Implementing a User-Friendly GUI for Robot Teleoperation and Monitoring
16 March 2024
In the realm of robotics, the ability to interact with and control robots in a user-friendly manner is paramount. This project encapsulates the development of a graphical user interface (GUI) that enables even individuals with minimal robotics experience to teleoperate robots and monitor their status effectively. Utilizing the Robot Operating System (ROS), C++, and the CVUI library, this project demonstrates the integration of software development skills with advanced robotics applications.
The project is divided into two main parts, focusing on the backend ROS nodes development and the GUI implementation.
Initial Setup: Involved cloning the necessary repositories, setting up the ROS environment, and starting the simulation in Gazebo.
Robot Info Node: A custom ROS node was developed to publish vital information about the robot, including its description, serial number, IP address, and firmware version, using a custom message type.
Distance Tracker Service: This ROS node calculates the distance traveled by the robot based on odometry data and provides this information through a ROS service upon request.
GUI Development: Utilizing C++ and the CVUI library, a separate ROS package was created for the GUI node. This node subscribes to the robot_info
topic and interacts with other ROS nodes to display robot status, control teleoperation, and monitor the robot’s position and distance traveled.
Features of the GUI:
/get_distance
service and display the distance traveled./reset_distance
service to reset the tracked distance status.The integration of ROS nodes with a custom-built GUI resulted in a comprehensive system allowing for the intuitive teleoperation of robots and real-time monitoring of their status. This system demonstrates the potential of combining software development skills with robotics to create user-friendly interfaces for complex robotic systems.