= Building Manager/December 13, 2010 =

== Accomplishments ==

Catching back up after holiday break

 * Melonee/Tully [Create]: 
  * purchased two Atom-based laptops for Create to try and finalize hardware decision
  * ordered hardware for 2 more turtlebots, still need to order iRobot Creates.  Have most of the sparkfun electronics.  Need one more usb-minidim connector.
 * Ethan/Ken [Pano/Create]: 
  * [[http://botview.appspot.com/viewer/pan0.swf?panoSrc=/media/3826001&FOV=52|first create pano]].  
  * Ethan wrote new version of app that publishes sensor_msgs/Image when done.  This will form the basis of Building Manager integration
 * Jeremy/Wim [App Deploy]: new debbuild infrastructure enables release of apps w/o rebuilding all debs.  Critical for deploying apps in a lightweight manner.
 * Bill: dusted off RIDE. A week and a half's work to get it running again.
 * Tully: throttling/nodelet working with Kinect driver.  Still 75% CPU on smallest laptop.
 * Eitan: navigation stack now takes pointcloud2

== This week ==

 * Ken: will be at CES looking at potential hardware to use in project (i.e. tablets).
 * Jeremy: gone r/f/monday.  Working on rosbag/pr2 stuff
 * Bill: Resurrect old RIDE interface.  Goal is to get it to display something next week.
 * Gil: out.  Will help with RIDE
 * Dave: working on remote teleop
 * Kevin: Building Manager.  Look into what from the hardware test side can be adapted as it has similar goals (e.g. collecting diagnostic logs from robots in the field)
 * Leila/Caroline: Waiting until more infrastructure is in place
 * Wim: more app deployment
 * Melonee: improve tools/diagnostics for using turtlebot.  dashboard.  Assess laptops and get navigation running on it.
 * Tully: Assess laptops and get navigation running on it.  Working on ni/kinect releases.  
 * Ethan: Focusing on TOD this week.  Waiting for improved turtlebot tools. 
 * Eitan: Will consult on turtlebot navigation.  Focused on remote ops/VSLAM.
 * Brian: Consult on app deployment.

== Discussion ==

How do we send tasks to interface? Actionlib?
 * Possibly add new reconfiguration options to actionlib, drop unnecessary sockets, more robust connection, UDP?
 * Case study: Tim N's multi-robot wireless issues
 * Need interfaces:
   * For talking to apps
   * For syncing masters

How do you do app discovery?
 * App Manager has YAML file that lists applications
 * Core set of UI interactions for apps (like waypoints)
 * Apps will need to be able to define UIs
 * Capabilities will also defines some basic UI primitives (e.g. localization)

Need method for charging laptops on turtlebot
 * Need to design docking station, ala texai, to charge turtlebot.