Learning Robotics using Python: Design, simulate, program, and prototype an autonomous mobile robot using ROS, OpenCV, PCL, and Python, Edition 2

Lentin Joseph

Jun 2018 · Packt Publishing Ltd

About this ebook

Design, simulate, and program interactive robots Key Features

• Design, simulate, build, and program an interactive autonomous mobile robot
• Leverage the power of ROS, Gazebo, and Python to enhance your robotic skills
• A hands-on guide to creating an autonomous mobile robot with the help of ROS and Python

Book DescriptionRobot Operating System (ROS) is one of the most popular robotics software frameworks in research and industry. It has various features for implementing different capabilities in a robot without implementing them from scratch. This book starts by showing you the fundamentals of ROS so you understand the basics of differential robots. Then, you'll learn about robot modeling and how to design and simulate it using ROS. Moving on, we'll design robot hardware and interfacing actuators. Then, you'll learn to configure and program depth sensors and LIDARs using ROS. Finally, you'll create a GUI for your robot using the Qt framework. By the end of this tutorial, you'll have a clear idea of how to integrate and assemble everything into a robot and how to bundle the software package.What you will learn

• Design a differential robot from scratch
• Model a differential robot using ROS and URDF
• Simulate a differential robot using ROS and Gazebo
• Design robot hardware electronics
• Interface robot actuators with embedded boards
• Explore the interfacing of different 3D depth cameras in ROS
• Create a GUI for robot control

Who this book is for

This book is for those who are conducting research in mobile robotics and autonomous navigation. As well as the robotics research domain, this book is also for the robot hobbyist community. You’re expected to have a basic understanding of Linux commands and Python.

About the author

Lentin Joseph is an accomplished Indian roboticist, author, entrepreneur, and educator with over a decade of expertise in robotics software development, machine vision, and artificial intelligence. He is the founder and CTO of RUNTIME Robotics Pvt Ltd, an Indian company focused on R&D in robotics software development and artificial intelligence. He also runs robocademy, an online platform for robotics education. With strong proficiency in ROS, OpenCV, and PCL, Lentin has authored 10 widely acclaimed books on robotics, including Learning Robotics Using Python and Mastering ROS for Robotics Programming. He holds a bachelor's degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from FISAT and a master's in Robotics and Automation from Amrita University. During his studies, he developed a gesture- and speech-interactive social robot that gained media attention. Lentin has also conducted research at Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute, delivered a TEDx talk, and actively contributes to robotics education through workshops, blogs, and training programs.