MYRAbot's arm model for simulation (urdf+gazebo)
Creation of URDF model
URDF (Unified Robot Description Format) is the format used to define the model of the arm (xml) in order to simulate it in gazebo. It consists of a tree of geometrical elements (links) plugged through joints(joints). This joints can be fixed or mobile, the mobile joints can be rotating, linear or floating.
First, we will create a new package with the necessary dependences for our programs (urdf brazo_fer std_msgs sensor_msgs tf roscpp). We will execute the next commands in a terminal:
cd ~/ros_workspace
roscreate-pkg brazo_fer_modelo urdf [[Control brazo MYRAbot (bioloid+arduino)|brazo_fer]] std_msgs sensor_msgs tf roscpp
We have divided the model in three files, main file, macros file and placement file. For the main file, we will create a file named "brazo.xacro" within the folder "urdf" of the created package with the content that is shown below:
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<robot>
<include filename="$(find brazo_fer_modelo)/urdf/brazo-macros.xacro" />
<macro name="brazo" params="parent *origin">
<joint name="fixed" type="fixed">
<parent link="${parent}"/>
<child link="base_brazo_link"/>
<insert_block name="origin" />
<axis xyz="0 0 1" />
</joint>
<link name="base_brazo_link">
<visual>
<geometry>
<box size="0.032 0.05 0.04"/>
</geometry>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="0 -0.0135 0.020"/>
<material name="black">
<color rgba="0 0 0 1"/>
</material>
</visual>
<collision>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="0 -0.0135 0.020"/>
<geometry>
<box size="0.032 0.05 0.04"/>
</geometry>
</collision>
<inertial>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="0 -0.0135 0.020"/>
<mass value="0.055"/>
<default_inertia_servos />
</inertial>
</link>
<joint name="base" type="revolute">
<parent link="base_brazo_link"/>
<child link="hombro_link"/>
<origin xyz="0 0 0.04" rpy="0 0 0" />
<axis xyz="0 0 1" />
<default_limit />
<default_dynamics />
</joint>
<link name="hombro_link">
<visual>
<geometry>
<box size="0.04 0.032 0.05"/>
</geometry>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="0 0 0.025"/>
<material name="black" />
</visual>
<collision>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="0 0 0.025"/>
<geometry>
<box size="0.04 0.032 0.05"/>
</geometry>
</collision>
<inertial>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="0 0 0.025"/>
<mass value="0.055"/>
<default_inertia_servos />
</inertial>
</link>
<joint name="arti1" type="revolute">
<parent link="hombro_link"/>
<child link="brazo_link"/>
<origin xyz="0 0 0.0385" rpy="0 0 0" />
<axis xyz="1 0 0" />
<default_limit />
<default_dynamics />
</joint>
<!--Brazo-->
<servo nombre="brazo" />
<joint name="servo_arti1_B" type="fixed">
<parent link="brazo_link"/>
<child link="brazo_link_B"/>
<origin xyz="0 0 0" rpy="0 0 0" />
<axis xyz="1 0 0" />
</joint>
<base nombre="brazo" />
<joint name="servo_arti1_D" type="fixed">
<parent link="brazo_link"/>
<child link="brazo_link_SI"/>
<origin xyz="0 0 0" rpy="0 0 0" />
<axis xyz="1 0 0" />
</joint>
<soporte nombre="brazo" simetrico="1" lado="I" />
<joint name="servo_arti1_I" type="fixed">
<parent link="brazo_link"/>
<child link="brazo_link_SD"/>
<origin xyz="0 0 0" rpy="0 0 0" />
<axis xyz="1 0 0" />
</joint>
<soporte nombre="brazo" simetrico="-1" lado="D" />
<joint name="arti2" type="revolute">
<parent link="brazo_link"/>
<child link="antebrazo_link"/>
<origin xyz="0 0 0.104" rpy="0 0 0" />
<axis xyz="1 0 0" />
<default_limit />
<default_dynamics />
</joint>
<!--Antebrazo-->
<servo nombre="antebrazo" />
<joint name="servo_arti2_B" type="fixed">
<parent link="antebrazo_link"/>
<child link="antebrazo_link_B"/>
<origin xyz="0 0 0" rpy="0 0 0" />
<axis xyz="1 0 0" />
</joint>
<base nombre="antebrazo" />
<joint name="servo_arti2_D" type="fixed">
