# SLAM - Definitions

**URL:** <https://discourse.openrobotics.org/t/slam-definitions/6030>\
**Category:** ROS General\
**Created:** [September 11, 2018, 8:38pm UTC](https://discourse.openrobotics.org/t/slam-definitions/6030 "2018-09-11T20:38:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![pitosalas](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/discourse.openrobotics.org/pitosalas/32/698_2.png) [@pitosalas](https://discourse.openrobotics.org/u/pitosalas)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 8:38pm UTC](https://discourse.openrobotics.org/t/slam-definitions/6030/1 "2018-09-11T20:38:46Z")

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Simultaneous Localization and Mapping, right?

As the robot moves through the world, it is collecting scanner information and using various strategies comes up with a gradually improving map of the places it has been (mapping) and where it is located in that map (localization.)

What about navigation? It knows where it is (localization) and some of the map (mapping) and a destination on the map. Does the usual definition of Slam include the algorithms that will find a safe path from where it is to where it wants to go?

I ask to clarify a confusion in my mind. What I’ve seen makes it look like when we get to navigation the map\_server is publishing a particular map, and I don’t see provisions for that map to change while we are navigation. I am sure I am missing it, but that’s what I am trying to clarify. Thanks.

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**Author:** ![tfoote](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/discourse.openrobotics.org/tfoote/32/3813_2.png) [@tfoote](https://discourse.openrobotics.org/u/tfoote)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 9:15pm UTC](https://discourse.openrobotics.org/t/slam-definitions/6030/2 "2018-09-11T21:15:05Z")

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Thanks for your question. However we ask that you please ask questions on [http://answers.ros.org](http://answers.ros.org) following our support guidelines: [Support - ROS Wiki](http://wiki.ros.org/Support)

ROS Discourse is for news and general interest discussions. [ROS Answers](http://answers.ros.org) provides a forum which can be filtered by tags to make sure the relevant people can find and/or answer the question, and not overload everyone with hundreds of posts.

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**Author:** ![tfoote](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/discourse.openrobotics.org/tfoote/32/3813_2.png) [@tfoote](https://discourse.openrobotics.org/u/tfoote)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 9:15pm UTC](https://discourse.openrobotics.org/t/slam-definitions/6030/3 "2018-09-11T21:15:25Z")

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