Robot Operating System 2 Tools for Research and Development (ROSTRD)

The purpose of this project is to develop a Robot Operating System 2 (ROS2) compatible software library that dramatically simplifies development of robotic and autonomous systems in a research and development (R&D) environment. It will allow faster prototyping and testing of autonomous systems and robotics. The project leverages our expertise using the ROS2 framework to develop and publish a library of common utilities and functions that dramatically increase the speed of development within ROS2. These tools will allow engineers and scientists to focus on their research, and less on the overhead of software development needs for robotics. It will allow more rapid testing and prototyping cycles for robotic systems, including surface excavation and construction demonstrations while reducing development time and associated cost. The tools to be implemented are the result of years of experience and use of ROS2 in a research environment, and a deep understanding of where the workflow could be improved and streamlined to support rapid prototyping.