Getting Started

This document will take you through the process of installing the Navigation 2 binaries and navigating a simulated Turtlebot 3 in the Gazebo simulator.

Note

See the Build and Install for other situations such as building from source or working with other types of robots.

Warning

This is a simplified version of the Turtlebot 3 instructions. We highly recommend you follow the official Turtlebot 3 manual if you intend to continue working with this robot beyond the minimal example provided here.

Installation

1. Install the ROS 2 binary packages as described in the official docs

2. Install the Navigation 2 packages using your operating system’s package manager:

   sudo apt install ros-<ros2-distro>-navigation2
   sudo apt install ros-<ros2-distro>-nav2-bringup
   

3. Install the Turtlebot 3 packages:

   sudo apt install ros-<ros2-distro>-turtlebot3*
   

Running the Example

1. Start a terminal in your GUI

2. Set key environment variables:

   source /opt/ros/<ros2-distro>/setup.bash
   export TURTLEBOT3_MODEL=waffle
   export GAZEBO_MODEL_PATH=$GAZEBO_MODEL_PATH:/opt/ros/<ros2-distro>/share/turtlebot3_gazebo/models
   

3. In the same terminal, run

   ros2 launch nav2_bringup tb3_simulation_launch.py
   

   Note

   For ROS 2 Dashing Diademata or earlier, use nav2_simulation_launch.py. However, it is recommended to use the most recent ROS 2 LTS distribution for improved stablity and feature completeness.

   This launch file will launch Navigation2 with the AMCL localizer in the turtlebot3_world world. It will also launch a the robot state publisher to provide transforms, a Gazebo instance with the Turtlebot3 URDF, and RVIZ.

   If everything has started correctly, you will see the RViz and Gazebo GUIs like this:

   

4. Click the “Startup” button in the bottom left corner of RViz. This will cause Navigation 2 to change to the Active state. It should change appearance to show the map.

   

Navigating

After starting, the robot initially has no idea where it is. By default, Navigation 2 waits for you to give it an approximate starting position. Take a look at where the robot is in the Gazebo world, and find that spot on the map. Set the initial pose by clicking the “2D Pose Estimate” button in RViz, and then down clicking on the map in that location. You set the orientation by dragging forward from the down click.

If you are using the defaults so far, the robot should look roughly like this.

If you don’t get the location exactly right, that’s fine. Navigation 2 will refine the position as it navigates. You can also, click the “2D Pose Estimate” button and try again, if you prefer.

Once you’ve set the initial pose, the transform tree will be complete and Navigation 2 is fully active and ready to go. You should see the robot and particle cloud now.

Next, click the “Navigaton2 Goal” button and choose a destination. This will call the BT navigator to go to that goal through an action server. You can pause (cancel) or reset the action through the navigation2 rviz plugin shown.

Now watch the robot go!