, 3DGS initialization, dataset building, and map QA.https://colmap.org/, https://www.cv-foundation.org/openaccess/content_cvpr_2016/app/S18-10.pdf
slam3r-vggt-foundation-slam.mdSLAM3R, VGGT, CUT3R, AIM-SLAM, InfiniteVGGTFoundation-model dense SLAM/reconstructionMASt3R-SLAM is covered, but feed-forward pointmap/geometry-transformer SLAM is now a distinct 2024-2026 lineage.https://arxiv.org/abs/2412.09401, https://github.com/PKU-VCL-3DV/SLAM3R, https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.11651, https://cut3r.github.io/, https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.05097, https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.02281
kiss-slam.mdKISS-SLAMFull LiDAR-only SLAMKISS-ICP covers odometry; KISS-SLAM adds loop closure and full 3D LiDAR SLAM with a simple baseline philosophy.https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.12660, https://github.com/PRBonn/kiss-slam

P1 Dedicated Files

Suggested fileMethod or techniqueCategoryWhy it mattersPrimary sources
faster-lio-ivox.mdFaster-LIO and iVoxFast tightly coupled LIOComplements FAST-LIO2 with parallel sparse incremental voxels for throughput and resource-constrained robots.https://github.com/gaoxiang12/faster-lio, https://raw.githubusercontent.com/gaoxiang12/faster-lio/main/doc/faster-lio.pdf
direct-lidar-odometry-dlio-dliom.mdDLO, DLIO, DLIOMDirect dense LiDAR odometry/LIO/SLAMNASA/JPL field-robotics lineage with minimally preprocessed dense clouds, continuous-time correction, and degraded-environment robustness.https://arxiv.org/abs/2110.00605, https://github.com/vectr-ucla/direct_lidar_odometry, https://arxiv.org/abs/2203.03749, https://github.com/vectr-ucla/direct_lidar_inertial_odometry, https://arxiv.org/abs/2305.01843
voxelmap-lio.mdVoxelMap, VoxelMap++, CT-VoxelMapProbabilistic/adaptive voxel map representationImportant for scan-to-map registration, memory, solid-state LiDAR support, and modern LIO/LVIO map management.https://arxiv.org/abs/2109.07082, https://github.com/hku-mars/VoxelMap, https://arxiv.org/abs/2308.02799, https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.03747
slict-clins-continuous-time-lio.mdSLICT and CLINSContinuous-time LiDAR-inertial odometry/mappingImportant for aggressive motion, scan distortion, asynchronous sensors, multi-LiDAR input, and high-quality mapping on rough terrain.https://arxiv.org/abs/2211.03900, https://arxiv.org/abs/2109.04687, https://github.com/APRIL-ZJU
locus-lamp-nebula.mdLOCUS, LOCUS 2.0, LAMPField LiDAR odometry and multi-robot SLAMRelevant for tunnels, mines, SubT-style operation, uncertainty-aware fusion, health-aware mapping, and multi-robot pose graphs.https://arxiv.org/abs/2012.14447, https://robotics.jpl.nasa.gov/media/documents/2205.11784.pdf, https://arxiv.org/abs/2003.01744, https://software.nasa.gov/software/NPO-51451-1
mola.mdMOLA / MOLA-LO/LIOModular ROS 2 LiDAR odometry, mapping, localizationProduction localization relevance: ROS 2-ready, modular ICP/SLAM pipelines, map manipulation, and localization-only modes.https://github.com/MOLAorg/mola, https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.20465, https://docs.mola-slam.org/latest/mola_lidar_odometry.html, https://docs.mola-slam.org/latest/localization.html
mulls.mdMULLSLiDAR-only SLAM / multi-metric ICPUseful for AV and survey mapping because it targets indoor/outdoor complex scenes and multiple LiDAR specifications.https://arxiv.org/abs/2102.03771, https://yujie-he.github.io/publication/2021_mulls_icra/, https://github.com/YuePanEdward/MULLS
rko-lio.mdRKO-LIORobust LiDAR-inertial odometryPRBonn 2025/RA-L 2026 line aimed at sensor-agnostic LIO and single-configuration multi-platform use.https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.06593, https://github.com/PRBonn/rko_lio, https://docs.ros.org/en/jazzy/p/rko_lio/pages/quickstart.html
