API review (2011-10-17)
Proposer: John Hsu
Present at review:
- Attendees: Bhaskara, Gil, Ioan, John, Nate, Sachin, Tully
 
Proposed Robot Dynamics State Description Format
<model_state>
- Purpose: This is the root tag that for this document. All information is included in this tag.
 Elements: <link_state> <joint_state>
- Attributes:
 <link_state>
- Purpose: use this to specify the state of a link in the robot
 Elements: <id> <time> <frame_id> <pose> <twist> <wrench>
Attributes: name is the name of the link
<id> unsigned long int
- Purpose: an unique identifier for this state
 - Elements:
 - Attributes:
 
<time> double
- Purpose: time stamp in seconds
 
<reference_frame> string
Purpose: A string indicating name of another link as the reference frame of states. Keywords inertial or world can be used to reference absolute inertial frame.
- Elements:
 - Attributes:
 
<pose> 6-tuple
Purpose: A 6-tuplet (x,y,z,roll,pitch,yaw) used to specify the pose of a link, relative to the <reference_frame>
- Elements:
 - Attributes:
 
<twist> 6-tuple
Purpose: A 6-tuplet (x,y,z,roll,pitch,yaw) used to specify the twist of a link, relative to the <reference_frame>
- Elements:
 - Attributes:
 
<wrench> 6-tuple
Purpose: A 6-tuplet (x,y,z,roll,pitch,yaw) used to specify the wrench exerted on a link, relative to the <reference_frame>
- Elements:
 - Attributes:
 
<joint_state>
- Purpose: use this to specify the state of a joint in the robot
 Elements: <position> <velocity> <time>
Attributes: name is the name of the link
<id> unsigned long int
- Purpose: an unique identifier for this state
 - Elements:
 - Attributes:
 
<time> double
- Purpose: time stamp in seconds
 
<position> double
- Purpose: position of the joint
 - Elements:
 - Attributes:
 
<velocity> double
- Purpose: velocity of the joint
 - Elements:
 - Attributes:
 
Examples
<model_state name="pr2">
  <link_state name="r_shoulder_pan_link">
    <id>0</id>
    <time>0</time>
    <reference_frame>base_link</reference_frame>
    <pose>0 0 1 0 0 0</pose>
    <twist>0 0 1 0 0 0</twist>
    <wrench>0 0 0 0 0 0</wrench>
  </link_state>
  <link_state name="r_shoulder_lift_link">
    <id>1</id>
    <time>0</id>
    <reference_frame>r_shoulder_pan_link</reference_frame>
    <pose>0 0 0 0 0 0</pose>
    <twist>0 0 0 0 0 0</twist>
    <wrench>0 0 0 0 0 0</wrench>
  </link_state>
</model_state><model_state name="pr2">
  <joint_state name="r_shoulder_lift_joint">
    <id>1</id>
    <time>0</id>
    <position>0</position>
    <velocity>0</velocity>
  </joint_state>
</model_state><model_state name="my_box">
  <reference_frame>r_shoulder_pan_link</reference_frame>
  <pose>0 0 0 0 0 0</pose>
  <link_state name="my_box0_link">
    <pose>0 0 0 0 0 0</pose>
  </link_state>
  <link_state name="my_box1_link">
    <pose>0 0 0.5 0 0 0</pose>
  </link_state>
</model_state>
Question / concerns / comments
- Attendees: Bhaskara, Gil, Ioan, John, Nate, Sachin, Tully
 - Scope: Is this the corresponding state information description format (for URDF)? or is this more generic. 
- YAML? other *ML? (we should not restrict ourselves to either) 
- specification only, this should be format independent
 
 
 - YAML? other *ML? (we should not restrict ourselves to either) 
 Is top level tag name: <model_state> appropriate? alternatives are <robot> or <state> or ... (model_state)
<model_state> is fine. add <frame> parallel to <model_state>
Is <id> necessary?
- (no, move to the meta-data of the model_state)
 
<time>
- (no, move out to meta-data of model_states)
 
- How to represent diff states? 
- (should be outside in meta-data).
 
