想在ROS系统中对我们自定义的机器人进行仿真，需要使用Gazebo，其是一种适用于复杂室内环境和室外环境的仿真环境。
gazebo独立于ROS，并可以在Ubuntu中以独立功能包安装。我的ROS系统（melodic）是完整安装包，所以包含了gazebo，版本为9.0.0，在此省略了安装步骤。
查询版本命令如下：
dpkg -l | grep gazebo
可以使用如下命令启动gazebo，确认是否安装：
gazebo
结果遇到如下错误：
解决方法，使用如下命令打开文件config.yaml：
sudo gedit ~/.ignition/fuel/config.yaml
添加如下一行：
url: https://api.ignitionrobotics.org
可以正常启动gazebo了。
切换到catkin_ws/src目录下，如下：
catkin_create_pkg mbot_sim_gazebo urdf xacro
切换到catkin_ws目录下，编译该功能包，如下：
catkin_make mbot_sim_gazebo
在该功能包下创建include、src、launch、urdf文件夹，在urdf文件下创建urdf文件夹和xacro文件夹。
robot_base.xacro文件内容如下：
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<robot name="mbot" xmlns:xacro="http://www.ros.org/wiki/xacro">
<!-- PROPERTY LIST -->
<xacro:property name="M_PI" value="3.1415926"/>
<xacro:property name="base_mass" value="20" />
<xacro:property name="base_radius" value="0.20"/>
<xacro:property name="base_length" value="0.16"/>
<xacro:property name="wheel_mass" value="2" />
<xacro:property name="wheel_radius" value="0.06"/>
<xacro:property name="wheel_length" value="0.025"/>
<xacro:property name="wheel_joint_y" value="0.19"/>
<xacro:property name="wheel_joint_z" value="0.05"/>
<xacro:property name="caster_mass" value="0.5" />
<xacro:property name="caster_radius" value="0.015"/> <!-- wheel_radius - ( base_length/2 - wheel_joint_z) -->
<xacro:property name="caster_joint_x" value="0.18"/>
<!-- Defining the colors used in this robot -->
<material name="yellow">
<color rgba="1 0.4 0 1"/>
</material>
<material name="black">
<color rgba="0 0 0 0.95"/>
</material>
<material name="gray">
<color rgba="0.75 0.75 0.75 1"/>
</material>
<!-- Macro for inertia matrix -->
<xacro:macro name="sphere_inertial_matrix" params="m r">
<inertial>
<mass value="${m}" />
<inertia ixx="${2*m*r*r/5}" ixy="0" ixz="0"
iyy="${2*m*r*r/5}" iyz="0"
izz="${2*m*r*r/5}" />
</inertial>
</xacro:macro>
<xacro:macro name="cylinder_inertial_matrix" params="m r h">
<inertial>
<mass value="${m}" />
<inertia ixx="${m*(3*r*r+h*h)/12}" ixy = "0" ixz = "0"
iyy="${m*(3*r*r+h*h)/12}" iyz = "0"
izz="${m*r*r/2}" />
</inertial>
</xacro:macro>
<!-- Macro for robot wheel -->
<xacro:macro name="wheel" params="prefix reflect">
<joint name="${prefix}_wheel_joint" type="continuous">
<origin xyz="0 ${reflect*wheel_joint_y} ${-wheel_joint_z}" rpy="0 0 0"/>
<parent link="base_link"/>
<child link="${prefix}_wheel_link"/>
<axis xyz="0 1 0"/>
</joint>
<link name="${prefix}_wheel_link">
<visual>
<origin xyz="0 0 0" rpy="${M_PI/2} 0 0" />
<geometry>
<cylinder radius="${wheel_radius}" length = "${wheel_length}"/>
</geometry>
<material name="gray" />
</visual>
<collision>
<origin xyz="0 0 0" rpy="${M_PI/2} 0 0" />
<geometry>
<cylinder radius="${wheel_radius}" length = "${wheel_length}"/>
</geometry>
</collision>
<cylinder_inertial_matrix m="${wheel_mass}" r="${wheel_radius}" h="${wheel_length}" />
</link>
<gazebo reference="${prefix}_wheel_link">
<material>Gazebo/Gray</material>
</gazebo>
<!-- Transmission is important to link the joints and the controller-->
<transmission name="${prefix}_wheel_joint_trans">
<type>transmission_interface/SimpleTransmission</type>
<joint name="${prefix}_wheel_joint" >
<hardwareInterface>hardware_interface/VelocityJointInterface</hardwareInterface>
</joint>
<actuator name="${prefix}_wheel_joint_motor">
<hardwareInterface>hardware_interface/VelocityJointInterface</hardwareInterface>