lic-fusion-lvio-fusion.mdLIC-Fusion, LIC-Fusion 2.0, LVIO-FusionLiDAR-inertial-camera odometryEarlier tightly coupled LIC/LVIO line with online calibration and plane tracking; complements HKU-MARS direct methods.https://arxiv.org/abs/1909.04102, https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.07196, https://researchportal.hkust.edu.hk/en/publications/lvio-fusiontightly-coupled-lidar-visual-inertial-odometry-and-map/
vilens-and-multimodal-landmark-tracking.mdVILENS and unified multi-modal landmark trackingMulti-modal factor graph odometryLegged-focused but useful for weak/degenerate modality fusion in degraded apron, tunnel, hangar, and underground-like transitions.https://arxiv.org/abs/2107.07243, https://robots.ox.ac.uk/~mfallon/publications/2022TRO_wisth.pdf, https://arxiv.org/abs/2011.06838
cfear-radarodometry.mdCFEAR RadarodometryRadar odometryStrong learning-free spinning-radar baseline for adverse weather and indoor/outdoor generalization.https://arxiv.org/abs/2105.01457, https://arxiv.org/abs/2211.02445, https://github.com/dan11003/CFEAR_Radarodometry
under-the-radar-hero-radar-odometry.mdUnder the Radar and HEROLearned radar keypoints / radar odometryImportant learned radar baselines on Oxford/Boreas; HERO combines learned radar features with classical probabilistic estimation.https://arxiv.org/abs/2001.10789, https://arxiv.org/abs/2105.14152, https://github.com/utiasASRL/hero_radar_odometry
steam-icp-continuous-time-radar-lidar-odometry.mdSTEAM-ICP, STEAM-RO/RIO/LIOContinuous-time radar/LiDAR/inertial odometryImportant for spinning radar motion distortion, asynchronous sensors, and smooth trajectory factors.https://github.com/utiasASRL/steam_icp, https://www.roboticsproceedings.org/rss17/p029.pdf
doppler-radar-lidar-slam.mdDoppler-SLAM, Radarize, DRODoppler radar and radar-LiDAR SLAMMissing bridge between radar-only, radar-inertial, and radar-LiDAR fusion pages.https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.11634, https://github.com/Wayne-DWA/Doppler-SLAM, https://arxiv.org/abs/2311.11260, https://radarize.github.io/, https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.20339
Promoted: Radar-to-LiDAR Map LocalizationRadar-on-LiDAR, RaLL, UnLoc, RLPRCross-modal all-weather localizationAV relevance: localize radar/camera/LiDAR observations against existing LiDAR maps when LiDAR/camera degrade.https://arxiv.org/abs/2005.04644, https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.07061, https://arxiv.org/abs/2307.00741, https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.07920
learned-lidar-place-recognition.mdPointNetVLAD, MinkLoc3D, LoGG3D-Net, LCDNet, OverlapNet, BEVPlaceLearned loop/place recognitionExisting survey is rich but broad; this page should focus on training data, domain shift, descriptor indexing, and retrieval-vs-pose estimation.https://github.com/mikacuy/pointnetvlad, https://github.com/jac99/MinkLoc3D, https://github.com/csiro-robotics/LoGG3D-Net, https://lcdnet.cs.uni-freiburg.de/, https://github.com/PRBonn/OverlapNet, https://arxiv.org/abs/2302.14325
ndt-variants-and-ndt-maps.mdNDT-D2D, NDT-OM, NDT-MCL, multi-resolution NDT mapsRegistration/map representationNDT covers the core method, but NDT is also a map representation and dynamic mapping family.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/1249285/, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0278364913499415