 Determine optional vs. required for each element & attribute. Determine default values for each element & attribute.
- will do online
 
Is <joint_state> necessary?
- yes
 - up to user to keep thing consistent
 - position/velocity should be vectors
 - add torque (measured torque)
 
Default reference frame of each link state is its parent. Is <reference_frame> necessary?
yes, move under <model_state>
- gil: is a collection of model_states sufficient to describe a scene? 
- yes, it should be.
 
 - think about adding twist reference point and wrench reference point? 
- leave out until needed.
 
 - consider other simulation?  vehicles, air traffic 
- out of scope for now. current state information focused on mobile manipulator robots that can be represented in URDF.
 
 - john: write out conclusions, next round will be emailed.
 
Comments
Ioan: I think <id> should be at the model level
Proposal: Rev 2
Option 1
<world_state>
- Purpose: This is the root tag that for this document. All information is included in this tag.
 Elements: <frame> <model_state>
- Attributes: name
 name string
- Purpose: A unique name of the world state
 
<model_state>
- Purpose: This is the root tag that for this document. All information is included in this tag.
 Elements: <frame> <link_state> <joint_state>
- Attributes: name
 name
- Purpose: Name of the model
 
<frame>
- Purpose: Contains a reference to the parent frame
 Elements: <parent> <pose> <twist>
- Attributes:
 <parent> string
Purpose: A string indicating frame name or name of another model_state to be the reference frame of these states. Keywords world can be used to reference absolute inertial frame. If left empty, default is world
- Elements:
 - Attributes:
 
<pose> 6-tuple
Purpose: A 6-tuplet (x,y,z,roll,pitch,yaw) used to specify the pose of a link, relative to the parent frame of the <model_state>.
- Elements:
 - Attributes:
 
<twist> 6-tuple
Purpose: A 6-tuplet (x,y,z,roll,pitch,yaw) used to specify the twist of a link, relative to the <origin> of
- Elements:
 - Attributes:
 
<link_state>
- Purpose: use this to specify the state of a link in the robot
 Elements: <pose> <twist> <wrench>
- Attributes: name
 name
- Purpose: Name of the link
 
<pose> 6-tuple
Purpose: A 6-tuplet (x,y,z,roll,pitch,yaw) used to specify the pose of a link, relative to the frame of the <model_state>.
- Elements:
 - Attributes:
 
<twist> 6-tuple
Purpose: A 6-tuplet (x,y,z,roll,pitch,yaw) used to specify the twist of a link, relative to the <origin> of the link
- Elements:
 - Attributes:
 
<wrench> 6-tuple
Purpose: A 6-tuplet (x,y,z,roll,pitch,yaw) used to specify the wrench exerted on a link, relative to the <origin> of the link
- Elements:
 - Attributes:
 
<joint_state>
- Purpose: use this to specify the state of a joint in the robot
 Elements: <positions> <velocities> <torques>
- Attributes: name
 name
- Purpose: Name of the joint
 
<positions> double[]
- Purpose: array of positions of the DOF's of the joint
 - Elements:
 - Attributes:
 
<velocities> double[]
- Purpose: array of velocities of the DOF's of the joint
 - Elements:
 - Attributes:
 
<torques> double[]
- Purpose: array of torques measured for each DOF of the joint
 - Elements:
 - Attributes:
 
<frame>
- Purpose: Frame of reference relative to global frame or anth
 Elements: <pose> <twist> <parent>
- Attributes: name
 name string
- Purpose: Name of this frame
 
<parent>
- Purpose: Name of the parent frame or model_state
 - Elements:
 - Attributes:
 
<pose> 6-tuple
Purpose: A 6-tuplet (x,y,z,roll,pitch,yaw) used to specify the pose of a link, relative to the frame of the <model_state>.
- Elements:
 - Attributes:
 
<twist> 6-tuple
Purpose: A 6-tuplet (x,y,z,roll,pitch,yaw) used to specify the twist of a link, relative to the <origin> of the link
- Elements:
 - Attributes:
 
Option 2
<world_state>
- Purpose: This is the root tag that for this document. All information is included in this tag.
 Elements: <frame> <model_state>
- Attributes:
 <model_state>
- Purpose: This is the root tag that for this document. All information is included in this tag.
 Elements: <parent> <pose> <twist> <link_state> <joint_state>
- Attributes: name
 name
- Purpose: Name of the model
 
