Flexiv ROS2

For ROS2 users to easily work with RDK, the APIs of RDK are wrapped into ROS packages in flexiv_ros2. Key functionalities like real-time joint torque and position control are supported, and the integration with ros2_control framework and MoveIt 2 is also implemented.

References

Flexiv RDK main webpage contains important information like RDK user manual and network setup.

Compatibility

Supported OS	Supported ROS2 distribution
Ubuntu 20.04	Foxy Fitzroy

Getting Started

This project was developed for ROS2 Foxy on Ubuntu 20.04. Other versions of Ubuntu and ROS2 may work, but are not officially supported.

1. Install ROS2 Foxy via Debian Packages

2. Install colcon and additional ROS packages:

   sudo apt install -y \
   python3-colcon-common-extensions \
   python3-rosdep2 \
   libeigen3-dev \
   ros-foxy-xacro \
   ros-foxy-tinyxml2-vendor \
   ros-foxy-ros2-control \
   ros-foxy-realtime-tools \
   ros-foxy-control-toolbox \
   ros-foxy-moveit \
   ros-foxy-ros2-controllers \
   ros-foxy-test-msgs \
   ros-foxy-joint-state-publisher \
   ros-foxy-joint-state-publisher-gui \
   ros-foxy-robot-state-publisher \
   ros-foxy-rviz2

3. Setup workspace:

   mkdir -p ~/flexiv_ros2_ws/src
   cd ~/flexiv_ros2_ws/src
   git clone https://github.com/flexivrobotics/flexiv_ros2.git
   cd flexiv_ros2/
   git submodule update --init --recursive

4. Install dependencies:

   cd ~/flexiv_ros2_ws
   rosdep update
   rosdep install --from-paths src --ignore-src --rosdistro foxy -r -y

5. Build and source the workspace:

   cd ~/flexiv_ros2_ws
   source /opt/ros/foxy/setup.bash
   colcon build --symlink-install
   source install/setup.bash

NOTE: Remember to source the setup file and the workspace whenever a new terminal is opened:

source /opt/ros/foxy/setup.bash
source ~/flexiv_ros2_ws/install/setup.bash

Usage

NOTE: the instruction below is only a quick reference, see the Flexiv ROS2 Documentation for more information.

The prerequisites of using ROS2 with Flexiv Rizon robot are enable RDK on the robot server and establish connection between the workstation PC and the robot.

The main launch file to start the robot driver is the rizon.launch.py - it loads and starts the robot hardware, joint state broadcaster, controllers and opens RViZ. The arguments for the launch file are as follows:

• robot_ip (required) - IP address of the robot server (remote).
• local_ip (required) - IP address of the workstation PC (local).
• rizon_type (default: rizon4) - type of the Flexiv Rizon robot.
• use_fake_hardware (default: false) - starts FakeSystem instead of real hardware. This is a simple simulation that mimics joint command to their states.
• start_rviz (deafult: true) - starts RViz automatically with the launch file.
• fake_sensor_commands (default: false) - enables fake command interfaces for sensors used for simulations. Used only if use_fake_hardware parameter is true.
• robot_controller (default: rizon_arm_controller) - robot controller to start. Available controllers: forward_position_controller, rizon_arm_controller, joint_impedance_controller.

(Details about other launch files can be found in flexiv_bringup)

Example Commands

1. Start robot, or fake hardware:

   • Test with real robot:

     ros2 launch flexiv_bringup rizon.launch.py robot_ip:=[robot_ip] local_ip:=[local_ip]

     NOTE: Getting the following output in terminal is OK: Warning: Invalid frame ID "link1" passed to canTransform argument source_frame - frame does not exist. This happens because joint_state_broadcaster node need some time to start.

   • Test with fake hardware (ros2_control capability):

     ros2 launch flexiv_bringup rizon.launch.py robot_ip:=dont-care local_ip:=dont-care use_fake_hardware:=true

2. Publish commands to controllers

   • To send the goal position to the controller by using the node from flexiv_test_nodes, start the following command in a new terminal:

     ros2 launch flexiv_bringup test_joint_trajectory_controller.launch.py

     The joint position goals can be changed in flexiv_bringup/config/joint_trajectory_position_publisher.yaml.

   • To test another controller, define it using the robot_controller launch argument, for example the joint_impedance_controller:

     ros2 launch flexiv_bringup rizon.launch.py robot_ip:=[robot_ip] local_ip:=[local_ip] robot_controller:=joint_impedance_controller

     NOTE: The command starts the robot in the joint torque mode. In this mode, gravity and friction are compensated only for the robot without any attached objects (e.g. the gripper, camera).

     Open a new terminal and run the launch file:

     ros2 launch flexiv_bringup sine_sweep_impedance.launch.py

     The robot should run a sine-sweep motion with joint impedance control.

     NOTE: joint impedance control is not supported in fake/simulated hardware.

Using MoveIt

You can also run the MoveIt example and use the MotionPlanning plugin in RViZ to start planning:

ros2 launch flexiv_bringup rizon_moveit.launch.py robot_ip:=[robot_ip] local_ip:=[local_ip]

Test with fake hardware:

ros2 launch flexiv_bringup rizon_moveit.launch.py robot_ip:=dont-care local_ip:=dont-care use_fake_hardware:=true