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Install Software on the TurtleBot Netbook

These instructions assume you are installing the TurtleBot software on a new netbook, using the LiveUSB.

Contents

  1. Install Software on the TurtleBot Netbook
  2. Overview
  3. Materials
  4. Netbook Installation Procedure
    1. Unpack
    2. Obtaining the TurtleBot USB Drive
    3. Installing from the USB Drive
  5. Setup NTP
  6. Set the root password

Overview

These instructions will guide you through unpacking your netbook and installing the TurtleBot software.

Materials

You will need the TurtleBot LiveUSB. If you do not have an official LiveUSB, you will need at a USB drive with at least 2 GB of space, and an additional computer running Ubuntu with admin (sudo) privileges to create the USB drive.

Netbook Installation Procedure

Unpack

  1. Remove the netbook, power supply and battery from the packaging.
  2. Insert the battery into the back of the laptop
  3. Plug in the laptop's power supply to the wall and laptop

Do not boot the laptop! Doing so will cause Windows to start, which will make it harder to access the BIOS screen.

Obtaining the TurtleBot USB Drive

If you already have a USB drive with the image installed (you should have one with your TurtleBot kit), then skip to the section on installing the software. If not, please follow the steps to create your own USB drive.

  1. The following steps must be performed on an Ubuntu computer, with admin (sudo) privileges

  2. Download the TurtleBot ISO and store it in an easily accessible place on your computer

  3. Plug the USB into the computer
  4. Make sure there are no important files on the USB key because they will be completely erased

  5. Open the Ubuntu Startup Disk Creator by choosing System -> Administration -> Startup Disk Creator

  6. Choose the disk in the lower list and click "Erase Disk"
  7. Wait for the disk to be erased
  8. Ensure that the disk is still clicked in the lower list
  9. Click "Other..." below the list of ISO files
  10. Choose your ISO file in the file chooser
  11. Click "Make Startup Disk"
  12. Wait until the copying process is finished
  13. Close the Startup Disk Creator
  14. Eject the USB Disk by right clicking it on the desktop and choosing Eject
  15. Remove the USB Disk from the computer

If you are asked for your root password: sometimes Ubuntu will ask for your root password instead of doing a "sudo" when you launch Startup Disk Creator from the GUI. If you have this problem, close the Startup Disk Creator and start a terminal (Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal). Type the following in the terminal and go back to step 5: 

sudo usb-creator-gtk

Installing from the USB Drive

  1. Insert the USB stick into the laptop
  2. Turn on the laptop and press "Esc" repeatedly until a dialog called "Please select boot device" appears

  3. Select the USB device and hit Enter (wait while the TurtleBot laptop boots...)

  4. Log in as turtlebot with password turtlebot
  5. Double click on the "Install ROS Ubuntu" icon on the desktop
  6. Enter the password turtlebot when prompted
  7. Select your language then press forward
  8. Select your time zone then press forward
  9. Select your keyboard layout then press forward
  10. Select "Erase and use the entire disk" then press forward

  11. Enter turtlebot for both names

  12. Choose a password and a computer name
  13. Press "Log in automatically" and then press forward
  14. Press install
  15. Wait for the installation to finish
  16. Press "Continue Testing"
  17. Choose shutdown from the power menu (upper right corner of the screen)
  18. Wait for the computer to shutdown

  19. Remove the USB drive (otherwise you'll start Ubuntu from the USB again)

  20. Start the computer
  21. Ensure Ubuntu starts and log in as the turtlebot account
  22. Connect the computer to your wireless network using the network manager

DO NOT INSTALL THE NVIDIA RESTRICTED DRIVERS! Nvidia ION/Optimus is not supported yet in the nVidia restricted drivers.

  1. Open a terminal window
  2. Update apt repos 
    • sudo apt-get update

  3. Install SSH to allow remote connections and update your TurtleBot software 

    • sudo apt-get install ssh ros-diamondback-turtlebot-robot

Setup NTP

Clock synchronization is important for ROS. chrony has been found to be the best ntp client over lossy wireless.

  1. manually sync NTP 
    • sudo ntpdate ntp.ubuntu.com
  2. Install Chrony 
    • sudo apt-get install chrony

Set the root password

The root password for the TurtleBot is not set by default. You can set it using the command:

2024-12-21 13:07