ROS INSTALLATION FOR THE NON-INITIATES
For a windows enthusiast, installing ROS is nothing short of a trauma. Install Ubuntu -- Update Ubuntu -- Install ROS -- Configure ROS, all of which over a bad connection can take more than 6-8 hours and getting acquainted with Ubuntu, bash and the ROS commands steepens the learning curve and thus the installation process.
I have been working with a virtual OS (vmdk) on Virtual Box 4.1, though this download is a 3 GB file, however once downloaded it comes pre-installed with ROS electric and Player/Stage on a Ubuntu 10.04 OS. Online installation and configuration is no more an issue.
Download and extract the vmdk file.
OS details
OS : Ubuntu 10.04.4
login : electric
password : electric
ROS installation details
version : 1.6.9, electric emys
ROS_PACKAGE_PATH is set to ~/ros_packages
Player/Stage installation details
Player version : 3.0.2
Stage version : 3.2.2
The installation files can be found at ~/player-3.0.2 and ~/Stage-3.2.2-Source
ETCETERA
- After a full ROS installation, some basic packages have been downloaded and installed, can be found at ~/ros_packages
- The installation of ROS and Player/Stage does not conflict. However while using Stage in ROS, it is advisable to use stageros than stage.
- C++ code to run Player/Stage can be found at ~/player-3.0.2/examples/libplayerc++
- world and cfg files for basic simulations in Stage can be found at ~/Stage-3.2.2-Source/worlds
- gazebo is known to have issues when used on a virtual OS
- vmdk has been tried and tested in Virtual Box 4.1 on Ubuntu 12.04 host. Prospective users are welcome to try it out in VMWare
- Make sure to enable 3D acceleration in the Virtual OS
- Any issues - please email me at arkapravobhaumik at gmail dot com
