In this repo we use Turtlebot 3 along with ROS 2 and Gazebo to explore an unknown csv environment, navigate through it and create a map.
The map is created using SLAM with the package Google Cartographer and navigation is achieved with Nav2 package. We have developed two exploring algorithyms:
Wanderer Exploration explores the map doing random turns when it detects an obstacle. It's a convenient way to explore small maps but time consuming for bigger ones.
Discoverer Exploration prioritizes specific unknown hotspots of the map convoluting the occupancy grid. It's a better way to explore bigger maps in exchange of a higher computational cost.
Don't forget to install colcon:
sudo apt install python3-colcon-common-extensions
Install Gazebo:
sudo apt install gazebo
Install Python libraries:
sudo apt install python3-pip
pip3 install pandas
Create a ROS2 workspace:
mkdir -p ~/turtlebot3_ws/src
cd ~/turtlebot3_ws/src
Clone the repository:
git clone https://github.com/DaniGarciaLopez/ros2_explorer.git
Compile packages and get dependencies:
cd ~/turtlebot3_ws/src
sudo apt update && rosdep install -r --from-paths . --ignore-src --rosdistro $ROS_DISTRO -y
cd ~/turtlebot3_ws/
colcon build
Include the following lines in ~/.bashrc:
source /opt/ros/humble/local_setup.bash
source ~/turtlebot3_ws/install/local_setup.bash
export TURTLEBOT3_MODEL=burger
export GAZEBO_MODEL_PATH=~/turtlebot3_ws/src/ros2_explorer/explorer_gazebo/models
Execute the launch file and pass the map name (Opens Gazebo simulation, Rviz, Cartographer, Nav2 and exploration servers):
ros2 launch explorer_bringup explorer.launch.py map_name:=map10
Execute manager node and select the desired exploring algorithm:
ros2 run explorer_bringup manager
Add your own csv maps in this folder:
cd ~/turtlebot3_ws/src/ros2_explorer/explorer_gazebo/maps/
Run Python script:
cd ~/turtlebot3_ws/src/ros2_explorer/explorer_gazebo/
python3 gazebo-map-from-csv.py
Maps will be converted to Gazebo format in /explorer_gazebo/models folder. Create a new .world.xml file in /explorer_gazebo/worlds and modify the name of the map you want to use:
<include>
<uri>model://map1</uri>
</include>