continuous-time-factor-graphs-steam.mdSTEAM, GP motion priors, exactly sparse continuous-time trajectoriesContinuous-time backendExplains GP priors, asynchronous sensors, rolling-shutter LiDAR/cameras, and continuous-time smoothing beyond registration.https://github.com/utiasASRL/steam, https://arxiv.org/abs/1412.0630, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0278364915585860
surfel-mapping-and-registration.mdSurfels across ElasticFusion, SuMa, semantic surfelsMap representation/registrationSurfels are spread across method pages; representation-level treatment should cover primitives, render-based association, semantics, and dynamic filtering.https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0278364916669237, https://github.com/jbehley/SuMa, https://arxiv.org/abs/2105.11320
incremental-lidar-map-data-structures.mdikd-tree, iVox, voxel hashes, incremental voxel mapsMap data structuresDetermines whether real-time LIO and scan-to-map can run on embedded hardware.https://arxiv.org/abs/2102.10808, https://arxiv.org/abs/2107.06829, https://github.com/gaoxiang12/faster-lio
openvslam-ov2slam.mdOpenVSLAM and OV2SLAMOpen-source visual SLAM frameworksPractical feature-based frameworks beyond ORB-SLAM: camera-model flexibility, online BoW, API concerns, ROS integration.https://arxiv.org/abs/1910.01122, https://github.com/lp-research/openvslam, https://arxiv.org/abs/2102.04060, https://github.com/ov2slam/ov2slam
infinitam-voxel-hashing-kintinuous.mdInfiniTAM, voxel hashing, KintinuousRGB-D dense mapping lineageCore large-scale TSDF engineering patterns for indoor mapping and robotics.https://www.robots.ox.ac.uk/~victor/infinitam/, https://arxiv.org/abs/1708.00783, https://www.graphics.stanford.edu/~niessner/niessner2013hashing.html
vox-fusion-go-slam.mdVox-Fusion, Vox-Fusion++, GO-SLAMNeural implicit dense RGB-D/monocular SLAMComplements iMAP/NICE/Co-SLAM/ESLAM with scalable voxelized neural fields and global optimization.https://arxiv.org/abs/2210.15858, https://github.com/zju3dv/Vox-Fusion, https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.12536, https://arxiv.org/abs/2309.02436, https://github.com/youmi-zym/GO-SLAM
codeslam-deepfactors.mdCodeSLAM and DeepFactorsLearned compact dense monocular SLAMBridge from learned depth priors to iMAP/NeRF-SLAM through compact optimizable depth codes inside SLAM graphs.https://arxiv.org/abs/1804.00874, https://openaccess.thecvf.com/content_cvpr_2018/papers/Bloesch_CodeSLAM_--_Learning_CVPR_2018_paper.pdf, https://arxiv.org/abs/2001.05049, https://github.com/jczarnowski/DeepFactors
cuvslam-isaac-ros-visual-slam.mdNVIDIA cuVSLAM / Isaac ROS Visual SLAMProduction visual-inertial SLAMPractical ROS 2 / Jetson stack for stereo, RGB-D, multi-camera, and IMU robots.https://nvidia-isaac-ros.github.io/v/release-3.1/concepts/visual_slam/cuvslam/index.html, https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.04359, https://developer.nvidia.com/isaac/ros
gaussian-lic.mdGaussian-LIC / Gaussian-LIC2LiDAR-inertial-camera Gaussian SLAMBridges metric LIV odometry and photorealistic 3DGS maps for AV map QA, simulation, and digital twins.https://github.com/APRIL-ZJU/Gaussian-LIC, https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.04004
vings-mono.mdVINGS-MonoVisual-inertial Gaussian monocular SLAMLarge-scene monocular/VI 3DGS SLAM with kilometer-scale demos and loop closure via novel-view synthesis.https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.08286, https://vings-mono.github.io/
neural-gaussian-slam-surveys.md2024-2026 NeRF/3DGS SLAM surveysSurvey/taxonomyFast-moving neural/Gaussian SLAM needs a periodic taxonomy page so individual method pages stay organized.https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.13255, https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.04251, https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.23988

