diff --git a/cartographer_ros/CMakeLists.txt b/cartographer_ros/CMakeLists.txt
index e8590a4..da73fc9 100644
--- a/cartographer_ros/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/cartographer_ros/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ find_package(catkin REQUIRED COMPONENTS ${PACKAGE_DEPENDENCIES})
 
 include(FindPkgConfig)
 
+find_package(Abseil REQUIRED)
 find_package(LuaGoogle REQUIRED)
 find_package(PCL REQUIRED COMPONENTS common)
 find_package(Eigen3 REQUIRED)
diff --git a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/assets_writer.cc b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/assets_writer.cc
index 49b2c29..f9b68ed 100644
--- a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/assets_writer.cc
+++ b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/assets_writer.cc
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@
 #include <fstream>
 #include <iostream>
 
+#include "absl/memory/memory.h"
 #include "cartographer/common/configuration_file_resolver.h"
-#include "cartographer/common/make_unique.h"
 #include "cartographer/common/math.h"
 #include "cartographer/io/file_writer.h"
 #include "cartographer/io/points_processor.h"
@@ -61,8 +61,7 @@ CreatePipelineBuilder(
     const std::string file_prefix) {
   const auto file_writer_factory =
       AssetsWriter::CreateFileWriterFactory(file_prefix);
-  auto builder =
-      carto::common::make_unique<carto::io::PointsProcessorPipelineBuilder>();
+  auto builder = absl::make_unique<carto::io::PointsProcessorPipelineBuilder>();
   carto::io::RegisterBuiltInPointsProcessors(trajectories, file_writer_factory,
                                              builder.get());
   builder->Register(RosMapWritingPointsProcessor::kConfigurationFileActionName,
@@ -80,13 +79,13 @@ std::unique_ptr<carto::common::LuaParameterDictionary> LoadLuaDictionary(
     const std::string& configuration_directory,
     const std::string& configuration_basename) {
   auto file_resolver =
-      carto::common::make_unique<carto::common::ConfigurationFileResolver>(
+      absl::make_unique<carto::common::ConfigurationFileResolver>(
           std::vector<std::string>{configuration_directory});
 
   const std::string code =
       file_resolver->GetFileContentOrDie(configuration_basename);
   auto lua_parameter_dictionary =
-      carto::common::make_unique<carto::common::LuaParameterDictionary>(
+      absl::make_unique<carto::common::LuaParameterDictionary>(
           code, std::move(file_resolver));
   return lua_parameter_dictionary;
 }
@@ -99,7 +98,7 @@ std::unique_ptr<carto::io::PointsBatch> HandleMessage(
         transform_interpolation_buffer) {
   const carto::common::Time start_time = FromRos(message.header.stamp);
 
-  auto points_batch = carto::common::make_unique<carto::io::PointsBatch>();
+  auto points_batch = absl::make_unique<carto::io::PointsBatch>();
   points_batch->start_time = start_time;
   points_batch->frame_id = message.header.frame_id;
 
@@ -264,8 +263,7 @@ void AssetsWriter::Run(const std::string& configuration_directory,
 ::cartographer::io::FileWriterFactory AssetsWriter::CreateFileWriterFactory(
     const std::string& file_path) {
   const auto file_writer_factory = [file_path](const std::string& filename) {
-    return carto::common::make_unique<carto::io::StreamFileWriter>(file_path +
-                                                                   filename);
+    return absl::make_unique<carto::io::StreamFileWriter>(file_path + filename);
   };
   return file_writer_factory;
 }
diff --git a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/cartographer_grpc/node_grpc_main.cc b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/cartographer_grpc/node_grpc_main.cc
index 0709221..b8dc03f 100644
--- a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/cartographer_grpc/node_grpc_main.cc
+++ b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/cartographer_grpc/node_grpc_main.cc
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
+#include "absl/memory/memory.h"
 #include "cartographer/cloud/client/map_builder_stub.h"
-#include "cartographer/common/make_unique.h"
 #include "cartographer_ros/node.h"
 #include "cartographer_ros/node_options.h"
 #include "cartographer_ros/ros_log_sink.h"
@@ -59,9 +59,8 @@ void Run() {
   std::tie(node_options, trajectory_options) =
       LoadOptions(FLAGS_configuration_directory, FLAGS_configuration_basename);
 
