racecar

Software sources for the UdeS 1/10th autonomous car platform

Table of contents

• Technologies
• Requirements
• How it works
• Launch
• Controller Modes

Technologies

The project is created with:

• Python 2.7 or 3.6
• Arduino programming language
• ROS

Requirements

To be able to test our code, there are a few requirements.

Hardware

• RaceCar of the Université de Sherbrooke
• Logitech Wireless Gamepad F710 (DirectInput Mode)

Software

• For Raspberry Pi on RaceCar, we provide RPI3 and RPI4 images with everything already installed, see this page to flash your RPI. To do it manually, see this section.
• For Desktop/Laptop development, see this section to setup ROS in a virtual machine or in a dual boot with Ubuntu 20.04.

Documentation

• Hardware Connections
• USB Hub woes
• Steering Offset
• Remote Connection (SSH/VNC)
• ROS on multiple computers (ROS_IP)
• Simulated environment (Gazebo)
• The RaceCar batteries
• Charging the Anker battery
• Charging the Traxxas battery
• The Killswitch

How it works

In the graph, you can see a representation of the communication between the nodes and the topics of the most basic working mode: using the base launch file cruisecontrol.launch.

The RaceCar has many operating modes that allow you to test different functionnalities. The ROS controller Node, which control commands to the motor and the steering servo, has multiple high-level mode that are selected by joystick inputs (see Controller modes table for more details). For instance, open-loop, closed-loop in velocity, closed-loop in position modes are available for both the propulsion and the steering. The Arduino has also multiple internal low-level modes (different than the high-level ones!!!) that are selected by the ROS controller Node. Empty operating mode templates are available in the source code for you to test custom control modes.

Launch

1. Follow those instructions to flash your Raspberry Pi with a pre-built image, or follow those instructions to setup from scratch.
2. Connect the battery to Raspberry Pi. If installed as instructions above, you can connect your laptop by Wi-Fi on RaceCar's hotspot. Launch VNC from your laptop and connect to 10.42.0.1 (Raspberry Pi's IP).
3. Flash the Arduino (need to be done only 1 time):
   1. Connect the Arduino mega 2560 of the RaceCar to Raspberry Pi if not already done.
   2. Flash the Arduino mega 2560 with the firmware file racecar_propulsion_firmware.ino using Arduino IDE (with Tools->Board: select "Arduino Mega or Mega 2560" as target).
4. Turn on the motors by flipping the switch on the left side of the car. A green light will turn on.
5. From a terminal (ctrl+alt+t), launch ROS with the launch file teleop.launch:

   $ roslaunch racecar_bringup teleop.launch

6. To visualize the racecar in rviz:

   $ roslaunch racecar_bringup rviz.launch

   
7. Enable the joystick by performing an input combination below to start.
8. Enjoy!

High-level Controller Modes

The high-level mode is the operating mode of the "controller" node running on the rasberry pi. The high-level mode is selected in the "teleop" node, that translate joystick buttons into a "ctl_ref" message. The mode is placed in the "ctl_ref.linear.z" channel.

Joystick inputs: LB is used as a deadman switch and must be always pressed for the car to operate. Make sure the switch mode behind the gamepad is on D and not X.

High-level Mode	Input buttons	Function
-1	None	Disabled
0	LB	Closed-loop velocity, open-loop steering
1	LB + RB	Fully Open-loop
2	LB + RT	Closed-loop position, open-loop steering
3	LB + A	Closed-loop velocity, closed-loop steering
4	LB + B	Closed-loop position, closed-loop steering
5	LB + X	Closed-loop velocity, closed-loop steering
6	LB + Y	Reset encoder command
7	LB + LY	Empty Template
8	LB + Croos key Up/Down	Empty Template
NaN	LB + LT	Joystick-based control disabled (no ctl_ref published)

Low-level Controller Modes (Arduino modes)

The low-level mode is the operating mode of the Arduino. The low-level mode is selected in the "controller" node running on the rasberry pi. The mode is placed in the "prop_cmd.linear.z" channel.

Low-level Mode	Function
0	Disabled
1	Open-loop PWM control
2	Closed-loop velocity (based on wheel-encoder feedback)
2	Closed-loop position (based on wheel-encoder feedback)
4	Reset encoder command