Problems with using rosinterface - synchronous mode

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mthor13
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Joined: 03 Jul 2017, 08:32
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Problems with using rosinterface - synchronous mode

Post by mthor13 »

Hi all,

I am currently trying to sync my v-rep simulation with a ros-node written in C++. From the C++ ros-node, using the RosInterfaceHelper tool, I am enabling the sync mode and triggering the simulation every time I loop through my controller program in the node. So the C++ node loops the following commands:

enableSyncMode(true)
Run program - i.e., the controller
triggerNextStep(true)
triggerNextStep(false)
rate->sleep() -- (this rate is set to 20hz as the simulation is using 50ms)
rosSpinOnce()

To test that the node and the simulation are in fact synchronized I am running a small test where I increment a number in a child script inside the simulation that I publish to a ros topic. However, when reading in the C++ node the sequence is not consistent and is strongly dependent on the rate I use in the C++ node. If the rate is much higher than the simulation step, dt, then I will miss a lot of the numbers in the sequence. If it is set to what the simulation is running at (i.e, 20hz) it is better but still random (sometimes I read the same number twice and other times I am skipping a number).

Do you have any idea about what I am doing wrong?

Best Regards,
Mathias Thor

EDIT: One additional question: "Why is the ros::rate in the C++ node depending on the sim step size, dt, when the C++ node is triggering the simulation for every step?"

coppelia
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Posts: 10336
Joined: 14 Dec 2012, 00:25

Re: Problems with using rosinterface - synchronous mode

Post by coppelia »

Hello,

my guess is that you are triggering new simulation steps more of then than V-REP can handle. Best would be to trigger a simulation step, then wait to receive a message that the step was successfully executed.

Are you waiting for the message simulationStepDone before trying to trigger a new simulation step?

Cheers

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