P2 or Mention-Only Queue

Method or techniqueRecommended handlingSources
MonoSLAM and PTAMP1/P2 if the library needs historical foundations; otherwise alias from Bundle Adjustment SLAM.https://www.robots.ox.ac.uk/~lav/Papers/davison_etal_pami2007/davison_etal_pami2007.html, https://www.robots.ox.ac.uk/~dwm/Publications/Papers/klein_murray_ismar2007/klein_murray_ismar2007.pdf
LOAM implementation lineage: A-LOAM, F-LOAMP2 short file or add to LOAM; useful for implementation history.https://github.com/HKUST-Aerial-Robotics/A-LOAM, https://arxiv.org/abs/2107.00822, https://sairlab.org/floam/
LOAM-Livox and LIO-LivoxP2 if solid-state/Livox coverage matters; otherwise mention in LOAM/LIO pages.https://arxiv.org/abs/1909.06700, https://github.com/hku-mars/loam_livox, https://github.com/Livox-SDK/LIO-Livox
M-LOAM / older multi-LiDAR SLAM lineagePromote the multi-LiDAR LIO family through multi-lio.md and related third-sweep pages; keep M-LOAM as historical implementation lineage.https://arxiv.org/abs/2010.14294, https://github.com/gogojjh/M-LOAM
LINS and LIO-mappingP2 historical transition from LOAM-style odometry to tightly coupled LiDAR-IMU filtering.https://arxiv.org/abs/1907.02233, https://arxiv.org/abs/1904.06993, https://github.com/hyye/lio-mapping
NeuralRecon, Atlas, SimpleReconP2 because these usually consume poses rather than solve SLAM, but they matter for learned dense mapping.https://arxiv.org/abs/2104.00681, https://arxiv.org/abs/2003.10432, https://github.com/magicleap/Atlas, https://arxiv.org/abs/2208.14743
GROUNDED and learned GPR representationsPromote Localizing GPR and Ground Encoding through the third-sweep GPR pages; keep GROUNDED as a follow-on learned representation/watch item.https://tisl.cs.toronto.edu/publication/202005-ral-lgpr/ral20-lgpr.pdf, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02783649231183460
Optimization solver comparison: Ceres, g2o, GTSAMP2, because GTSAM already exists; add only if readers need solver selection.https://ceres-solver.org/, https://github.com/RainerKuemmerle/g2o, https://gtsam.org/docs/
Older submap-graph design patternsPromote map-centric SLAM through Voxgraph, LT-mapper, Khronos, and related third-sweep pages; keep Cartographer 3D as the canonical classical implementation.https://google-cartographer.readthedocs.io/
CPD, colored ICP, SegMatch, M2DP, ISC, OverlapNetMention under registration/place-recognition pages unless the repo expands those sublibraries.https://arxiv.org/abs/0905.2635, https://www.open3d.org/docs/0.9.0/tutorial/Advanced/colored_pointcloud_registration.html, https://github.com/PRBonn/OverlapNet
RMGS-SLAM, PINGS, MegaSaM, VGGT/SwiftVGGT/Reloc-VGGT, QLIO, Dy3DGS-SLAM, Super4DRTrack as 2024-2026 emerging methods; most should live in a survey page until code/adoption stabilizes. VIGS-SLAM and VGGT-SLAM++ were promoted in the 2026-05-08 latest-method sweep.https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.12942, https://www.roboticsproceedings.org/rss21/p040.pdf, https://mega-sam.github.io/, https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.11651, https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.02293, https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.06830

