Hiro / NEXTAGE OPEN software Monthly Update (Oct 3, 2014)

[Isaac Isao Saito]

Hello Hiro/NEXTAGE OPEN users,

here are the regular updates for the opensource version of Hiro/NEXTAGE robot software. Lots of new features within only the last couple of weeks!

Contents
==========
1. Improved camera-readiness (calibration for Hiro and NEXTAGE, ueye for NEXTAGE, Kinect for both)
2. Force control
3. Other changes


1. Improved camera-readiness (ueye for NEXTAGE, calibration for Hiro and NEXTAGE)
========================================

IDS Imaging ueye, built-in cameras for NEXTAGE OPEN, are now tailored to work with the robot restfully. Follow the tutorial.
http://wiki.ros.org/rtmros_nextage/Tutorials/Setup%20stereo%20camera

Calibration is an integral part of utilizing cameras. So there's another tutorial for it: http://wiki.ros.org/rtmros_nextage/Tutorials/CalibrateKinect


2. Force control
========================================

Underlining robot controller `hrpsys` has had an impedance control module for awhile, but it wasn't enabled for Hiro-NEXTAGE robots. Now it is.
http://wiki.ros.org/rtmros_nextage/Tutorials/Adding%20feedback%20control

Note that this feature requires updating software on the hardware control pc (QNX), which you need an extra care (or NEXTAGE OPEN users may not even have an access) and it is not documented yet. Your best bet is to open an enhancement request https://github.com/start-jsk/rtmros_hironx/issues


3. changelogs
========================================

For the rest of the changes, please see the changelog page of each package:
- rtmros_hironx https://github.com/start-jsk/rtmros_hironx/blob/hydro-devel/rtmros_hironx/CHANGELOG.rst
- rtmros_nextage https://github.com/tork-a/rtmros_nextage/blob/hydro-devel/rtmros_nextage/CHANGELOG.rst
- rtmros_common http://docs.ros.org/hydro/changelogs/hrpsys_ros_bridge/changelog.html
- hrpsys http://docs.ros.org/hydro/changelogs/hrpsys/changelog.html


Notable contributors (alphabetical)
========================================

Yutaka Kondo, Kei Okada, Ron Tajima, Hiroaki Yaguchi


Enjoy opensource robot Oktoberfest!

--Isaac from TORK