Dunning-Kruger
So, long story short I am learning/moving on to ROS (Robot Operating System)... Ez Robot is still the easiest and greatest software on the market especially for the beginner. I will always push it when people ask me "where should I start". However, I have hit the wall and want to go further, After seeing what Willow Garage's PR2, Xaxxon's ROV and ClearPath's TurtleBot can do using RVIZ and SLAM I am willing to undertake the steep learning curve to to accomplish the same (well as much as possible). Just google if you want to see what these bots are capable of. I have been messing with uBuntu and ROS for the last few weeks and I am beginning to make some serious progress with it...
One of my serious goals is 3d mapping and indoor navigation... ROS does this superbly... I have bought myself a ASUS Xtion Pro and I already have a laptop running uBunto and ROS and an iRobot Create. So now I have a cheap Turtlebot capable of 3d indoor mapping (real time), obstacle avoidance and target navigating...
Yes, I could have learned C# and written add on controls for EZ Robot, but there is no way I have the programming ability to come up with something like SLAM (simultaneous location and mapping). I just do not have the programming skills of guys like DJ and d,cochran,,,, So unless DJ has a rabbit up his sleeve regarding indoor nav the only way I am going to accomplish this is to torture myself learning ROS and do it myself... To be honest I have always felt a bit like a fraud using ez robot... I mean when people ask me or say "how did you do that" or "you really are smart, that's amazing".... I can't help but think in the back of my mind... this is not me, this is DJ Sures he's the real genius here...
Anyway, I feel like I hit a cross road and I have to take another route for a while... I am not leaving here and I will will keep my mouth shut about ROS as it has no place here... Besides, no one wants to listen to my ROS ramblings anyway
So when I am one here it is all about ez robot and nothing else...
Not sure why I posted this... maybe just to make myself feel less guilty about moving to the dark side for while anyway...
You never know, I'll probably get overwhelmed with ROS and come crawling back here with my head hung in shame...
not at this time. Ros is far too complicated and doesn't align with ezrobots educational goals. 99.9999% of ezrobot users cannot make a plugin, let alone program a c++ application from scratch in Linux with Ros.
Given all of the software options provided by ezrobot, the most popular is ARC and the ability to use ARC to create mobile apps. Two items which are impractical to do with ros.
However, I sure won't stop anyone from implementing an interface in ros to the ezb using the published command protocol document: https://synthiam.com/Tutorials/Lesson/18?courseId=5
:)
@dj-sures thanks for the quick reply. Totally understand. I am a programmer during the day and getting into robotics as a new hobby so I have very different needs than I think most people who use this product and am more able to fulfill them without help. Will definitely try to post updates of my work for people in the community who are interested
The Mono SDK was easy to get up and running and I think gives me everything I need to at least send and receive pub / sub stuff from other ROS modules while writing control code with the SDK.
Nice! Sounds like you're the person for the job
. I'm a huge fan of the initiative which ROS is taking. However, ez-robot's goal is to educate less experienced individuals, and ideally bring them to the ROS level. As you've seen, exposing the library, command protocol, sdk, and plugin system is pretty powerful in itself as well.
Let me know if you have any Q's regarding publishing an EZ-B pub/sub into ROS. When you do, i'll have a link to your work and credit added to the software page
@am3081, Any updates on your progress?
@Richard_R, I'm also looking into ROS for SLAM with EZB... but it's a steep learning curve. I'm looking into getting it running on a Raspberry Pi 3 using Ubuntu Mate. If the RPi isn't powerful enough I'm considering the UpBoard
Do you have any updates?
Regards, Frank
Thouse UP Systems look promising. Lots of different choices on power and configuration. More choices for more powerful systems coming very soon (next month). However it looks like you need to buy the OP, Bluetooth and Wifi modules separat.
As far as performance I wonder how it stakes up against what LattePanda has to offer?
Hi Dave, Looks like the new UpBoard Core has BT & WiFi
linuxgizmos.com/up-core-sbc-is-a-smaller-wireless-version-of-the-atom-based-up/
Regards, Frank
Looks like a nice upgrade. Up probably had to do that to compete with LattePanda. The two boards look similar now (depending on how you configure them). Still if you don't want to bother with buying and installing windows LattePanda has that available (for a higher price).
I really want a board like this to mount in and control my B9. However I still fear it won't be fast enough to handle the control of my robot. I've got lots of things happening at once and at many times. I guess the only way to find out is to take the plunge and give it a try. Of course I could wait a while until the more powerful Up boards are released. I won't be ready till this winter anyway to try this.
Thanks for reopening the thread and getting me thinking.
Interesting read guys!