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About

Ulf Larsson is a robotics researcher whose work has made significant contributions to mobile robot navigation, localization, and sensor-based perception. His research centers on the development and application of the range-weighted Hough transform (RWHT), a powerful technique for extracting structural features—such as wall directions and distances—from laser range data, enabling robots to navigate accurately even in cluttered environments. Larsson's most influential work, "Mobile robot navigation using the range-weighted Hough transform" (1995, 103 citations), demonstrated how a time-of-flight laser combined with the RWHT could achieve reliable navigation in real-world indoor settings. Building on this foundation, his 1996 paper on mobile robot localization (73 citations) introduced algorithms for environment mapping by fusing laser scans with odometer readings—a precursor to modern SLAM approaches. His 2002 publications extended these methods into feedback control loops and more complex vehicle configurations, including articulated vehicles and robots towing trailers, showcasing the practical versatility of his techniques. With a body of work spanning nearly a decade, Larsson's contributions have helped establish foundational methods in laser-based robot perception and autonomous navigation, making his research valuable reading for anyone working in robotics, sensor fusion, or autonomous systems.