[ros-users] [Discourse.ros.org] [ROS-Industrial] Integration of 6-axis manipulator and 2-axis positioner (external axes)

[Thomas Lehmann via Discourse.ros.org]

Thank you very much for the PR, @gavanderhoorn.  I've changed `moveit_planning_execution.launch` and related scripts to launch two namespaced instances of `industrial_robot_simulator` when argument `sim` is set to `true`. I had tried to "push down" the simulator and `joint_trajectory_action` server instances individually using `ROS_NAMESPACE` before without success. Your approach using groups seems to work without issues. 



I can now successfully plan and execute pose goals for the manipulator and positioner individually in rviz. This should solve the initial issue I described for simulation. Once our system is ready to use, I will carry out the same tests on the physical robot. 



> Note: this only gets you to the *actual* problem / challenge: planning for the combined scene (or at least: with kinematics involved).



The end goal for our application of metal additive manufacturing (and I am assuming for many others using the manipulator/positioner combination for various purposes) would be to plan paths not only based on getting from point A to B whilst avoiding collision but planning manipulator and positioner (and thus workpiece) pose trajectories from tool paths that are generated from CAD-2-path tools. Such tools (e.g., slicers such as the [ros_additive_manufacturing](http://wiki.ros.org/ros_additive_manufacturing/kinetic) package) generate tool paths with many via points based on the workpiece geometry. This response by @gavanderhoorn  to a post on ROS Answers explains the difference and challenges involved very well IMO: [Planning complex plans using multiple waypoints with MoveIt](https://answers.ros.org/question/261368/planning-complex-plans-using-multiple-waypoints-with-moveit/). Based on that post and my preliminary testing when only considering the manipulator for planning, [De
 scartes](http://wiki.ros.org/descartes) seems to be a suitable alternative but also MoveIt! has some capabilities for planning Cartesian paths with waypoints: [`move_group` tutorial: cartesian paths](http://docs.ros.org/indigo/api/moveit_tutorials/html/doc/pr2_tutorials/planning/src/doc/move_group_interface_tutorial.html#cartesian-paths). 



I think the challenge as far as I can tell now is the combined planning of workpiece and manipulator trajectories with collision avoidance and then also the synchronization of end-effector commands (e.g., welding torch on/off). 



Any ideas for avenues to go down or suggestions of tools that can be used or adapted to ultimately achieve this final objective would be much appreciated.



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> Could you please  in case of parallel requests for support through different channels  always present/include pertinent information in posts like yours?



For sure, will do that in the future. This particular reply form Eric was part of an email exchange with me a few months ago where I tried to get a sense of the general Yaskawa system capabilities related to ROS.











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