If you have ever tried building a robot, then you know how
cumbersome programming everything from scratch can be. This is where ROS
comes into the picture. It is a collection of tools, libraries, and
conventions that simplifies the robot building process. What’s more, ROS
encourages collaborative robotics software development, allowing you to
connect with experts in various fields to collaborate and build upon
each other's work.
Packed full of examples, this book will help you understand the ROS
framework to help you build your own robot applications in a simulated
environment and share your knowledge with the large community supporting
ROS.
Starting at an introductory level, this book is a comprehensive guide
to the fascinating world of robotics, covering sensor integration,
modeling, simulation, computer vision, navigation algorithms, and more.
You will then go on to explore concepts like topics, messages, and
nodes. Next, you will learn how to make your robot see with HD cameras,
or navigate obstacles with range sensors. Furthermore, thanks to the
contributions of the vast ROS community, your robot will be able to
navigate autonomously, and even recognize and interact with you in a
matter of minutes.
What’s new in this updated edition? First and foremost, we are going
to work with ROS Hydro this time around. You will learn how to create,
visualize, and process Point Cloud information from different sensors.
This edition will also show you how to control and plan motion of
robotic arms with multiple joints using MoveIt!
By the end of this book, you will have all the background you need to build your own robot and get started with ROS.
