Robot localization refers to the process of a robot determining its location in an environment usually represented by a map.
There are several ways robots can estimate their location in an environment, such as:
Laser sensors
Vision sensors
Ultrasonic sensors
GPS
This capability is essential for autonomous mobile robots and vehicles because they would not be able to travel between their current location and a goal location without it.
Robot localization is the first fundamental step in robot navigation:
Robot localization
Path planning
Map building and interpretation
Additionally, robotic localization is critical in obstacle avoidance and handling busy environments.