tf is a package that lets the user keep track of multiple coordinate frames over time. tf maintains the relationship between coordinate frames in a tree structure buffered in time, and lets the user transform points, vectors, etc between any two coordinate frames at any desired point in time.
tf is a library for keeping track of coordinate frames. There are both C++ and Python bindings.
For most ROS use cases, the basic tf::Transformer library is not used directly.
There are two helper classes to provide sending and recieving of ROS transform messages. tf::TransformBroadcaster and tf::TransformListener.
The tf::TransformListener class inherits from tf::Transformer to provide all the functionality of the basic library. In addition, it provides methods to transform data ROS messages directly and it automatically listens for transforms published on ROS.
The tf::MessageFilter is the recommended method for receiving almost any sensor data from ROS. Data in ROS can be published with respect to any known frame. The tf::MessageFilter class makes it easy to use this data by providing callbacks only when it is possible to transform it into your desired target frame.
The tf::MessageFilter class can subscribe to any ROS datatype that has a ROS Header.
The tf::TransformBroadcaster class is the complement to the tf::TransformListener class. The broadcaster class provides a simple API for broadcasting coordinate frame transforms to other ROS nodes.
The send_transform command is the easiest way to report transforms for fixed offsets. It is a simple command-line utility that repeatedly publishes the fixed-offset transform to ROS.
-Stamped version of all of the above inherits from the data type and also has: