The Navigator

How to use the The Navigator robot skill

A navigation skill for path planning based on receiving NMS location/positioning and obstacle data. This skill is combined with other skills that contribute navigation data to ARC's Navigation Messaging System (NMS).

Updated Skill

This robot skill has been superseded by a newer version called The Better Navigator.

Example

This screenshot uses an Intel RealSense T265 with three low-cost HC-SR04 ultrasonic distance sensors. The robot was instructed to drive around the waypoints at various speeds. Ideally, you would want to use this robot skill with a 360-degree lidar or other high-resolution obstacle detection.




Here is a video of The Navigator working in conjunction with the Intel RealSense T265 tracking camera skill, which operates at NMS Level #3 Group #2 by providing position/location data into the NMS

ARC Navigation Messaging System

This skill is part of the ARC navigation messaging system. It is encouraged to read more about the Navigation Messaging System and learn compatible skills. This particular skill (The Navigator) operates on Level #1 of the NMS overview. This skill (The Navigator) requires a Level #3 Group #2 location/position sensor for operation. The location/positioning system will feed position data into the NMS, which this skill will use for navigation. See the NMS for compatible skills that provide location/position data.

Mapping

While your robot is driving around and navigating, this skill will log the trajectory. You define the waypoint and path points by manually driving your robot to various locations (waypoints). Once multiple path points are defined for a waypoint, you can instruct your robot to autonomously navigate to that exact waypoint (or back again) at any time.

Map Size

The map is currently hardcoded for 20x20 meters.

Main Screen

1) Map control buttons for clearing trajectory and clearing the map.

2) The robot's current cartesian coordinates as reported by an NMS Level #3 Group #2 sensor (i.e., Intel T265, wheel encoders).

3) Saved waypoints. Here you can add, remove and select waypoints.

4) The path points within a waypoint. A waypoint will consist of many path points for navigating throughout the environment. You may right-click on path points to edit the coordinate for fine-tuning. You may also re-order the path points by right-clicking and selecting Move Up or Move Down.

5) Current heading of the robot relative to the cartesian starting position as reported by an NMS Level #3 Group #2 sensor.

6) The yellow dot marks the robot's current cartesian position as reported by an NMS Level #3 Group #2 position/location sensor.

7) Path points are connected with a straight line demonstrating where the robot would drive. Right-click on the map view and select Add Path Point to add path points. It is best to drive the robot, which creates a trajectory. Then, right-click on some points of the tractory to add new path points to the selected waypoint.

8) Log messages are displayed about navigation and sensor activity.

Main Screen - Navigation Controls


There are three buttons for manually starting navigating. You may also start navigating by using ControlCommands from other skills. The three buttons each have different behavior.

Start (Forward Order) - This will instruct the robot to start following the specified paths within the waypoint from the first to last in that order. If your robot is close to the starting (first path point), then it will be convenient and head right there. However, if your robot is far away from the first path point, you may wish to use the Reverse or Auto button.

Start (Reverse Order) - This will instruct the robot to start following the specified paths within the waypoint in reverse order from last to first. If your robot is closest to the last path point, this will be convenient to get your robot back to the first path point in the waypoint. 

Start (Auto) - This will automatically calculate which order to execute the path direction based on the robot's distance from the first or last path point. This is the most convenient operation because it will allow a waypoint to be navigated to and from. For example, if your robot drives to a location, use this button to get your robot back to the starting location. This will happen automatically.


Config - Scripts


1) Script that will execute when the navigation to a waypoint is started. Navigation can start by manually pressing the Start button or using a ControlCommand().

2) Script will execute when the navigation is canceled or successfully ended.

3) If the navigation is paused by a JavaScript/Python command from the Navigation namespace. Or if the paused is triggered by the NMS Level #3 Group #1 distance sensor returning a value less than the specified range. This is configured in the Settings tab.

Config - Variables


Many global variables are set for The Navigator. A question mark next to each variable explains in greater detail. The variable contents can be viewed using the Variable Watcher skill found in the Scripts category.

Config - Settings


1) Ignore distance values less than this specified distance in CM. The distance values are provided by any NMS Level #3 Group #1 sensor.

2) Ignore distance values further than this specified distance in CM. The distance values are provided by any NMS Level #3 Group #1 sensor.

3) Filter false positives by removing detected obstacles and then later not detected within the same area.

4) If the NMS distance sensor provides a value greater than the "lower than" but lower than this, any navigation will be paused. This will also execute the PAUSE script from the Scripts tab. Your program may use this opportunity to navigate the obstacle and continue navigating again. Use the Javascript or Python command in the Navigation namespace to continue navigating. That command is Navigation.setNavigationStatusToNavigating();

5) This value complements the pause navigation distance value. This value will determine the degree range of when to pause navigation. If you wish for the entire range to be paused, enter 360 degrees. If you only want objects in front of the robot paused, enter 90. The degree number entered is divided by two and used from the left and right of the center of the robot.
- If 90 degrees is entered, then 45 degrees to the left of the center of the robot and 45 degrees to the right of the center of the robot are detected.
- If 180 degrees is entered, then 90 degrees to the left of the center of the robot and 90 degrees to the right of the center of the robot are detected.
- If 360 degrees are entered, the full range will be detected.

Starting Position

This navigation skill uses cartesian coordinates in CM from the starting position (0, 0). This means that any saved maps will be referenced from the same starting position and heading angle. When you re-load a project to have the robot navigate the same course, the robot must be positioned in the same starting position and heading angle. We recommend using painter/masking tape as the starting reference point for the robot. If your robot has an auto dock for charging, secure the charger to a fixed position on the floor, which can be used as a reference point. 




We're using an iRobot Roomba as the robot with an Intel T265 positioning sensor in the photo above. The painter's tape on the floor marks the robot's starting position. The outline allows us to position the robot into the square, and the marking on the front of the robot aligns with the specified heading.

Cartesian Coordinate System

This robot skill uses cartesian coordinates to reference the robot's starting position. The starting position is always 0,0 and is defined at startup. As the robot navigates, the skill measures the distance from the starting position. The unit of measurement is in CM (centimeters). Read more about the cartesian coordinate system on Wikipedia.

How Do You Use This

This skill is a navigation renderer and movement planner. This means it can build a map from participating sensor data and control the robot by navigating it to specified locations. To get sensor data, other skills must be loaded that are compatible. In this quick example, we'll use the Intel Realsense T265 in combination with this skill...
1) Connect your Intel RealSense T265 to the computer's USB port

2) Load ARC (version must be >= 2020.12.25.00)

3) Add the Intel RealSense skill to your workspace

4) Now, add this skill (The Navigator) to your workspace

5) Press START on the Intel RealSense skill

6) You should now begin to see localization path data from the Intel RealSense sensor displayed in The Navigator window. This robot skill will be displaying and rendering the data.

*Optionally, you may add a supporting NMS Level #3 Group #1 sensor to detect the distance of obstacles and environment.