-  auto map_builder =
-      cartographer::common::make_unique<::cartographer::cloud::MapBuilderStub>(
-          FLAGS_server_address, FLAGS_client_id);
+  auto map_builder = absl::make_unique<::cartographer::cloud::MapBuilderStub>(
+      FLAGS_server_address, FLAGS_client_id);
   Node node(node_options, std::move(map_builder), &tf_buffer,
             FLAGS_collect_metrics);
 
diff --git a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/cartographer_grpc/offline_node_grpc_main.cc b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/cartographer_grpc/offline_node_grpc_main.cc
index 621826b..3b89997 100644
--- a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/cartographer_grpc/offline_node_grpc_main.cc
+++ b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/cartographer_grpc/offline_node_grpc_main.cc
@@ -39,9 +39,8 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv) {
 
   const cartographer_ros::MapBuilderFactory map_builder_factory =
       [](const ::cartographer::mapping::proto::MapBuilderOptions&) {
-        return ::cartographer::common::make_unique<
-            ::cartographer::cloud::MapBuilderStub>(FLAGS_server_address,
-                                                   FLAGS_client_id);
+        return absl::make_unique< ::cartographer::cloud::MapBuilderStub>(
+            FLAGS_server_address, FLAGS_client_id);
       };
 
   cartographer_ros::RunOfflineNode(map_builder_factory);
diff --git a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/map_builder_bridge.cc b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/map_builder_bridge.cc
index 99e38bd..11121cd 100644
--- a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/map_builder_bridge.cc
+++ b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/map_builder_bridge.cc
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 
 #include "cartographer_ros/map_builder_bridge.h"
 
-#include "cartographer/common/make_unique.h"
+#include "absl/memory/memory.h"
 #include "cartographer/io/color.h"
 #include "cartographer/io/proto_stream.h"
 #include "cartographer/mapping/pose_graph.h"
@@ -135,12 +135,11 @@ int MapBuilderBridge::AddTrajectory(
 
   // Make sure there is no trajectory with 'trajectory_id' yet.
   CHECK_EQ(sensor_bridges_.count(trajectory_id), 0);
-  sensor_bridges_[trajectory_id] =
-      cartographer::common::make_unique<SensorBridge>(
-          trajectory_options.num_subdivisions_per_laser_scan,
-          trajectory_options.tracking_frame,
-          node_options_.lookup_transform_timeout_sec, tf_buffer_,
-          map_builder_->GetTrajectoryBuilder(trajectory_id));
+  sensor_bridges_[trajectory_id] = absl::make_unique<SensorBridge>(
+      trajectory_options.num_subdivisions_per_laser_scan,
+      trajectory_options.tracking_frame,
+      node_options_.lookup_transform_timeout_sec, tf_buffer_,
+      map_builder_->GetTrajectoryBuilder(trajectory_id));
   auto emplace_result =
       trajectory_options_.emplace(trajectory_id, trajectory_options);
   CHECK(emplace_result.second == true);
diff --git a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/metrics/family_factory.cc b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/metrics/family_factory.cc
index cb0133a..96df381 100644
--- a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/metrics/family_factory.cc
+++ b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/metrics/family_factory.cc
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 
 #include "cartographer_ros/metrics/family_factory.h"
 
-#include "cartographer/common/make_unique.h"
+#include "absl/memory/memory.h"
 
