README

A simple node that takes in a yaml file that describes a schedule for charger usage in an RMF scenario. The node will watch the clock and publish the appropriate commands to change the chargers of the robots.

The format for the schedule looks like this:

"my_fleet_name":
    "00:00": { "robot_1": "charger_A", "robot_2": "charger_B", "robot_3": "queue_A" }
    "01:55": { "robot_1": "queue_B" }
    "02:00": { "robot_3": "charger_A", "robot_1": "queue_A" }
    "03:55": { "robot_2": "queue_B" }
    "04:00": { "robot_1": "charger_B", "robot_2": "queue_A" }

The time format is "HH:MM" where HH ranges from 00 to 23 and MM ranges from 00 to 59. Note that quotes are important because otherwise the yaml format may confuse the meaning of the colon :.

The schedule will cycle every 24 hours.

For each timestamp, only robots that are explicitly mentioned will have their dedicated charger changed. It is the responsibility of the schedule file author to make sure that two robots are never assigned the same charger at the same time. Failing to ensure this may cause traffic and task management to misbehave.

When run in simulation mode (--ros-args --use-sim-time), the time 00:00 in the schedule will correspond to t=0.0 in simulation time.

When run without sim time on, the hours and minutes will correspond to the local timezone of the machine that the node is run on. To choose a specific timezone instead of using the system’s local timzeone, use the --timezone argument and provide the desired TZ identifier string.

It is advisable that you always put a 00:00 entry that indicates all of the intended charger assignments at midnight. When the node is launched, it will move through the schedule from the earliest entry up until the last relevant one and issue an initial charger assignment message based on what the assignments would have been if the schedule had run from 00:00.