<mechanicalReduction>1</mechanicalReduction>
</actuator>
</transmission>
</xacro:macro>
<!-- Macro for robot caster -->
<xacro:macro name="caster" params="prefix reflect">
<joint name="${prefix}_caster_joint" type="continuous">
<origin xyz="${reflect*caster_joint_x} 0 ${-(base_length/2 + caster_radius)}" rpy="0 0 0"/>
<parent link="base_link"/>
<child link="${prefix}_caster_link"/>
<axis xyz="0 1 0"/>
</joint>
<link name="${prefix}_caster_link">
<visual>
<origin xyz="0 0 0" rpy="0 0 0"/>
<geometry>
<sphere radius="${caster_radius}" />
</geometry>
<material name="black" />
</visual>
<collision>
<origin xyz="0 0 0" rpy="0 0 0"/>
<geometry>
<sphere radius="${caster_radius}" />
</geometry>
</collision>
<sphere_inertial_matrix m="${caster_mass}" r="${caster_radius}" />
</link>
<gazebo reference="${prefix}_caster_link">
<material>Gazebo/Black</material>
</gazebo>
</xacro:macro>
<xacro:macro name="mbot_base_gazebo">
<link name="base_footprint">
<visual>
<origin xyz="0 0 0" rpy="0 0 0" />
<geometry>
<box size="0.001 0.001 0.001" />
</geometry>
</visual>
</link>
<gazebo reference="base_footprint">
<turnGravityOff>false</turnGravityOff>
</gazebo>
<joint name="base_footprint_joint" type="fixed">
<origin xyz="0 0 ${base_length/2 + caster_radius*2}" rpy="0 0 0" />
<parent link="base_footprint"/>
<child link="base_link" />
</joint>
<link name="base_link">
<visual>
<origin xyz=" 0 0 0" rpy="0 0 0" />
<geometry>
<cylinder length="${base_length}" radius="${base_radius}"/>
</geometry>
<material name="yellow" />
</visual>
<collision>
<origin xyz=" 0 0 0" rpy="0 0 0" />
<geometry>
<cylinder length="${base_length}" radius="${base_radius}"/>
</geometry>
</collision>
<cylinder_inertial_matrix m="${base_mass}" r="${base_radius}" h="${base_length}" />
</link>
<gazebo reference="base_link">
<material>Gazebo/Blue</material>
</gazebo>
<wheel prefix="left" reflect="-1"/>
<wheel prefix="right" reflect="1"/>
<caster prefix="front" reflect="-1"/>
<caster prefix="back" reflect="1"/>
<!-- controller -->
<gazebo>
<plugin name="differential_drive_controller"
filename="libgazebo_ros_diff_drive.so">
<rosDebugLevel>Debug</rosDebugLevel>
<publishWheelTF>true</publishWheelTF>
<robotNamespace>/</robotNamespace>
<publishTf>1</publishTf>
<publishWheelJointState>true</publishWheelJointState>
<alwaysOn>true</alwaysOn>
<updateRate>100.0</updateRate>
<legacyMode>true</legacyMode>
<leftJoint>left_wheel_joint</leftJoint>
<rightJoint>right_wheel_joint</rightJoint>
<wheelSeparation>${wheel_joint_y*2}</wheelSeparation>
<wheelDiameter>${2*wheel_radius}</wheelDiameter>
<broadcastTF>1</broadcastTF>
<wheelTorque>30</wheelTorque>
<wheelAcceleration>1.8</wheelAcceleration>
<commandTopic>cmd_vel</commandTopic>
<odometryFrame>odom</odometryFrame>
<odometryTopic>odom</odometryTopic>
<robotBaseFrame>base_footprint</robotBaseFrame>
</plugin>
</gazebo>
</xacro:macro>
</robot>
上一篇我们只添加了摄像头外观，在这里我们添加摄像头属性，更新robot_camera.xacro文件内容如下：
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<robot xmlns:xacro="http://www.ros.org/wiki/xacro" name="camera">
<xacro:macro name="usb_camera" params="prefix:=camera">
<!-- Create laser reference frame -->
<link name="${prefix}_link">
<inertial>
<mass value="0.1" />
<origin xyz="0 0 0" />
<inertia ixx="0.01" ixy="0.0" ixz="0.0"
iyy="0.01" iyz="0.0"
izz="0.01" />
</inertial>
<visual>
<origin xyz=" 0 0 0 " rpy="0 0 0" />
