Navigating a vehicle using a crowdsourced sparse map

A method for autonomously navigating a vehicle along a road segment, the method comprising:

• receiving a sparse map model, wherein the sparse map model includes at least one line representation of a road surface feature extending along the road segment, each line representation representing a path along the road segment substantially corresponding with the road surface feature;
• and
• receiving from a camera, at least one image representative of an environment of the vehicle;
• analyzing the sparse map model and the at least one image received from the camera;
• and
• determining an autonomous navigational response for the vehicle based on the analysis of the sparse map model and the at least one image received from the camera.

A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processing device, cause the device to:

• receive a sparse map model, wherein the sparse map model includes at least one line representation of a road surface feature extending along the road segment, each line representation representing a path along the road segment substantially corresponding with the road surface feature;
• and
• receive from a camera, at least one image representative of an environment of the vehicle;
• analyze the sparse map model and the at least one image received from the camera;
• and
• determine an autonomous navigational response for the vehicle based on the analysis of the sparse map model and the at least one image received from the camera.