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ROS 2 Bridge

ROS 1 - ROS 2 Bridge

As ROS and ROS2 are not completely compatible, a bridge is needed to make it possible to use both versions together. The bridge allows messages and service calls to be passed between nodes running on ROS and nodes running on ROS2. This allows for a smooth transition between the two systems, and allows you to take advantage of new features and capabilities of ROS2 while still using existing ROS-based components.

ROS Bridge is a package that provides this capability by connecting the ROS1 and ROS2 middleware, this package allows ROS1 nodes to communicate with ROS2 nodes, and vice versa, by wrapping the communication calls in a way that makes them transparent to the nodes.

The ROS bridge package provide several functionalities, such as :

Translation of messages between ROS1 and ROS2 Translation of services between ROS1 and ROS2 Translation of actions between ROS1 and ROS2 Using the ROS bridge to ROS2 allows for an incremental migration of a robot system from ROS to ROS2, where it's possible to gradually replace parts of the system with ROS2-based components without disrupting the existing ROS-based components.

In summary, ROS and ROS2 are not completely compatible, to use them together a bridge is needed. ROS Bridge is a package that provides this capability by connecting the ROS1 and ROS2 middleware. It allows to translate messages, services, and actions between ROS1 and ROS2, making it possible to use both versions together and gradually migrate a robot system from ROS to ROS2.

How To RUN The ROS Bridge?

The ROS bridge package is typically run on a machine that is connected to both the ROS and ROS2 systems that you want to bridge. The package includes a set of nodes that run on both systems, and the nodes communicate with each other to pass messages and service calls between the systems.

Here are the general steps to run the ROS bridge package:

  1. Install the package on your system. Depending on the system you are using, you can install the package using package manager like apt, rosdep, or source build.

  2. Start the ROS1 and ROS2 master nodes. The bridge package requires that both the ROS1 and ROS2 master nodes are running and discoverable.

  3. Start the bridge nodes. You will typically start the bridge nodes on the machine that is connected to both the ROS and ROS2 systems. These nodes act as intermediaries that pass messages and service calls between the two systems.

  4. Configure the bridge nodes. Depending on your specific use case, you may need to configure the bridge nodes to set parameters such as the ROS1 and ROS2 master URLs or the topics and services that should be bridged.

  5. Verify that the bridge is working by checking the output from the bridge nodes and by subscribing to topics or calling services on the bridged systems

For more information on the specifics of running the ROS bridge package, you can refer to the package's documentation, which typically includes detailed instructions and examples on how to run and configure the package.

In summary, to run the ROS Bridge package, you first need to install it on your system, start the ROS1 and ROS2 master nodes, start the bridge nodes, configure the bridge nodes and finally, verify that the bridge is working. It's always recommended to check the package's documentation for specific instructions.

Thirdpaty Bridges

Matlab

ROS Toolbox provides an interface connecting MATLAB® and Simulink® with the Robot Operating System (ROS and ROS 2). With the toolbox, you can design a network of ROS nodes and combine MATLAB or Simulink generated ROS nodes with your existing ROS network.

The toolbox includes MATLAB functions and Simulink blocks to visualize and analyze ROS data by recording, importing, and playing back rosbag files. You can also connect to a live ROS network to access ROS messages.

The toolbox lets you verify ROS nodes via desktop simulation and by connecting to external robot simulators such as Gazebo or to hardware. ROS Toolbox supports C++ and CUDA® code generation (with MATLAB Coder™, Simulink Coder, and GPU Coder™), enabling you to automatically generate ROS nodes from a MATLAB script or Simulink model and deploy to simulated or physical hardware. Support for Simulink external mode lets you view messages and change parameters while your model is running on hardware.

https://in.mathworks.com/help/ros/

Omniverse

NVIDIA Omniverse is a groundbreaking platform that enables real-time 3D content creation and collaboration in shared virtual environments. Its importance for robotics lies in the ability to streamline the development, testing, and deployment of complex robotic systems. By providing a unified platform where engineers, designers, and researchers can work together using various software applications, Omniverse facilitates the creation of realistic and accurate simulations. This allows for more efficient development and validation of robotic algorithms, improved training of AI models, and enhanced safety and performance of robotic systems in real-world scenarios.

https://docs.omniverse.nvidia.com/app_isaacsim/app_isaacsim/ext_omni_isaac_ros_bridge.html