 namespace cartographer_ros {
 namespace metrics {
@@ -26,8 +26,7 @@ using BucketBoundaries = ::cartographer::metrics::Histogram::BucketBoundaries;
 ::cartographer::metrics::Family<::cartographer::metrics::Counter>*
 FamilyFactory::NewCounterFamily(const std::string& name,
                                 const std::string& description) {
-  auto wrapper =
-      ::cartographer::common::make_unique<CounterFamily>(name, description);
+  auto wrapper = absl::make_unique<CounterFamily>(name, description);
   auto* ptr = wrapper.get();
   counter_families_.emplace_back(std::move(wrapper));
   return ptr;
@@ -36,8 +35,7 @@ FamilyFactory::NewCounterFamily(const std::string& name,
 ::cartographer::metrics::Family<::cartographer::metrics::Gauge>*
 FamilyFactory::NewGaugeFamily(const std::string& name,
                               const std::string& description) {
-  auto wrapper =
-      ::cartographer::common::make_unique<GaugeFamily>(name, description);
+  auto wrapper = absl::make_unique<GaugeFamily>(name, description);
   auto* ptr = wrapper.get();
   gauge_families_.emplace_back(std::move(wrapper));
   return ptr;
@@ -47,8 +45,8 @@ FamilyFactory::NewGaugeFamily(const std::string& name,
 FamilyFactory::NewHistogramFamily(const std::string& name,
                                   const std::string& description,
                                   const BucketBoundaries& boundaries) {
-  auto wrapper = ::cartographer::common::make_unique<HistogramFamily>(
-      name, description, boundaries);
+  auto wrapper =
+      absl::make_unique<HistogramFamily>(name, description, boundaries);
   auto* ptr = wrapper.get();
   histogram_families_.emplace_back(std::move(wrapper));
   return ptr;
diff --git a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/metrics/internal/family.cc b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/metrics/internal/family.cc
index 383829e..42f81c6 100644
--- a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/metrics/internal/family.cc
+++ b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/metrics/internal/family.cc
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 
 #include "cartographer_ros/metrics/internal/family.h"
 
-#include "cartographer/common/make_unique.h"
+#include "absl/memory/memory.h"
 #include "cartographer_ros/metrics/internal/counter.h"
 #include "cartographer_ros/metrics/internal/gauge.h"
 #include "cartographer_ros/metrics/internal/histogram.h"
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ namespace metrics {
 using BucketBoundaries = ::cartographer::metrics::Histogram::BucketBoundaries;
 
 Counter* CounterFamily::Add(const std::map<std::string, std::string>& labels) {
-  auto wrapper = ::cartographer::common::make_unique<Counter>(labels);
+  auto wrapper = absl::make_unique<Counter>(labels);
   auto* ptr = wrapper.get();
   wrappers_.emplace_back(std::move(wrapper));
   return ptr;
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ cartographer_ros_msgs::MetricFamily CounterFamily::ToRosMessage() {
 }
 
 Gauge* GaugeFamily::Add(const std::map<std::string, std::string>& labels) {
-  auto wrapper = ::cartographer::common::make_unique<Gauge>(labels);
+  auto wrapper = absl::make_unique<Gauge>(labels);
   auto* ptr = wrapper.get();
   wrappers_.emplace_back(std::move(wrapper));
   return ptr;
@@ -62,8 +62,7 @@ cartographer_ros_msgs::MetricFamily GaugeFamily::ToRosMessage() {
 
 Histogram* HistogramFamily::Add(
     const std::map<std::string, std::string>& labels) {
-  auto wrapper =
-      ::cartographer::common::make_unique<Histogram>(labels, boundaries_);
+  auto wrapper = absl::make_unique<Histogram>(labels, boundaries_);
   auto* ptr = wrapper.get();
   wrappers_.emplace_back(std::move(wrapper));
   return ptr;
diff --git a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/msg_conversion.cc b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/msg_conversion.cc
index 35244cc..2c996ca 100644
--- a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/msg_conversion.cc
+++ b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/msg_conversion.cc
@@ -369,8 +369,7 @@ std::unique_ptr<nav_msgs::OccupancyGrid> CreateOccupancyGridMsg(
     const cartographer::io::PaintSubmapSlicesResult& painted_slices,
     const double resolution, const std::string& frame_id,
     const ros::Time& time) {
-  auto occupancy_grid =
-      ::cartographer::common::make_unique<nav_msgs::OccupancyGrid>();
+  auto occupancy_grid = absl::make_unique<nav_msgs::OccupancyGrid>();
 
   const int width = cairo_image_surface_get_width(painted_slices.surface.get());
   const int height =
diff --git a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/node.cc b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/node.cc
index 430b33c..7a0e321 100644
--- a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/node.cc
+++ b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/node.cc
@@ -21,9 +21,9 @@
 #include <vector>
 
