Introduction

This package allows creating ROS nodes for Android phones. At the current stage only Python is supported, i.e. rospy is fully working on the phone. By running the ROS nodes in the SL4A (Scripting Layer for Android) environment, one can access the most important Android functions and sensor datas without great effort.

Pre-Requirements

In order to run ROS on Android, you have to install Python for Android and for easy API access Scripting Layer for Android.

This can be done either by running our Makefile or manually:

• Automatic way:
  Please set ADB variable to your adb executable or make sure that adb executable is in your PATH.
  Connect your Android device to your PC.

   $ export ADB=~/android/android-sdk-linux_86/platform-tools/adb
   $ make python

  This will automatically download and install latest stable SL4A and Python for Android on your phone.

• Manual way:
  

  • Scripting Layer for Android (SL4A)
    In order to access Android API, we suggest installing SL4A on the Android phone:

    1. Download latest stable SL4A APK from http://code.google.com/p/android-scripting/downloads/list
       

    2. Install SL4A on your Android phone either by opening the APK on your phone using a file explorer or by installing it from the PC via adb:

        adb install sl4a_r3.apk

  • Python for Android (Py4A)
    

    • This will install Python executable, library and its most common modules on your Android device:
      

    1. Download latest stable PythonForAndroid APK from http://code.google.com/p/python-for-android/downloads/list
       

    2. Install Py4A on your Android phone either by opening the APK on your phone using a file explorer or by installing it from the PC via adb:

        adb install PythonForAndroid_r5.apk

    3. Launch Python for Android on your device and press Install. This will download and extract Python, most common Python modules and the SL4A API on the phone.

Verify correct installation

After the setup, Python should be ready to run on your device. You can verify the successfull installation either by starting SL4A and executing one of the Python example files or by starting Python on your device via adb shell:
Open up a terminal on your PC, have your Android device connected to it.

 $ sudo adb start-server
 $ adb shell

Now you can work on the device's shell from the PC and try to execute Python on it:

PYTHONPATH=/data/data/com.googlecode.pythonforandroid/files/python/lib/python2.6/lib-dynload
PYTHONPATH=${PYTHONPATH}:/mnt/sdcard/com.googlecode.pythonforandroid/extras/python
export PYTHONPATH
export PYTHONHOME=/data/data/com.googlecode.pythonforandroid/files/python
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/data/data/com.googlecode.pythonforandroid/files/python/lib
/data/data/com.googlecode.pythonforandroid/files/python/bin/python

This should show something like this:

 Python 2.6.2 (r262:71600, Feb 14 2011, 10:32:30) 
 [GCC 4.4.3] on linux-armv7l
 Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
 >>>

Get ROScore running on Android

At the moment a simple Makefile invoking adb commands takes over the installation. In the near future, we will provide an installer that takes over the installation of the basic ROS environment and the depended Python modules.

Please set ADB variable to your adb executable or make sure that adb is in your PATH. We can distinguish the installation

• Un-rooted Android devices (default)
  On unrooted phones you have to carry out the OpenCV Module Import manually. First install the files on your phone by running e. g.:

   $ export ADB=~/android/android-sdk-linux_86/platform-tools/adb
   $ make install_no_root

  After the process has finished, you have to execute Python for Android on your mobile device and press Import Module. There you should be able to select cv.egg. After the Success message, you are able to run our sample ROS node or you can start developing your own Android ROS Nodes.

• Rooted Android devices
  Installation on rooted phones (Hint: you will know if you have one.) is easier, as we can install all the files to their correct location automatically. You can simply run, e. g.:

   $ export ADB=~/android/android-sdk-linux_86/platform-tools/adb
   $ make install

Currently supported ROS packages and Python modules

ROS packages

The following packages are supported and automatically installed at the moment:

• rospy

• roslib: Manifests are not working yet, so don't add roslib.load_manifest(...) at the moment.

• std_msgs

• sensor_msgs: especially the Image msg

• geometry_msgs

• cv_bridge

Currently we only push the ROS package's Python code and messages to the phone. But in the next few releases we will add support for Manifest.xml and thus the installation of ROS Packages on Android will be similar to the normal installation on the PC.

Python modules

Almost all common Python modules are now shipped directly with Python for Android. We additionally install:

• yaml

• OpenCV (simply do import cv)

Attention: Some OpenCV functions may be corrupt or missing. But up to now everything worked fine for us.

To get an impression how an Android ROS node could look like, simply take a look at our sample ROS node (ros.py).

Run our sample ROS node (ros.py)

If no errors occurred during the installation, our provided sample ROS node can be started.

• Launch SL4A

• Execute ros.py

• Enter ROS_MASTER_URI (be sure to be at the same network) manually, scan a QR-code holding the ROS_MASTER_URI or chose an address from the history (if available). Using QR-code needs [https://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.zxing.client.android Barcode Scanner] installed on the Android device.
  For generating the QR-code automatically, you can use the start_roscore.sh script in testing/ folder. This script depends on pyqrcode Python module.
  You can also generate your own QR-code using Google's Chart API:

   https://chart.googleapis.com/chart?chs=150x150&cht=qr&chl=ROS_MASTER_URI&chld=L|1&choe=UTF-8

  replace ROS_MASTER_URI with your full URI e. g.:

   https://chart.googleapis.com/chart?chs=150x150&cht=qr&chl=http://192.168.1.100:11311&chld=L|1&choe=UTF-8

Now /android ROS node should exists. Feel free to test the following topics:

Publishers:

 rostopic echo /mobile/acceleration   - this is a std_msgs/String
 rostopic echo /mobile/image          - this is a sensor_msgs/Image

Subscribers:

 rostopic pub /mobile/say std_msgs/String "Hello World."
 rostopic pub /mobile/vibrate std_msgs/Int16 1000
 rostopic pub /mobile/request_images std_msgs/Int16 4

The image on /mobile/image is only published after a request on /mobile/request_images (std_msgs/Int16), which holds the number of requested images.

Screenshots of the GUI

Create your own ROS node

Simply develop your ROS node using rospy and the provided packages and push it to SL4A's script directory on the Android device:

 adb push my_own_ros_node.py /mnt/sdcard/sl4a/scripts/

After pushing it to the device, you can execute it directly from SL4A.

For interacting with the Android API, you can use the provided API from SL4A:

• SL4A API Overview: http://code.google.com/p/android-scripting/wiki/AndroidFacadeAPI

• SL4A API Reference: http://code.google.com/p/android-scripting/wiki/ApiReference

Tested devices

• HTC Desire HD with Android 2.2.1
• Samsung Galaxy S I9000 with Android 2.2.2 and 2.3.3
• Nexus S with Android 2.3
• Nexus One with Android 2.2.1
• Samsung Galaxy Tab with Android 2.2