Getting started...…

• so with this blog we be meeting our prerequisites to start the project I hope you did some research of ROS😁😁, but if not still its okay I there to guide you...…
• first and most import thing to you will need to run ROS is a Linux based PC with a moderate processor and at least 4GB (empty) RAM in order to load and simulate robot smoothly
• if you don't have Linux based PC again don't worry am there...😇 

1. System Requirement

In order to meet system requirement we  have 5 ideas, all of them are working and simple to follow , will give them in increasing order of difficulty.....

• ROS Development Studios:

This is free web based Linux type service only to use ROS and simulate the robots also they provide courses for ROS, you can use them to learn more ,

specifically speaking its online learning and teaching platform for ROS you can learn as well as teach others too, I have started using it, but there are limitations of it.

1. They only provide 2GB of space to create and upload your personal projects.

2. Major limitation is they provide only 8 hours of usage per day

3. It will consume lot of RAM and processing power + data, yes its online so fast internet connection is also required.

4.lets know some advantages too 😂 😇, it has huge community, there are live classes, free courses with tutorial, and YouTube channel where they upload nearly all courses.

5. Another advantage(may be not if you are serious to learn and expert ROS) is that there is no installation process for ROS every thing is available just you need is to sign up to THE CONSTRUCT 

•  Virtual Machine:

This 2nd simplest method for beginners but here too RAM consumptions is problem you will need at least 6GB empty ram in order to simulate, also vm will not provide that much processing power needed to simulate robot but if you have good pc with 12-16GB ram and a powerful processor then you can go with this process:

1. Download and install a virtual machine software here list of 15 such software all are free.

2.Go to official Ubuntu website and download the desktop version but before downloading please read this blog as more options are available.

3.This is list for support of ROS over different distro:

              ROS-melodic ===> Ubuntu 18.04 

              ROS-noetic    ===> Ubuntu 20.04

              ROS2             ===> Ubuntu 20.04

4. Now you can open vm software and add the iso to vm and follow the installation process you can refer YouTube for same to have smooth installation.

• WSL (windows subsystem Linux):

This is my favorite way and simple way to use Linux and has one disadvantage, that you have no gui access (till windows 11 update in which wslg will be introduced) for it but we have one "jugad"😆 for it. First go through the wsl installation make sure you install any one of the above mentioned ubuntu version.

Then go to Xserver or just search vcxsrv on google and download the application and install it, this software will display you gui app from wsl.

1. open xlaunch app which will be installed by Xserver zip file or just search for xlaunch in search bar.

2.when app is opened select multiple windows and set display number to 0.

3.Go click next and next, then uncheck Native openGL option and check disable access control option , your window should look like this 

and click on next and finish if you want, you can save configuration as you have to launch this app after every shutdown of pc.

This only half process to launch gui to know complete wait until next blog.

Also we know how to use wsl in vscode

• Dual booting:

This is another way to use Linux with full power , this is little bit risky but you can try out as many and simple guides are available on YouTube again you should install above mentioned  Ubuntu versions as these are most popular, have large 

community for these ROS version ,also during this journey we will be using melodic and noetic.

• Installation on Windows: 

This is the last and little bit difficult, but you can try it as there is guide by Microsoft and a youtuber Pranshu Tople on this , when I tried there was no guide by Pranshu so I felt it difficult but now you can install it easily, in fact I will suggest to install it on windows only. Here is installation for melodic and noetic ,I will suggest, try and use windows terminal instead of creating a shortcut as mentioned in 6th section of documentation, just what you have to do is after downloading windows terminal , open it and near '+' symbol there is drop down arrow, click it and click on settings, on left you will see the 'add new' button click it and in command line section paste the command displayed in 6th section of documentation. Also make sure you install community section of visual studio 2019.

 

so till now we were just installing the Linux operating system to meet prerequisites last software we need is CAD software.

2. CAD software:

Now to make robot we need to design it  first, so we will be using cad software mainly fusion 360, why only that will let you know soon but for now lets know how can you get it, if you are student then you are free to use fusion360 as Autodesk is providing free education license, just you have to give college id proof that you are student and within 48hrs if you are applicable will be getting the license here is the link, make sure to select you country location as they verify the education institute.

If you are not and student or educator you can have 1 year free access to it here.

Else you can install any other open source software but have check weather it has urdf exporter, don't worry if you are not familiar with word urdf you will be soon.....

UPCOMING.....

In next blog we will see :

1. How to open gui apps in wsl

2. How to access wsl by vscode

3. Installation and suggestions for ROS

4. Concepts and information of ROS

Comment below if you any problem while following the steps and also if you like please share with your friends.