<parent> name
Purpose: A string indicating frame name or name of another model_state to be the reference frame of these states. Keywords world can be used to reference absolute inertial frame. If left empty, default is world.
- Elements:
 - Attributes:
 
<pose> 6-tuple
Purpose: A 6-tuplet (x,y,z,roll,pitch,yaw) used to specify the pose of a link, relative to the <parent> frame.
- Elements:
 - Attributes:
 
<twist> 6-tuple
Purpose: A 6-tuplet (x,y,z,roll,pitch,yaw) used to specify the twist of a link, relative to the <parent> frame.
- Elements:
 - Attributes:
 
<link_state>
- Purpose: use this to specify the state of a link in the robot
 Elements: <pose> <twist> <wrench>
- Attributes: name
 name
- Purpose: Name of the link
 
<pose> 6-tuple
Purpose: A 6-tuplet (x,y,z,roll,pitch,yaw) used to specify the pose of a link, relative to the frame of the <model_state>.
- Elements:
 - Attributes:
 
<twist> 6-tuple
Purpose: A 6-tuplet (x,y,z,roll,pitch,yaw) used to specify the twist of a link, relative to the <origin> of the link
- Elements:
 - Attributes:
 
<wrench> 6-tuple
Purpose: A 6-tuplet (x,y,z,roll,pitch,yaw) used to specify the wrench exerted on a link, relative to the <origin> of the link
- Elements:
 - Attributes:
 
<joint_state>
- Purpose: use this to specify the state of a joint in the robot
 Elements: <positions> <velocities> <torques>
- Attributes: name
 name
- Purpose: Name of the joint
 
<positions> double[]
- Purpose: array of positions of the DOF's of the joint
 - Elements:
 - Attributes:
 
<velocities> double[]
- Purpose: array of velocities of the DOF's of the joint
 - Elements:
 - Attributes:
 
<torques> double[]
- Purpose: array of torques measured for each DOF of the joint
 - Elements:
 - Attributes:
 
<frame>
- Purpose: Frame of reference relative to global frame or anth
 Elements: <pose> <twist> <parent>
- Attributes: name
 name string
- Purpose: Name of this frame
 
<parent> name
Purpose: A string indicating frame name or name of another model_state to be the reference frame of these states. Keywords world can be used to reference absolute inertial frame. If left empty, default is world.
- Elements:
 - Attributes:
 
<pose> 6-tuple
Purpose: A 6-tuplet (x,y,z,roll,pitch,yaw) used to specify the pose of a link, relative to the parent frame or the parent <model_state>.
- Elements:
 - Attributes:
 
<twist> 6-tuple
Purpose: A 6-tuplet (x,y,z,roll,pitch,yaw) used to specify the twist of a link, relative to the <origin> of the link
- Elements:
 - Attributes:
 
Example
Option 1:
<world name="world_1">
  <model_state name="pr2">
    <frame>
      <parent>odom</parent>
      <pose>0 0 0 0 0 0</pose>
      <twist>0 0 0 0 0 0</twist>
    </frame>
    <link_state name="r_shoulder_pan_link>
      <pose>1 0 1 0 0 0</pose>
      <twist>0 0 0 0 0 0</twist>
      <wrench>0 0 0 0 0 0</twist>
    </link_state>
  </model_state>
  <frame name="odom">
    <parent>world</parent>
    <pose>0 0 0 0 0 0</pose>
    <twist>0 0 0 0 0 0</twist>
  </frame>
</world>Option 2:
<world name="world_1">
  <model_state name="pr2">
    <parent>odom</parent>
    <pose>0 0 0 0 0 0</pose>
    <twist>0 0 0 0 0 0</twist>
    <link_state name="r_shoulder_pan_link>
      <pose>1 0 1 0 0 0</pose>
      <twist>0 0 0 0 0 0</twist>
      <wrench>0 0 0 0 0 0</twist>
    </link_state>
  </model_state>
  <frame name="odom">
    <parent>world</parent>
    <pose>0 0 0 0 0 0</pose>
    <twist>0 0 0 0 0 0</twist>
  </frame>
</world>
Conclusion
Package status change mark change manifest)
 Action items that need to be taken. 
 Major issues that need to be resolved