Simple Simulated Robot

Glossary Item Box

Simple Simulated Robot

This tutorial teaches you how to:

• Running an additional sample service
• Creating a scene
• Driving the robot with the SimpleDashboard

This tutorial is provided in the C# language. You can find the project files for this tutorial at the following location under the Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio installation folder:

Samples\SimulationTutorials\Beginner\Simple Simulated Robot

We will work from the simulation empty project we created in the previous tutorial. We will also leverage one additional sample service, the EntityUI sample service.

Running an additional sample service

The simulator has the ability to start manifests while it is running. We will use the "EntityUI" service in this tutorial. Start and simulator and select "File" -> "Open Manifest".

Simple Simulated Robot Manifest - Opening a manifest

Now open the file located at "samples\config\EntityUI.manifest.xml"

Simple Simulated Robot EntityUI - Selecting the EntityUI manifest

Creating a scene

The EntityUI service should and open a WinForm. First let's use the EntityUI to add a basic scene. We can do this by clicking the "Add Default Scene" button shown below.

Simple Simulated Robot Environment - Adding a basic environment

Now that we have a minimal scene with a sky and a ground plane, let's add a MotorBase entity along with a simulated webcam entity. We want to uncheck all the sensors except the Webcam checkbox. Click "Add Motor Base" to add a motor base with a simulated differential drive and a webcam to your scene (shown below).

Simple Simulated Robot Motorbase - Adding a MotorBase

Save this scene to some file ("File" -> "Save Scene As...").

Driving the robot with the SimpleDashboard

Now open the manifest that was saved in DSSMe. For example, if you saved your scene to "SimpleRobotScene.xml" the manifest will be saved in the same folder at "SimpleRobotScene.Manifest.xml".

Simple Simulated Robot Save Scene - The saved scene now open in DSSMe

Note the item circled in red in the above picture. The SimulatedDifferentialDrive service, a service that allows for issuing drive commands to a robot, is partnered with the MotorBaseWithDrive entity. This allows the SimulatedDifferentialDrive service to know which entity to issue drive commands to.

Now run this manifest through DSSMe by selecting "Run" -> "Run Manifest". We will use a new service, the SimpleDashboard service, to issue drive commands to the robot. Select "File" -> "Open Manifest..." and open the SimpleDashboard manifest (samples\config\SimpleDashboard.manifest.xml).

Simple Simulated Robot Dashboard - Opening the SimpleDashboard manifest

The SimpleDashboard service should open a new WinForm, shown below. Click the "Connect" button on the SimpleDashboard service (near upper right of the WinForm).

Simple Simulated Robot Services - Finding services on your local machine

Now double-click on the "MotorBaseWithDrive" entity listed under the Service Directory. And then click the "Drive" button. Now using the sphere shaped control (boxed in red below) you can drive the robot around.

Simple Simulated Robot Driving - Driving the MotorBase around

Summary

In this tutorial, you learned how to:

• Running an additional sample service
• Creating a scene
• Driving the robot with the SimpleDashboard

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