Intro
In Kinect.md, the previous generations dicussed the prospects and limitations of using a Kinect camera. We attempted to use the new Kinect camera v2, which was released in 2014.
Thus, we used the libfreenect2 package to download all the appropiate files to get the raw image output on our Windows. The following link includes instructions on how to install it all properly onto a Linux OS.
https://github.com/OpenKinect/libfreenect2
We ran into a lot of issues whilst trying to install the drivers, and it took about two weeks to even get the libfreenect2 drivers to work. The driver is able to support RGB image transfer, IR and depth image transfer, and registration of RGB and depth images. Here were some essential steps in debugging, and recommendations if you have the ideal hardware set up:
Even though it says optional, I say download OpenCL, under the "Other" option to correspond to Ubuntu 18.04+
If your PC has a Nvidia GPU, even better, I think that's the main reason I got libfreenect to work on my laptop as I had a GPU that was powerful enough to support depth processing (which was one of the main issues)
Be sure to install CUDA for your Nvidia GPU
Install OpenNI2 if possible
Make sure you build in the right location
Please look through this for common errors:
https://github.com/OpenKinect/libfreenect2/wiki/Troubleshooting
Although we got libfreenect2 to work and got the classifier model to locally work, we were unable to connect the two together. What this meant is that although we could use already saved PNGs that we found via a Kaggle database (that our pre-trained model used) and have the ML model process those gestures, we could not get the live, raw input of depth images from the kinect camera. We kept running into errors, especially an import error that could not read the freenect module. I think it is a solvable bug if there was time to explore it, so I also believe it should continued to be looked at.
However, also fair warning that it is difficult to mount on the campus rover, so I would just be aware of all the drawbacks with the kinect before choosing that as the primary hardware.
https://www.kaggle.com/gti-upm/leapgestrecog/data
https://github.com/filipefborba/HandRecognition/blob/master/project3/project3.ipynb
What this model predicts: Predicted Thumb Down Predicted Palm (H), Predicted L, Predicted Fist (H), Predicted Fist (V), Predicted Thumbs up, Predicted Index, Predicted OK, Predicted Palm (V), Predicted C
As a very last minute and spontaneous approach, we decided to use a Leap Motion device. Leap Motion uses an Orion SDK, two IR camerad and three infared LEDs. This is able to generate a roughly hemispherical area where the motions are tracked.
It has a smaller observation area dn higher resolution of the device that differentiates the product from using a Kinect (which is more of whole body tracking in a large space). This localized apparatus makes it easier to just look for a hand and track those movements.
The set up is relatively simple and just involved downloading for the appropriate OS. In this case, Linux (x86 for a 32 bit Ubuntu system).
download the SDK from https://www.leapmotion.com/setup/linux; you can extract this package and you will find two DEB files that can be installed on Ubuntu.
Open Terminal on the extracted location and install the DEB file using the following command (for 64-bit PCs):
$ sudo dpkg -install Leap-*-x64.deb
If you are installing it on a 32-bit PC, you can use the following command:
sudo dpkg -install Leap-*-x86.deb
plug in leap motion and type dmesg in terminal to see if it is detected
clone ros drivers:
$ git clone https://github.com/ros-drivers/leap_motion
edit .bashrc:
export LEAP_SDK=$LEAP_SDK:$HOME/LeapSDK
export PYTHONPATH=$PYTHONPATH:$HOME/LeapSDK/lib:$HOME/LeapSDK/lib/x64
save bashrc and restart terminal then run:
sudo cp $LeapSDK/lib/x86/libLeap.so /usr/local/lib
sudo ldconfig
catkin_make install --pkg leap_motion
to test run:
sudo leapd
roslaunch leap_motion sensor_sender.launch
rostopic list
Once having Leap Motion installed, we were able to simulate it on RViz. We decided to program our own motion controls based on angular and linear parameters (looking at directional and normal vectors that leap motion senses):
This is what the Leap Motion sees (the raw info):
In the second image above, the x y and z parameters indicate where the leap motion detects a hand (pictured in the first photo)
This is how the hand gestures looked relative to the robot's motion:
So, we got the Leap Motion to successfully work and are able to have the robot follow our two designated motion. We could have done many more if we had discovered this solution earlier. One important thing to note is that at this moment we are not able to mount the Leap Motion onto the physical robot as LeapMotion is not supported by the Raspberry Pi (amd64). If we are able to obtain an Atomic Pi, this project should be able to be furthered explored. Leap Motion is a very powerful and accurate piece of technology that was much easier to work with than the Kinect, but I advise still exploring both options.