 #include "Eigen/Core"
+#include "absl/memory/memory.h"
 #include "cartographer/common/configuration_file_resolver.h"
 #include "cartographer/common/lua_parameter_dictionary.h"
-#include "cartographer/common/make_unique.h"
 #include "cartographer/common/port.h"
 #include "cartographer/common/time.h"
 #include "cartographer/mapping/pose_graph_interface.h"
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ Node::Node(
       map_builder_bridge_(node_options_, std::move(map_builder), tf_buffer) {
   carto::common::MutexLocker lock(&mutex_);
   if (collect_metrics) {
-    metrics_registry_ = carto::common::make_unique<metrics::FamilyFactory>();
+    metrics_registry_ = absl::make_unique<metrics::FamilyFactory>();
     carto::metrics::RegisterAllMetrics(metrics_registry_.get());
   }
 
diff --git a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/node_main.cc b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/node_main.cc
index 247feb3..9d1cbc9 100644
--- a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/node_main.cc
+++ b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/node_main.cc
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-#include "cartographer/common/make_unique.h"
+#include "absl/memory/memory.h"
 #include "cartographer/mapping/map_builder.h"
 #include "cartographer_ros/node.h"
 #include "cartographer_ros/node_options.h"
@@ -56,9 +56,8 @@ void Run() {
   std::tie(node_options, trajectory_options) =
       LoadOptions(FLAGS_configuration_directory, FLAGS_configuration_basename);
 
-  auto map_builder =
-      ::cartographer::common::make_unique<cartographer::mapping::MapBuilder>(
-          node_options.map_builder_options);
+  auto map_builder = absl::make_unique<cartographer::mapping::MapBuilder>(
+      node_options.map_builder_options);
   Node node(node_options, std::move(map_builder), &tf_buffer,
             FLAGS_collect_metrics);
   if (!FLAGS_load_state_filename.empty()) {
diff --git a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/node_options.cc b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/node_options.cc
index 42acde3..4812d08 100644
--- a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/node_options.cc
+++ b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/node_options.cc
@@ -50,9 +50,9 @@ NodeOptions CreateNodeOptions(
 std::tuple<NodeOptions, TrajectoryOptions> LoadOptions(
     const std::string& configuration_directory,
     const std::string& configuration_basename) {
-  auto file_resolver = cartographer::common::make_unique<
-      cartographer::common::ConfigurationFileResolver>(
-      std::vector<std::string>{configuration_directory});
+  auto file_resolver =
+      absl::make_unique<cartographer::common::ConfigurationFileResolver>(
+          std::vector<std::string>{configuration_directory});
   const std::string code =
       file_resolver->GetFileContentOrDie(configuration_basename);
   cartographer::common::LuaParameterDictionary lua_parameter_dictionary(
diff --git a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/offline_node_main.cc b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/offline_node_main.cc
index 845954f..ca593bb 100644
--- a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/offline_node_main.cc
+++ b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/offline_node_main.cc
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv) {
   const cartographer_ros::MapBuilderFactory map_builder_factory =
       [](const ::cartographer::mapping::proto::MapBuilderOptions&
              map_builder_options) {
-        return ::cartographer::common::make_unique<
-            ::cartographer::mapping::MapBuilder>(map_builder_options);
+        return absl::make_unique< ::cartographer::mapping::MapBuilder>(
+            map_builder_options);
       };
 
   cartographer_ros::RunOfflineNode(map_builder_factory);
diff --git a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/playable_bag.cc b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/playable_bag.cc
index b40ee11..9fc9712 100644
--- a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/playable_bag.cc
+++ b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/playable_bag.cc
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 
 #include "cartographer_ros/playable_bag.h"
 