<geometry>
<box size="0.01 0.04 0.04" />
</geometry>
<material name="black"/>
</visual>
<collision>
<origin xyz="0.0 0.0 0.0" rpy="0 0 0" />
<geometry>
<box size="0.01 0.04 0.04" />
</geometry>
</collision>
</link>
<gazebo reference="${prefix}_link">
<material>Gazebo/Black</material>
</gazebo>
<gazebo reference="${prefix}_link">
<sensor type="camera" name="camera_node">
<update_rate>30.0</update_rate>
<camera name="head">
<horizontal_fov>1.3962634</horizontal_fov>
<image>
<width>1280</width>
<height>720</height>
<format>R8G8B8</format>
</image>
<clip>
<near>0.02</near>
<far>300</far>
</clip>
<noise>
<type>gaussian</type>
<mean>0.0</mean>
<stddev>0.007</stddev>
</noise>
</camera>
<plugin name="gazebo_camera" filename="libgazebo_ros_camera.so">
<alwaysOn>true</alwaysOn>
<updateRate>0.0</updateRate>
<cameraName>/camera</cameraName>
<imageTopicName>image_raw</imageTopicName>
<cameraInfoTopicName>camera_info</cameraInfoTopicName>
<frameName>camera_link</frameName>
<hackBaseline>0.07</hackBaseline>
<distortionK1>0.0</distortionK1>
<distortionK2>0.0</distortionK2>
<distortionK3>0.0</distortionK3>
<distortionT1>0.0</distortionT1>
<distortionT2>0.0</distortionT2>
</plugin>
</sensor>
</gazebo>
</xacro:macro>
</robot>
通过plugin标签，在gazebo中插入激光雷达的相关插件，更新robot_lidar.xacro文件内容如下：
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<robot xmlns:xacro="http://www.ros.org/wiki/xacro" name="lidar">
<xacro:macro name="hokuyo_lidar" params="prefix:=lidar">
<link name="hokuyo_link">
<collision>
<origin xyz="0 0 0" rpy="0 0 0"/>
<geometry>
<box size="0.1 0.1 0.1"/>
</geometry>
</collision>
<visual>
<origin xyz="0 0 0" rpy="0 0 0"/>
<geometry>
<mesh filename="package://mbot_sim_gazebo/meshes/hokuyo.dae"/>
</geometry>
</visual>
<inertial>
<mass value="1e-5" />
<origin xyz="0 0 0" rpy="0 0 0"/>
<inertia ixx="1e-6" ixy="0" ixz="0" iyy="1e-6" iyz="0" izz="1e-6" />
</inertial>
</link>
<gazebo reference="lidar_link">
<sensor type="ray" name="head_hokuyo_sensor">
<pose>0 0 0 0 0 0</pose>
<visualize>false</visualize>
<update_rate>40</update_rate>
<ray>
<scan>
<horizontal>
<samples>720</samples>
<resolution>1</resolution>
<min_angle>-1.570796</min_angle>
<max_angle>1.570796</max_angle>
</horizontal>
</scan>
<range>
<min>0.10</min>
<max>30.0</max>
<resolution>0.01</resolution>
</range>
<noise>
<type>gaussian</type>
<mean>0.0</mean>
<stddev>0.01</stddev>
</noise>
</ray>
<plugin name="gazebo_ros_head_hokuyo_controller" filename="libgazebo_ros_laser.so">
<topicName>/scan</topicName>
<frameName>hokuyo_link</frameName>
</plugin>
</sensor>
</gazebo>
</xacro:macro>
</robot>
由于机器人主体宏定义的名字改了，因此robot.xacro更新如下：
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<robot name="arm" xmlns:xacro="http://www.ros.org/wiki/xacro">
<xacro:include filename="$(find mbot_sim_gazebo)/urdf/xacro/robot_base.xacro" />
<xacro:include filename="$(find mbot_sim_gazebo)/urdf/xacro/robot_camera.xacro" />
<xacro:include filename="$(find mbot_sim_gazebo)/urdf/xacro/robot_lidar.xacro" />
<xacro:property name="camera_offset_x" value="0.17" />
<xacro:property name="camera_offset_y" value="0" />
<xacro:property name="camera_offset_z" value="0.10" />
<xacro:property name="lidar_offset_x" value="-0.17" />
<xacro:property name="lidar_offset_y" value="0" />
<xacro:property name="lidar_offset_z" value="0.10" />
<xacro:mbot_base_gazebo/>
<!-- Camera -->
<joint name="camera_joint" type="fixed">
