Boston Robot Hackers

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Upcoming "Build A Robot/Learn ROS" Details

Upcoming
None 2 min read

We are working on a new BRH thing we are calling "Build a Robot/Learn ROS" (please suggest a better name). We will work together on assembling, testing, and bringing up a Makers Pet robot. Guidance and troubleshooting help will be provided but you will do most of the work!

Schedule

As this is still in the planning stages we have not set a date yet. It will depend on how many people chose to sign up. We are looking for no less than 5 and no more than 10 people. I expect that the meetings will happen at Artisans Academy, on a saturday morning, taking about 3 hours.

Goals

It's useful to set out in advance what our goals are for any participant in this program. We can't promise these outcomes because this is an experiment. As you see below, we will not set out the content of each meeting ahead of time because it will depend on the people and the progress that is made. But setting out, this is what we hope:

  1. Successfully build the Makers Pet and get it working.
  2. Do a sequence of practice projects (which we will supply) starting from easy to more challenging
  3. Learn ROS2 fundamentals. In particular, understand the ROS2 commands, and core concepts of Topics, Messages, Nodes, Launch Files
  4. Be able to write a basic ROS2 program from scratch

Program

As mentioned the goal for each meeting will be determined as we get into it. It will depend on how it goes. We could end up going faster or slower.

  1. Build: Unpack and assemble their Makers Pet. Outcome will be that you can turn it on.
  2. Linux: Get your Ubuntu/Linux environment up and running
  3. Connect: Connect your Makers Pet to Wifi and bringup the basic nodes
  4. CLI: Learn about Nodes and Topics by playing with the CLI
  5. Code: Write our first ROS2 Node and Topic. Illustrate publishing and subscribing
  6. Exercise: Make the robot go in a straight line for 1M turn 180 degrees and drive back.
  7. .... more to come

FAQ

  • Why Makers Pet: We were looking for an inexpensive but fully ROS2 capable robot. There are many kits to look at. After looking at many of them Makers Pet met most of our goals. We both built one and it took about 2-3 hours which is good time. Makers Pet achieves the low privce by not requiring a Rasberry Pi, which are getting more expensive by the month.
  • What preparation is required: To be successful you need to be comfortable with Linux (Ubuntu to be specific), installing, the command line and the comm CLI commands, the way files are named and directories work, etc. You also need to be very comfortable with Python. Also you need to have a little experience building kits, particularly kits made of mechanical and eletrical parts, like cars, arms, robots etc.
  • Will we use AI? Yes, in fact we suggest that you have a paid $20 Claude account. It is not required but it will help.
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