-#include "cartographer/common/make_unique.h"
+#include "absl/memory/memory.h"
 #include "cartographer_ros/node_constants.h"
 #include "glog/logging.h"
 #include "tf2_msgs/TFMessage.h"
@@ -28,10 +28,8 @@ PlayableBag::PlayableBag(
     const ros::Time start_time, const ros::Time end_time,
     const ros::Duration buffer_delay,
     FilteringEarlyMessageHandler filtering_early_message_handler)
-    : bag_(cartographer::common::make_unique<rosbag::Bag>(
-          bag_filename, rosbag::bagmode::Read)),
-      view_(cartographer::common::make_unique<rosbag::View>(*bag_, start_time,
-                                                            end_time)),
+    : bag_(absl::make_unique<rosbag::Bag>(bag_filename, rosbag::bagmode::Read)),
+      view_(absl::make_unique<rosbag::View>(*bag_, start_time, end_time)),
       view_iterator_(view_->begin()),
       finished_(false),
       bag_id_(bag_id),
diff --git a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/ros_map_writing_points_processor.cc b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/ros_map_writing_points_processor.cc
index be16ca2..5a4016e 100644
--- a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/ros_map_writing_points_processor.cc
+++ b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/ros_map_writing_points_processor.cc
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 
 #include "cartographer_ros/ros_map_writing_points_processor.h"
 
-#include "cartographer/common/make_unique.h"
+#include "absl/memory/memory.h"
 #include "cartographer/io/image.h"
 #include "cartographer/io/probability_grid_points_processor.h"
 #include "cartographer_ros/ros_map.h"
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ RosMapWritingPointsProcessor::FromDictionary(
     ::cartographer::io::FileWriterFactory file_writer_factory,
     ::cartographer::common::LuaParameterDictionary* const dictionary,
     ::cartographer::io::PointsProcessor* const next) {
-  return ::cartographer::common::make_unique<RosMapWritingPointsProcessor>(
+  return absl::make_unique<RosMapWritingPointsProcessor>(
       dictionary->GetDouble("resolution"),
       ::cartographer::mapping::CreateProbabilityGridRangeDataInserterOptions2D(
           dictionary->GetDictionary("range_data_inserter").get()),
diff --git a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/rosbag_validate_main.cc b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/rosbag_validate_main.cc
index 6cc282e..40bd754 100644
--- a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/rosbag_validate_main.cc
+++ b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/rosbag_validate_main.cc
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@
 #include <set>
 #include <string>
 
+#include "absl/memory/memory.h"
 #include "cartographer/common/histogram.h"
-#include "cartographer/common/make_unique.h"
 #include "cartographer_ros/msg_conversion.h"
 #include "gflags/gflags.h"
 #include "glog/logging.h"
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ const std::set<std::string> kPointDataTypes = {
         ros::message_traits::DataType<sensor_msgs::LaserScan>::value())};
 
 std::unique_ptr<std::ofstream> CreateTimingFile(const std::string& frame_id) {
-  auto timing_file = ::cartographer::common::make_unique<std::ofstream>(
+  auto timing_file = absl::make_unique<std::ofstream>(
       std::string("timing_") + frame_id + ".csv", std::ios_base::out);
 
   (*timing_file)
diff --git a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/sensor_bridge.cc b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/sensor_bridge.cc
index d85dcf5..1bd3822 100644
--- a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/sensor_bridge.cc
+++ b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/sensor_bridge.cc
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 
 #include "cartographer_ros/sensor_bridge.h"
 
-#include "cartographer/common/make_unique.h"
+#include "absl/memory/memory.h"
 #include "cartographer_ros/msg_conversion.h"
 #include "cartographer_ros/time_conversion.h"
 
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ std::unique_ptr<carto::sensor::OdometryData> SensorBridge::ToOdometryData(
   if (sensor_to_tracking == nullptr) {
     return nullptr;
   }
-  return carto::common::make_unique<carto::sensor::OdometryData>(
+  return absl::make_unique<carto::sensor::OdometryData>(
       carto::sensor::OdometryData{
           time, ToRigid3d(msg->pose.pose) * sensor_to_tracking->inverse()});
 }
@@ -77,8 +77,8 @@ void SensorBridge::HandleNavSatFixMessage(
   const carto::common::Time time = FromRos(msg->header.stamp);
   if (msg->status.status == sensor_msgs::NavSatStatus::STATUS_NO_FIX) {
     trajectory_builder_->AddSensorData(
-        sensor_id, carto::sensor::FixedFramePoseData{
-                       time, carto::common::optional<Rigid3d>()});
+        sensor_id,
+        carto::sensor::FixedFramePoseData{time, absl::optional<Rigid3d>()});
     return;
   }
 