Benchmark and Dataset Gaps

Dataset or benchmarkWhy it should be added to SLAM Benchmarking Metrics and DatasetsSources
LaMAria / city-scale egocentric VI SLAMCurrent hard visual-inertial benchmark with low light, moving platforms, long routes, and time-varying calibration.https://lamaria.ethz.ch/, https://openaccess.thecvf.com/content/ICCV2025/papers/Krishnan_Benchmarking_Egocentric_Visual-Inertial_SLAM_at_City_Scale_ICCV_2025_paper.pdf
M3DGR / Ground-Fusion++Ground-robot sensor-fusion benchmark for visual degradation, LiDAR degeneracy, wheel slip, and GNSS denial, with broad baseline evaluation.https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.08364, https://github.com/SJTU-ViSYS/Ground-Fusion
SNAIL Radar4D radar SLAM/localization benchmark with stereo, LiDAR, IMU, GNSS/INS, and difficult rain/night/tunnel conditions.https://snail-radar.github.io/, https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.11705
HeRCULESHeterogeneous radar benchmark combining 4D radar, spinning radar, FMCW LiDAR, IMU, GPS, and cameras for multi-session radar SLAM and place recognition.https://sites.google.com/view/herculesdataset, https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.01946
GEODELarge degenerate-scene LiDAR benchmark for stress-testing LIO and multi-LiDAR pipelines in weak geometry.https://thisparticle.github.io/geode/, https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.04961
ScaleMasterLearned monocular SLAM benchmark for scale consistency and map quality in large indoor and multi-floor environments.https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.18174
COSMO-BenchDistributed C-SLAM optimization benchmark with communication models, LiDAR-derived inputs, and loop outlier labels.https://www.cosmobench.com/, https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.16731
S3EMulti-robot multimodal C-SLAM dataset with indoor/outdoor UGV runs, LiDAR, stereo, IMU, UWB, and RTK.https://pengyu-team.github.io/S3E/, https://arxiv.org/abs/2210.13723
Event and thermal VIO benchmarksEvaluation support for event-camera and thermal-inertial SLAM where EuRoC/KITTI-style RGB assumptions break down.https://www.ifi.uzh.ch/en/rpg/software_datasets/davis_datasets.html, https://cvg.cit.tum.de/data/datasets/visual-inertial-event-dataset, https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.08997, https://data.caltech.edu/records/cks6g-ps927
Collaborative and degraded-environment SLAM benchmarksCU-Multi, Open MARS, CSE C-SLAM, and SubT-MRS cover multi-agent, service-environment, and subterranean evaluation gaps.https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.19463, https://ai4ce.github.io/MARS/, https://arxiv.org/abs/2406.09383, https://arxiv.org/abs/2411.14775, https://arxiv.org/abs/2307.07607
IILABS 3DIndoor 3D LiDAR SLAM benchmark with wheeled robot, IMU, wheel odometry, MoCap ground truth, and multiple LiDAR types.https://jorgedfr.github.io/3d_lidar_slam_benchmark_at_iilab/
HeLiPRHeterogeneous LiDAR and long-term place recognition, important for sensors and route revisits.https://sites.google.com/view/heliprdataset, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02783649241242136
FusionPortableV2Generalized multi-platform SLAM evaluation: handheld, legged robot, UGV, vehicle, 27 sequences, 38.7 km.https://arxiv.org/abs/2404.08563
Oxford SpiresLiDAR, cameras, IMU, TLS reference maps, and large landmark-scale reconstruction for radiance-field/SLAM/localization work.https://dynamic.robots.ox.ac.uk/datasets/oxford-spires/, https://arxiv.org/abs/2411.10546
Hilti x Trimble 360 Visual-Inertial SLAM Challenge 2026Adds 360 visual-inertial data and floor-plan priors beyond Hilti 2023.https://github.com/Hilti-Research/hilti-trimble-slam-challenge-2026
ETH3D SLAM benchmarkVisual-inertial mono/stereo/RGB-D evaluation; useful for dense visual/neural SLAM sanity checks.https://eth3d.ethz.ch/slam_benchmark
VBR: Vision Benchmark in RomeUrban outdoor visual odometry/SLAM with RGB, point clouds, IMU, and GPS.https://arxiv.org/abs/2404.11322
M2DGR, NTU VIRAL, UrbanLocoOlder but important multimodal ground/aerial SLAM benchmarks that should be explicit rows.https://github.com/SJTU-ViSYS/M2DGR, https://arxiv.org/abs/2112.13659, https://ntu-aris.github.io/ntu_viral_dataset/

