ROS Packages for Scout Mobile Base

Packages

scout_bringup: launch and configuration files to start ROS nodes
scout_base: a ROS wrapper around Scout SDK to monitor and control the robot
scout_sdk: Scout SDK customized for ROS
scout_msgs: scout related message definitions
(scout_ros: meta package for the Scout robot ROS packages)

The following diagram may help you to understand how the components are inter-connected with each other:

The purple blocks represent ROS packages included within this repository.

Communication interface setup

Setup UART

Generally your RS232-to-USB cable should be automatically recognized as "/dev/ttyUSB0" or something similar and ready for use. If you get the error "... permission denied ..." when trying to open the port, you need to grant access of the port to your user account:

$ sudo usermod -a -G dialout $USER

You need to re-login to get the change to take effect.

Setup CAN-To-USB adapter

Enable gs_usb kernel module
```
$ sudo modprobe gs_usb
```

Bringup can device

$ sudo ip link set can0 up type can bitrate 500000

If no error occured during the previous steps, you should be able to see the can device now by using command
```
$ ifconfig -a
```
Install and use can-utils to test the hardware
```
$ sudo apt install can-utils
```

Testing command

# receiving data from can0
$ candump can0
# send data to can0
$ cansend can0 001#1122334455667788

Two scripts inside the "scout_bringup/scripts" folder are provided for easy setup. You can run "./setup_can2usb.bash" for the first-time setup and run "./bringup_can2usb.bash" to bring up the device each time you unplug and re-plug the adapter.

Basic usage of the ROS package

Install dependent ROS packages

$ sudo apt install ros-melodic-teleop-twist-keyboard
$ sudo apt-get install ros-melodic-joint-state-publisher-gui
$ sudo apt install ros-melodic-ros-controllers

Change ros-melodic-* in the command to ros-kinetic-* if you're using ROS Kinetic.

Clone the packages into your catkin workspace and compile

(the following instructions assume your catkin workspace is at: ~/catkin_ws/src)

$ cd ~/catkin_ws/src

Scout V1

$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/agilexrobotics/scout_ros.git
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/agilexrobotics/agx_sdk.git

Scout V2

$ git clone -b scout_v2 --depth 1 https://github.com/agilexrobotics/scout_ros.git
$ git clone -b scout_v2 --depth 1 https://github.com/agilexrobotics/agx_sdk.git

$ cd ..
$ catkin_make

Setup Webots simulation

Install Webots R2020a-rev1 (download from https://cyberbotics.com/ )

Install Webots ROS package

$ sudo apt install ros-melodic-webots-ros

Set WEBOTS_HOME variable, add the following line to your "~/.bashrc"
```
export WEBOTS_HOME=/usr/local/webots
```

Launch ROS nodes

Start the base node for the real robot

$ roslaunch scout_bringup scout_minimal.launch

or (if you're using a serial port)

$ roslaunch scout_bringup scout_minimal_uart.launch

Start the Webots-based simulation (Scout V1)

$ roslaunch scout_bringup scout_base_webots_sim.launch

Start the Gazebo-based simulation (Scout V2)

$ roslaunch scout_bringup scout_base_gazebo_sim.launch

Start the keyboard tele-op node
```
$ roslaunch scout_bringup scout_teleop_keyboard.launch
```
SAFETY PRECAUSION:

The default command values of the keyboard teleop node are high, make sure you decrease the speed commands before starting to control the robot with your keyboard! Have your remote controller ready to take over the control whenever necessary.

20chase / scout_ros