<parent link="antebrazo_link"/>
<child link="antebrazo_link_SI"/>
<origin xyz="0 0 0" rpy="0 0 0" />
<axis xyz="1 0 0" />
</joint>
<soporte nombre="antebrazo" simetrico="1" lado="I" />
<joint name="servo_arti2_I" type="fixed">
<parent link="antebrazo_link"/>
<child link="antebrazo_link_SD"/>
<origin xyz="0 0 0" rpy="0 0 0" />
<axis xyz="1 0 0" />
</joint>
<soporte nombre="antebrazo" simetrico="-1" lado="D" />
<joint name="arti3" type="revolute">
<parent link="antebrazo_link"/>
<child link="muneca_link"/>
<origin xyz="0 0 0.104" rpy="0 0 0" />
<axis xyz="1 0 0" />
<default_limit />
<default_dynamics />
</joint>
<!--Muñeca-->
<link name="muneca_link">
<visual>
<geometry>
<box size="0.05 0.04 0.032"/>
</geometry>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="0.00625 0 0.06"/>
<material name="black" />
</visual>
<collision>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="0.00625 0 0.06"/>
<geometry>
<box size="0.05 0.04 0.032"/>
</geometry>
</collision>
<inertial>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="0.00625 0 0.06"/>
<mass value="0.055"/>
<default_inertia_servos />
</inertial>
</link>
<joint name="servo_arti3_B" type="fixed">
<parent link="muneca_link"/>
<child link="muneca_link_B"/>
<origin xyz="0 0 0" rpy="0 0 0" />
<axis xyz="1 0 0" />
</joint>
<link name="muneca_link_B">
<visual>
<geometry>
<box size="0.05325 0.04 0.005"/>
</geometry>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="0.004625 0 0.0415"/>
<material name="white">
<color rgba="1 1 1 1"/>
</material>
</visual>
<collision>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="0.004625 0 0.0415"/>
<geometry>
<box size="0.05325 0.04 0.005"/>
</geometry>
</collision>
<inertial>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="0.004625 0 0.0415"/>
<mass value="0.0005"/>
<default_inertia />
</inertial>
</link>
<joint name="servo_arti3_D" type="fixed">
<parent link="muneca_link"/>
<child link="muneca_link_SI"/>
<origin xyz="0 0 0" rpy="0 0 0" />
<axis xyz="1 0 0" />
</joint>
<link name="muneca_link_SI">
<visual>
<geometry>
<box size="0.002 0.032 0.0555"/>
</geometry>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="0.021 0 0.01625"/>
<material name="white">
<color rgba="1 1 1 1"/>
</material>
</visual>
<collision>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="0.021 0 0.01625"/>
<geometry>
<box size="0.002 0.032 0.0555"/>
</geometry>
</collision>
<inertial>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="0.021 0 0.01625"/>
<mass value="0.0005"/>
<default_inertia />
</inertial>
</link>
<joint name="servo_arti3_I" type="fixed">
<parent link="muneca_link"/>
<child link="muneca_link_SD"/>
<origin xyz="0 0 0" rpy="0 0 0" />
<axis xyz="1 0 0" />
</joint>
<link name="muneca_link_SD">
<visual>
<geometry>
<box size="0.002 0.032 0.0555"/>
</geometry>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="-0.021 0 0.01625"/>
<material name="white">
<color rgba="1 1 1 1"/>
</material>
</visual>
<collision>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="-0.021 0 0.01625"/>
<geometry>
<box size="0.002 0.032 0.0555"/>
</geometry>
</collision>
<inertial>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="-0.021 0 0.01625"/>
<mass value="0.0005"/>
<default_inertia />
</inertial>
</link>
<joint name="servo_arti3_P" type="fixed">
<parent link="muneca_link"/>
<child link="muneca_link_P"/>
<origin xyz="0 0 0" rpy="0 0 0" />
<axis xyz="1 0 0" />
</joint>
<!--Pinza fija-->
<link name="muneca_link_P">
<visual>
<geometry>
<box size="0.002 0.04 0.092"/>
</geometry>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="0.03425 0 0.090"/>
<material name="white">
<color rgba="1 1 1 1"/>
</material>
</visual>
<collision>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="0.03425 0 0.090"/>
<geometry>
<box size="0.002 0.04 0.092"/>
</geometry>
</collision>