Already Covered, But Needs Better Discoverability

Existing fileAdd aliases or cross-links for
FAST-LIO and FAST-LIO2Faster-LIO, iVox, VoxelMap, Point-LIO, Livox-specific methods, and a clear note that FAST-LIVO is a different LIV family.
KISS-ICPKISS-SLAM as the full SLAM stack rather than odometry.
Continuous-Time Registration and CT-ICPSLICT, CLINS, DLIO continuous-time motion correction, CT-VoxelMap, and STEAM/GP priors.
Bundle Adjustment SLAMBALM/BALM2 as LiDAR-specific BA, plus COLMAP, MonoSLAM, and PTAM aliases.
Loop Closure and Place RecognitionScan Context, learned LiDAR descriptors, switchable constraints, DCS, loop quarantine.
HDL Graph SLAMGLIM and gtsam_points as the modern Koide ecosystem continuation.
LOAM and LeGO-LOAMA-LOAM, F-LOAM, LOAM-Livox, MULLS, BALM, LINS, and LIO-mapping.
Radar Odometry and Radar SLAMCFEAR, HERO, Under the Radar, Navtech/Oxford Radar RobotCar, Boreas, MulRan, RADIATE, K-Radar.
Radar-Inertial OdometryiRIOM, Go-RIO, x-RIO, multi-radar IO, EKF-RIO-TC, DeRO.
Radar-LiDAR-Inertial FusionDoppler-SLAM, Radarize, DRO, GaRLIO, DR-LRIO, radar-to-LiDAR map localization.
OpenVINSMSCKF family alias and explicit contrast to OKVIS/ROVIO/BASALT.
MASt3R-SLAMSLAM3R, VGGT, CUT3R, MegaSaM, MonST3R, and feed-forward geometry-model SLAM.
KinectFusion and ElasticFusionInfiniTAM, voxel hashing, Kintinuous, BAD SLAM, surfel maps.
iMAP, NICE-SLAM, Co-SLAM and ESLAM, NeRF-SLAMCodeSLAM, DeepFactors, Vox-Fusion, GO-SLAM, and neural dense SLAM survey.
Open-Source SLAM Stack ComparisonMOLA, GLIM, KISS-SLAM, LOCUS/LAMP, FAST-LIVO2/R3LIVE, DLIO/DLIOM, cuVSLAM/Isaac ROS.
Splat-LOAMAlready covers LiDAR Gaussian-splatting odometry and mapping; cross-link it with GS-LIVM, Gaussian-LIC, RadarSplat-RIO, S3PO-GS, and the neural/Gaussian survey page.
WildGS-SLAMAlready covers dynamic monocular Gaussian SLAM; add aliases from the latest sweep so WildGS is discoverable from Gaussian, dynamic-scene, and visual SLAM paths.
LiDAR SLAM AlgorithmsGenZ-ICP is already mentioned there; promote to a dedicated file if degeneracy-robust registration becomes a first-class subsection.

Guardrail Process

When adding or revising SLAM research:

  1. Check whether the method is already a dedicated file, a mention-only item, or a backlog item in this audit.
  2. If it is P0, create a dedicated file before expanding lower-priority coverage.
  3. If it is P1, either create a dedicated file or add a clear cross-link from the closest existing method page.
  4. If it is P2 or mention-only, add aliases in INDEX, overview text, or the relevant method file so search catches the method name.
  5. After every SLAM expansion, update this audit, SLAM Method Library Overview, Open-Source SLAM Stack Comparison, README, and Research Index.

Public research notes collected from public sources.