PMB2 ROS 2 Simulation

This repository contains the launch files to simulate the PMB2/TIAGo Base robot in ROS 2.

Setup

Prerequisites

1. Install ROS 2 Humble by following the installation instructions.

2. Update the apt package index and install needed packages

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install git python3-vcstool python3-rosdep python3-colcon-common-extensions

Disclaimer: In our testing environment, we've found out that the simulation is more reliable if we switch to Cyclone DDS. You can do this by installing it with sudo apt install ros-humble-rmw-cyclonedds-cpp and setting the RMW_IMPLEMENTATION environment variable: export RMW_IMPLEMENTATION=rmw_cyclonedds_cpp. More information on working with different DDS implementations here.

We are still looking on the issues when working with Fast RTPS.

Setting up the workspace

Create a workspace and clone all repositories:

mkdir -p ~/pmb2_public_ws/src
cd ~/pmb2_public_ws
vcs import --input https://raw.githubusercontent.com/pal-robotics/pmb2_tutorials/humble-devel/pmb2_public.repos src

Install dependencies using rosdep

sudo rosdep init
rosdep update
rosdep install --from-paths src -y --ignore-src

Source the environment and build

source /opt/ros/humble/setup.bash
colcon build --symlink-install

Finally, before running any application you have to source the workspace

source ~/pmb2_public_ws/install/setup.bash

Also you can add it to your .bashrc

Simulation

Standalone

Launch gazebo simulation:

ros2 launch pmb2_gazebo pmb2_gazebo.launch.py is_public_sim:=True

You can launch gazebo simulation using PAL office gazebo world by executing:

ros2 launch pmb2_gazebo pmb2_gazebo.launch.py is_public_sim:=True world_name:=pal_office

To move the robot you can use the following command from another terminal:

ros2 topic pub /mobile_base_controller/cmd_vel_unstamped geometry_msgs/msg/Twist '{linear: {x: 1}, angular: {z: 0}}' -r10

The velocities can be modified by changing the values of x and z.

Navigation 2

You can launch PMB2 navigation by executing

ros2 launch pmb2_2dnav pmb2_nav_bringup.launch.py is_public_sim:=True

Then, you can send a goal:

• With rviz2

• By using Navigation 2 API. For further information see Navigation 2 Tutorials

Simulation + Navigation 2

You can also start the simulation and navigation together by using

ros2 launch pmb2_gazebo pmb2_gazebo.launch.py is_public_sim:=True navigation:=True

Then, goals can be sent in the same way.

Simulation + Navigation 2 + SLAM

You can start the SLAM and navigation in simulation by using

ros2 launch pmb2_gazebo pmb2_gazebo.launch.py is_public_sim:=True navigation:=True slam:=True

To use private simulation you can avoid to set is_public_sim argument.