<inertial>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="0.03425 0 0.090"/>
<mass value="0.001"/>
<default_inertia />
</inertial>
</link>
<joint name="servo_arti3_PS" type="fixed">
<parent link="muneca_link"/>
<child link="muneca_link_PS"/>
<origin xyz="0 0 0" rpy="0 0 0" />
<axis xyz="1 0 0" />
</joint>
<link name="muneca_link_PS">
<visual>
<geometry>
<box size="0.002 0.04 0.037"/>
</geometry>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="0.03225 0 0.0575"/>
<material name="white">
<color rgba="1 1 1 1"/>
</material>
</visual>
<collision>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="0.03225 0 0.0575"/>
<geometry>
<box size="0.002 0.04 0.037"/>
</geometry>
</collision>
<inertial>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="0.03225 0 0.0575"/>
<mass value="0.0005"/>
<default_inertia />
</inertial>
</link>
<joint name="pinza" type="revolute">
<parent link="muneca_link"/>
<child link="pinza_link"/>
<origin xyz="-0.00725 0 0.06" rpy="0 0 0" />
<axis xyz="0 1 0" />
<default_limit />
<default_dynamics />
</joint>
<!--Pinza móvil-->
<link name="pinza_link">
<visual>
<geometry>
<box size="0.002 0.04 0.092"/>
</geometry>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="-0.027 0 0.030"/>
<material name="white">
<color rgba="1 1 1 1"/>
</material>
</visual>
<collision>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="-0.027 0 0.030"/>
<geometry>
<box size="0.002 0.04 0.092"/>
</geometry>
</collision>
<inertial>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="-0.027 0 0.030"/>
<mass value="0.001"/>
<default_inertia />
</inertial>
</link>
<joint name="servo_pinza_B" type="fixed">
<parent link="pinza_link"/>
<child link="pinza_link_B"/>
<origin xyz="0 0 0" rpy="0 0 0" />
<axis xyz="1 0 0" />
</joint>
<link name="pinza_link_B">
<visual>
<geometry>
<box size="0.002 0.04 0.032"/>
</geometry>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="-0.025 0 0"/>
<material name="white">
<color rgba="1 1 1 1"/>
</material>
</visual>
<collision>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="-0.025 0 0"/>
<geometry>
<box size="0.002 0.04 0.032"/>
</geometry>
</collision>
<inertial>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="-0.025 0 0"/>
<mass value="0.0005"/>
<default_inertia />
</inertial>
</link>
<joint name="servo_pinza_D" type="fixed">
<parent link="pinza_link"/>
<child link="pinza_link_SI"/>
<origin xyz="0 0 0" rpy="0 0 0" />
<axis xyz="1 0 0" />
</joint>
<link name="pinza_link_SI">
<visual>
<geometry>
<box size="0.0375 0.002 0.032"/>
</geometry>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="-0.00725 0.021 0"/>
<material name="white">
<color rgba="1 1 1 1"/>
</material>
</visual>
<collision>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="-0.00725 0.021 0"/>
<geometry>
<box size="0.0375 0.002 0.032"/>
</geometry>
</collision>
<inertial>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="-0.00725 0.021 0"/>
<mass value="0.0005"/>
<default_inertia />
</inertial>
</link>
<joint name="servo_pinza_I" type="fixed">
<parent link="pinza_link"/>
<child link="pinza_link_SD"/>
<origin xyz="0 0 0" rpy="0 0 0" />
<axis xyz="1 0 0" />
</joint>
<link name="pinza_link_SD">
<visual>
<geometry>
<box size="0.0375 0.002 0.032"/>
</geometry>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="-0.00725 -0.021 0"/>
<material name="white">
<color rgba="1 1 1 1"/>
</material>
</visual>
<collision>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="-0.00725 -0.021 0"/>
<geometry>
<box size="0.0375 0.002 0.032"/>
</geometry>
</collision>
<inertial>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="-0.00725 -0.021 0"/>
<mass value="0.0005"/>
<default_inertia />
</inertial>
</link>
</macro>
</robot>
For the macros file, we will create a file named "brazo-macros.xacro" within the folder "src" of our package with the content that is shown below:
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<robot xmlns:controller="http://playerstage.sourceforge.net/gazebo/xmlschema/#controller">
<macro name="default_inertia">
<inertia ixx="0.001" ixy="0.0" ixz="0.0" iyy="0.001" iyz="0.0" izz="0.001"/>
</macro>
<macro name="default_inertia_servos">
<inertia ixx="0.01" ixy="0.0" ixz="0.0" iyy="0.01" iyz="0.0" izz="0.01"/>
</macro>
<macro name="default_limit">
<limit effort="100.0" lower="-2.62" upper="2.62" velocity="3"/>
</macro>
<macro name="default_dynamics">
<dynamics fricction="0" damping="0" />
</macro>
<macro name="servo" params="nombre">
<link name="${nombre}_link">
<visual>
<geometry>
<box size="0.04 0.032 0.05"/>
</geometry>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="0 0 0.0905"/>
<material name="black" />
</visual>
<collision>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="0 0 0.0905"/>
<geometry>
<box size="0.04 0.032 0.05"/>
</geometry>
</collision>
<inertial>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="0 0 0.0905"/>
<mass value="0.055"/>
<default_inertia_servos />
</inertial>
</link>
</macro>
<macro name="base" params="nombre">
<link name="${nombre}_link_B">
<visual>
<geometry>
<box size="0.04 0.032 0.020"/>
</geometry>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="0 0 0.0555"/>
<material name="white">
<color rgba="1 1 1 1"/>
</material>
</visual>
<collision>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="0 0 0.0555"/>
<geometry>
<box size="0.04 0.032 0.02"/>
</geometry>
</collision>
<inertial>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="0 0 0.0555"/>
<mass value="0.001"/>
<default_inertia />
</inertial>
</link>
</macro>
<macro name="soporte" params="nombre simetrico lado">
<link name="${nombre}_link_S${lado}">
<visual>
<geometry>
<box size="0.002 0.032 0.067"/>
</geometry>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="${simetrico*0.021} 0 0.022"/>
<material name="white">
<color rgba="1 1 1 1"/>
</material>
</visual>
<collision>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="${simetrico*0.021} 0 0.022"/>
<geometry>
<box size="0.002 0.032 0.067"/>
</geometry>
</collision>
<inertial>
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="${simetrico*0.021} 0 0.022"/>
<mass value="0.001"/>
<default_inertia />
</inertial>
</link>
</macro>
</robot>
For the placement file, we will create a file named "brazo.urdf.xacro" within the folder "src" of our package with the content that is shown below:
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<robot name="MYRAbot-arm"
xmlns:xi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XInclude"
xmlns:gazebo="http://playerstage.sourceforge.net/gazebo/xmlschema/#gz"
xmlns:model="http://playerstage.sourceforge.net/gazebo/xmlschema/#model"
xmlns:sensor="http://playerstage.sourceforge.net/gazebo/xmlschema/#sensor"
xmlns:body="http://playerstage.sourceforge.net/gazebo/xmlschema/#body"
xmlns:geom="http://playerstage.sourceforge.net/gazebo/xmlschema/#geom"
xmlns:joint="http://playerstage.sourceforge.net/gazebo/xmlschema/#joint"
xmlns:interface="http://playerstage.sourceforge.net/gazebo/xmlschema/#interface"
xmlns:rendering="http://playerstage.sourceforge.net/gazebo/xmlschema/#rendering"
xmlns:renderable="http://playerstage.sourceforge.net/gazebo/xmlschema/#renderable"
xmlns:controller="http://playerstage.sourceforge.net/gazebo/xmlschema/#controller"
xmlns:physics="http://playerstage.sourceforge.net/gazebo/xmlschema/#physics">
<include filename="$(find brazo_fer_modelo)/urdf/brazo.xacro" />
<link name="world" />
<brazo parent="world">
<origin rpy="0 0 0" xyz="0 0 0"/>
</brazo>
</robot>
Model analysis
As we have used xacro in order to simplify and to make the code more editable, we will execute the next commands in a terminal in order to obtain the URDF file processed: