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McGill Rover Documentation

Welcome to the official documentation for McGill Robotics Rover Team. This guide will help you understand the structure, systems, and software that power the McGill Rover. Whether you're a team member, contributor, or enthusiast, this documentation aims to provide all the resources you need to get started and stay informed.

Introduction​

The McGill Rover Team is dedicated to designing and building advanced rovers to compete in international competitions such as the University Rover Challenge (URC) and the Canadian International Rover Challenge (CIRC). Our mission is to innovate in robotics while fostering a collaborative environment for students.

Project Overview​

The McGill Rover is a multi-functional robotic platform designed for a variety of planetary exploration tasks. It incorporates systems for mobility, manipulation, science, and autonomy. This rover is a testament to the interdisciplinary collaboration of various engineering and science disciplines.

Team Structure​

Our team is divided into several sub-teams, each focusing on a critical aspect of the rover’s development:

  • Mechanical Team: Responsible for the structural design and mechanical systems.
  • Electrical Team: Handles the power systems, sensors, and communications.
  • Software Team: Focuses on control systems, autonomy, and software development.
  • Science Team: Develops the rover's ability to collect and analyze scientific data.

Software Systems​

The software for the rover is divided into several modules, each responsible for a specific functionality. This section covers:

We primarily use ROS (Robot Operating System) to manage our software components. Please refer to the to configure your environment.

Hardware Systems​

The rover is equipped with state-of-the-art hardware for planetary exploration. Key systems include:

  • Drive: Designed for rugged terrains.
  • Manipulator Arm: Capable of precise movements for handling objects.
  • Communications: Control of the rover drive and arm from afar, s knowledge through GPS and cameras.
  • Power System: Efficient power management to ensure optimal performance during missions.

Getting Started​

To start working on the McGill Rover, please follow the steps below:

  1. Clone the repository: 
    git clone https://github.com/mcgill-rover-team/rover.git