Qualitative Self-Localization using a Spatio-Temporal Ontology: A Preliminary Report

Self-localization the correlation of current and former impressions of the world is an essential ability for most mobile agents. In an inhabited dynamic system, high precision metric approaches demand accurate sensor devices and large computational power. In contrast, during the last few years qualitative methods have been explored to overcome mainly problems regarding complexity and stability. This paper describes a qualitative approach to self-localization. With space-time as the ontological primitive and using distinct spatiotemporal patterns for categories of objects, selflocalization within an integrated spatio-temporal framework is investigated. Given a record of local surveys, we show how space-time history descriptions might be abduced from local surveys and spatio-temporal patterns. The qualitative mereotopological world model so constructed forms a basis for self-localization. keywords: spatio-temporal reasoning, selflocalization, space-time.