@@ -90,12 +90,11 @@ void SensorBridge::HandleNavSatFixMessage(
   }
 
   trajectory_builder_->AddSensorData(
-      sensor_id,
-      carto::sensor::FixedFramePoseData{
-          time, carto::common::optional<Rigid3d>(Rigid3d::Translation(
-                    ecef_to_local_frame_.value() *
-                    LatLongAltToEcef(msg->latitude, msg->longitude,
-                                     msg->altitude)))});
+      sensor_id, carto::sensor::FixedFramePoseData{
+                     time, absl::optional<Rigid3d>(Rigid3d::Translation(
+                               ecef_to_local_frame_.value() *
+                               LatLongAltToEcef(msg->latitude, msg->longitude,
+                                                msg->altitude)))});
 }
 
 void SensorBridge::HandleLandmarkMessage(
@@ -127,11 +126,9 @@ std::unique_ptr<carto::sensor::ImuData> SensorBridge::ToImuData(
       << "The IMU frame must be colocated with the tracking frame. "
          "Transforming linear acceleration into the tracking frame will "
          "otherwise be imprecise.";
-  return carto::common::make_unique<carto::sensor::ImuData>(
-      carto::sensor::ImuData{
-          time,
-          sensor_to_tracking->rotation() * ToEigen(msg->linear_acceleration),
-          sensor_to_tracking->rotation() * ToEigen(msg->angular_velocity)});
+  return absl::make_unique<carto::sensor::ImuData>(carto::sensor::ImuData{
+      time, sensor_to_tracking->rotation() * ToEigen(msg->linear_acceleration),
+      sensor_to_tracking->rotation() * ToEigen(msg->angular_velocity)});
 }
 
 void SensorBridge::HandleImuMessage(const std::string& sensor_id,
diff --git a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/sensor_bridge.h b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/sensor_bridge.h
index b00ddc1..807d816 100644
--- a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/sensor_bridge.h
+++ b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/sensor_bridge.h
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 
 #include <memory>
 
-#include "cartographer/common/optional.h"
+#include "absl/types/optional.h"
 #include "cartographer/mapping/trajectory_builder_interface.h"
 #include "cartographer/sensor/imu_data.h"
 #include "cartographer/sensor/odometry_data.h"
@@ -91,8 +91,7 @@ class SensorBridge {
   ::cartographer::mapping::TrajectoryBuilderInterface* const
       trajectory_builder_;
 
-  ::cartographer::common::optional<::cartographer::transform::Rigid3d>
-      ecef_to_local_frame_;
+  absl::optional<::cartographer::transform::Rigid3d> ecef_to_local_frame_;
 };
 
 }  // namespace cartographer_ros
diff --git a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/start_trajectory_main.cc b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/start_trajectory_main.cc
index 2930c68..b0181d5 100644
--- a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/start_trajectory_main.cc
+++ b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/start_trajectory_main.cc
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
 
+#include "absl/memory/memory.h"
 #include "cartographer/common/configuration_file_resolver.h"
 #include "cartographer/common/lua_parameter_dictionary.h"
-#include "cartographer/common/make_unique.h"
 #include "cartographer/common/port.h"
 #include "cartographer_ros/node_constants.h"
 #include "cartographer_ros/ros_log_sink.h"
@@ -44,9 +44,9 @@ namespace cartographer_ros {
 namespace {
 