<origin xyz="${camera_offset_x} ${camera_offset_y} ${camera_offset_z}" rpy="0 0 0" />
<parent link="base_link"/>
<child link="camera_link"/>
</joint>
<xacro:usb_camera prefix="camera"/>
<joint name="lidar_joint" type="fixed">
<origin xyz="${lidar_offset_x} ${lidar_offset_y} ${lidar_offset_z}" rpy="0 0 0" />
<parent link="base_link"/>
<child link="lidar_link"/>
</joint>
<xacro:hokuyo_lidar prefix="lidar"/>
</robot>
launch文件需要加入gazebo的设置，并将rviz相关设置去掉：
<launch>
<!-- 设置launch文件的参数 -->
<arg name="paused" default="false"/>
<arg name="use_sim_time" default="true"/>
<arg name="gui" default="true"/>
<arg name="headless" default="false"/>
<arg name="debug" default="false"/>
<!-- 运行gazebo仿真环境 -->
<include file="$(find gazebo_ros)/launch/empty_world.launch">
<arg name="debug" value="$(arg debug)" />
<arg name="gui" value="$(arg gui)" />
<arg name="paused" value="$(arg paused)"/>
<arg name="use_sim_time" value="$(arg use_sim_time)"/>
<arg name="headless" value="$(arg headless)"/>
</include>
<!--机器人参数设置-->
<arg name="model" default="$(find xacro)/xacro --inorder '$(find mbot_sim_gazebo)/urdf/xacro/robot.xacro'" />
<!--robot_description 参数名称是参数服务器预先设定好的，不能改变-->
<param name="robot_description" command="$(arg model)" />
<!-- 运行joint_state_publisher节点，发布机器人的关节状态 -->
<node name="joint_state_publisher" pkg="joint_state_publisher" type="joint_state_publisher" />
<!-- 运行robot_state_publisher节点，发布tf -->
<node name="robot_state_publisher" pkg="robot_state_publisher" type="robot_state_publisher" />
<!-- 在gazebo中加载机器人模型-->
<node name="urdf_spawner" pkg="gazebo_ros" type="spawn_model" respawn="false" output="screen"
args="-urdf -model mrobot -param robot_description"/>
</launch>
运行如下命令，仿真效果如下：
roslaunch mbot_sim_gazebo robot.launch
可以通过rqt_image_view查看图像：
rqt_image_view
此时，摄像头显示内容是灰色的，这是因为环境为空的缘故。
首先尝试加载柳树库公司（Willow Garage）办公室的地图，这张地图在ROS中是默认安装的，这个3D模型保存在/usr/share/gazebo-9/worlds中。我们使用如下命令加载：
roslaunch gazebo_ros willowgarage_world.launch
发现界面一直卡在这里，效果如下：
这是因为模型加载失败，解决方法如下：
切换到/usr/share/gazebo-9/目录下，执行如下命令：
sudo chmod 777 models
再切换到/usr/share/gazebo-9/models/目录下，执行如下命令：
sudo wget http://file.ncnynl.com/ros/gazebo_models.txt
sudo wget -i gazebo_models.txt
ls model.tar.g* | xargs -n1 tar xzvf
再次运行柳树库公司办公室的launch文件，效果如下：
现在要做的是创建一个新的launch文件来同时加载地图和机器人，在launch文件夹下创建robot_gazebo_wg.launch，文件内容如下：
<launch>
<!-- 运行gazebo仿真环境 -->
<include file="$(find gazebo_ros)/launch/willowgarage_world.launch">
</include>
<!--机器人参数设置-->
<arg name="model" default="$(find xacro)/xacro --inorder '$(find mbot_sim_gazebo)/urdf/xacro/robot.xacro'" />
<!--robot_description 参数名称是参数服务器预先设定好的，不能改变-->
<param name="robot_description" command="$(arg model)" />
<!-- 运行joint_state_publisher节点，发布机器人的关节状态 -->
<node name="joint_state_publisher" pkg="joint_state_publisher" type="joint_state_publisher" />
<!-- 运行robot_state_publisher节点，发布tf -->
<node name="robot_state_publisher" pkg="robot_state_publisher" type="robot_state_publisher" />
<!-- 在gazebo中加载机器人模型-->
<node name="urdf_spawner" pkg="gazebo_ros" type="spawn_model" respawn="false" output="screen"
args="-urdf -model mrobot -param robot_description"/>
</launch>
通过如下命令运行：
roslaunch mbot_sim_gazebo robot_gazebo_wg.launch
效果如下，蓝色点即为机器人模型：
再运行如下命令查看图像：
rqt_image_view
此时，摄像头是有内容的，效果如下：
此时，通过如下命令，可以查看激光雷达的数据：
rostopic echo /scan
截止到目前，我们为自定义的机器人模型，添加了摄像头和激光雷达 ，又为其添加了地图，下一篇开始介绍如何控制机器人在仿真环境下的移动。