 TrajectoryOptions LoadOptions() {
-  auto file_resolver = cartographer::common::make_unique<
-      cartographer::common::ConfigurationFileResolver>(
-      std::vector<std::string>{FLAGS_configuration_directory});
+  auto file_resolver =
+      absl::make_unique<cartographer::common::ConfigurationFileResolver>(
+          std::vector<std::string>{FLAGS_configuration_directory});
   const std::string code =
       file_resolver->GetFileContentOrDie(FLAGS_configuration_basename);
   auto lua_parameter_dictionary =
@@ -54,8 +54,7 @@ TrajectoryOptions LoadOptions() {
           code, std::move(file_resolver));
   if (!FLAGS_initial_pose.empty()) {
     auto initial_trajectory_pose_file_resolver =
-        cartographer::common::make_unique<
-            cartographer::common::ConfigurationFileResolver>(
+        absl::make_unique<cartographer::common::ConfigurationFileResolver>(
             std::vector<std::string>{FLAGS_configuration_directory});
     auto initial_trajectory_pose =
         cartographer::common::LuaParameterDictionary::NonReferenceCounted(
diff --git a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/submap.cc b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/submap.cc
index 1c8ef74..5bf7d21 100644
--- a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/submap.cc
+++ b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/submap.cc
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 
 #include "cartographer_ros/submap.h"
 
-#include "cartographer/common/make_unique.h"
+#include "absl/memory/memory.h"
 #include "cartographer/common/port.h"
 #include "cartographer/transform/transform.h"
 #include "cartographer_ros/msg_conversion.h"
@@ -38,8 +38,7 @@ std::unique_ptr<::cartographer::io::SubmapTextures> FetchSubmapTextures(
   if (srv.response.textures.empty()) {
     return nullptr;
   }
-  auto response =
-      ::cartographer::common::make_unique<::cartographer::io::SubmapTextures>();
+  auto response = absl::make_unique<::cartographer::io::SubmapTextures>();
   response->version = srv.response.submap_version;
   for (const auto& texture : srv.response.textures) {
     const std::string compressed_cells(texture.cells.begin(),
diff --git a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/tf_bridge.cc b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/tf_bridge.cc
index 0985026..4b3c783 100644
--- a/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/tf_bridge.cc
+++ b/cartographer_ros/cartographer_ros/tf_bridge.cc
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-#include "cartographer/common/make_unique.h"
+#include "absl/memory/memory.h"
 
 #include "cartographer_ros/msg_conversion.h"
 #include "cartographer_ros/tf_bridge.h"
@@ -45,9 +45,9 @@ std::unique_ptr<::cartographer::transform::Rigid3d> TfBridge::LookupToTracking(
       // for the full 'timeout' even if we ask for data that is too old.
       timeout = ::ros::Duration(0.);
     }
-    return ::cartographer::common::make_unique<
-        ::cartographer::transform::Rigid3d>(ToRigid3d(buffer_->lookupTransform(
-        tracking_frame_, frame_id, requested_time, timeout)));
+    return absl::make_unique<::cartographer::transform::Rigid3d>(
+        ToRigid3d(buffer_->lookupTransform(tracking_frame_, frame_id,
+                                           requested_time, timeout)));
   } catch (const tf2::TransformException& ex) {
     LOG(WARNING) << ex.what();
   }
diff --git a/cartographer_rviz/CMakeLists.txt b/cartographer_rviz/CMakeLists.txt
index 47d8a9f..3a31222 100644
--- a/cartographer_rviz/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/cartographer_rviz/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ find_package(cartographer REQUIRED)
 include("${CARTOGRAPHER_CMAKE_DIR}/functions.cmake")
 google_initialize_cartographer_project()
 
+find_package(Abseil REQUIRED)
 find_package(Eigen3 REQUIRED)
 find_package(Boost REQUIRED COMPONENTS system iostreams)
 find_package(catkin REQUIRED COMPONENTS ${PACKAGE_DEPENDENCIES})
diff --git a/cartographer_rviz/cartographer_rviz/drawable_submap.cc b/cartographer_rviz/cartographer_rviz/drawable_submap.cc
index afe9acf..11fb2f6 100644
--- a/cartographer_rviz/cartographer_rviz/drawable_submap.cc
+++ b/cartographer_rviz/cartographer_rviz/drawable_submap.cc
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 
 #include "Eigen/Core"
 #include "Eigen/Geometry"
-#include "cartographer/common/make_unique.h"
+#include "absl/memory/memory.h"
 #include "cartographer/common/port.h"
 #include "cartographer_ros/msg_conversion.h"
 #include "cartographer_ros_msgs/SubmapQuery.h"
@@ -63,14 +63,14 @@ DrawableSubmap::DrawableSubmap(const ::cartographer::mapping::SubmapId& id,
       last_query_timestamp_(0) {
   for (int slice_index = 0; slice_index < kNumberOfSlicesPerSubmap;
        ++slice_index) {
-    ogre_slices_.emplace_back(::cartographer::common::make_unique<OgreSlice>(
+    ogre_slices_.emplace_back(absl::make_unique<OgreSlice>(
         id, slice_index, display_context->getSceneManager(), submap_node_));
   }
   // DrawableSubmap creates and manages its visibility property object
   // (a unique_ptr is needed because the Qt parent of the visibility
   // property is the submap_category object - the BoolProperty needs
   // to be destroyed along with the DrawableSubmap)
-  visibility_ = ::cartographer::common::make_unique<::rviz::BoolProperty>(
+  visibility_ = absl::make_unique<::rviz::BoolProperty>(
       "" /* title */, visible, "" /* description */, submap_category,
       SLOT(ToggleVisibility()), this);
   submap_id_text_.setCharacterHeight(kSubmapIdCharHeight);
diff --git a/cartographer_rviz/cartographer_rviz/submaps_display.cc b/cartographer_rviz/cartographer_rviz/submaps_display.cc
index 8730105..73d0e20 100644
--- a/cartographer_rviz/cartographer_rviz/submaps_display.cc
+++ b/cartographer_rviz/cartographer_rviz/submaps_display.cc
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 #include "cartographer_rviz/submaps_display.h"
 
 #include "OgreResourceGroupManager.h"
-#include "cartographer/common/make_unique.h"
+#include "absl/memory/memory.h"
 #include "cartographer/common/mutex.h"
 #include "cartographer/mapping/id.h"
 #include "cartographer_ros_msgs/SubmapList.h"
@@ -112,8 +112,7 @@ void SubmapsDisplay::reset() {
 void SubmapsDisplay::processMessage(
     const ::cartographer_ros_msgs::SubmapList::ConstPtr& msg) {
   ::cartographer::common::MutexLocker locker(&mutex_);
-  map_frame_ =
-      ::cartographer::common::make_unique<std::string>(msg->header.frame_id);
+  map_frame_ = absl::make_unique<std::string>(msg->header.frame_id);
   // In case Cartographer node is relaunched, destroy trajectories from the
   // previous instance.
   for (const ::cartographer_ros_msgs::SubmapEntry& submap_entry : msg->submap) {
@@ -136,8 +135,8 @@ void SubmapsDisplay::processMessage(
     const SubmapId id{submap_entry.trajectory_id, submap_entry.submap_index};
     listed_submaps.insert(id);
     while (id.trajectory_id >= static_cast<int>(trajectories_.size())) {
-      trajectories_.push_back(::cartographer::common::make_unique<Trajectory>(
-          ::cartographer::common::make_unique<::rviz::BoolProperty>(
+      trajectories_.push_back(
+          absl::make_unique<Trajectory>(absl::make_unique<::rviz::BoolProperty>(
               QString("Trajectory %1").arg(id.trajectory_id),
               visibility_all_enabled_->getBool(),
               QString("List of all submaps in Trajectory %1. The checkbox "
@@ -154,7 +153,7 @@ void SubmapsDisplay::processMessage(
       constexpr float kSubmapPoseAxesRadius = 0.06f;
       trajectory_submaps.emplace(
           id.submap_index,
-          ::cartographer::common::make_unique<DrawableSubmap>(
+          absl::make_unique<DrawableSubmap>(
               id, context_, map_node_, trajectory_visibility.get(),
               trajectory_visibility->getBool(), kSubmapPoseAxesLength,
               kSubmapPoseAxesRadius));