Variable IO

SCRIMMAGE exists to allow plugins to be easily interchangeable with each other. One example of this is swapping out motion models. A user can start with a low fidelity motion model (e.g., a single integrator) where it is fast to lots of batch runs and optimizations. After this initial step, a higher fidelity motion model (e.g., 6-dof) can be used. However, this creates an issue because different motion models may require different inputs. The VariableIO class exists to resolve this interfacing problem.

In a plugin’s init function, it will declare what it expects to receive as well as what it outputs. Since a motion model only needs inputs (it always outputs an updated state), this may look something like (example for a SingleIntegrator):

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vel_x_idx_ = vars_.declare(VariableIO::Type::velocity_x, VariableIO::Direction::In);
vel_y_idx_ = vars_.declare(VariableIO::Type::velocity_y, VariableIO::Direction::In);
vel_z_idx_ = vars_.declare(VariableIO::Type::velocity_z, VariableIO::Direction::In);

These lines say the motion model expects a velocity in the x, y, and z directions. The second argument to declare is the direction (in this case it is an input). The first argument is an enum that will internally be converted to a string. SCRIMMAGE offers the enum option for the first argument so that typing errors can be found at compile rather than runtime. However, if a type is not available (see the list in scrimmage/common/VariableIO.h), a user can also specify a string:

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vel_x_idx_ = vars_.declare("velocity_x", VariableIO::Direction::In);
vel_y_idx_ = vars_.declare("velocity_y", VariableIO::Direction::In);
vel_z_idx_ = vars_.declare("velocity_z", VariableIO::Direction::In);

The output of declare is an index into a vector internal to the VariableIO object. A controller plugin will output values to this vector, also through a VariableIO object. The controller should expect an input from an autonomy and will output to a motion model, so in its init function the declaration will look like this:

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input_pos_x_idx_ = vars_.declare(VariableIO::Type::position_x, VariableIO::Direction::In);
input_pos_y_idx_ = vars_.declare(VariableIO::Type::position_y, VariableIO::Direction::In);
input_pos_z_idx_ = vars_.declare(VariableIO::Type::position_z, VariableIO::Direction::In);

output_vel_x_idx_ = vars_.declare(VariableIO::Type::velocity_x, VariableIO::Direction::Out);
output_vel_y_idx_ = vars_.declare(VariableIO::Type::velocity_y, VariableIO::Direction::Out);
output_vel_z_idx_ = vars_.declare(VariableIO::Type::velocity_z, VariableIO::Direction::Out);

In other words, it expects to take in a position and outputs a velocity (this comes from SingleIntegratorControllerWaypoint which is a proportional controller). Finally, an autonomy will provide the desired position:

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output_pos_x_idx_ = vars_.declare(VariableIO::Type::position_x, VariableIO::Direction::Out);
output_pos_y_idx_ = vars_.declare(VariableIO::Type::position_y, VariableIO::Direction::Out);
output_pos_z_idx_ = vars_.declare(VariableIO::Type::position_z, VariableIO::Direction::Out);

Now that the declarations have been made, it is time to use them. If the autonomy wants to go to position (5, 10, 0) it will execute the following:

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vars_.output(output_pos_x_idx_, 5);
vars_.output(output_pos_y_idx_, 10);
vars_.output(output_pos_z_idx_, 0);

The vars_ variable is available to all SCRIMMAGE plugins. Similar lines exist in the controller.

SCRIMMAGE will also attempt to figure out if a motion or controller needs an input not provided by a controller or autonomy, respectively. In particular, if you get the following message, all you need to do is follow the prompts:

VariableIO Error: no autonomies provide inputs required by Controller "SimpleAircraftControllerPID". Add VariableIO output declarations in Straight, as follows
First, place the following in its initializer:
    altitude_idx_ = vars_.declare("altitude", VariableIO::Direction::Out);
    heading_idx_ = vars_.declare("heading", VariableIO::Direction::Out);
    velocity_idx_ = vars_.declare("velocity", VariableIO::Direction::Out);
Second, place the following in its step function:
    vars_.output(altitude_idx_, value_to_output);
    vars_.output(heading_idx_, value_to_output);
    vars_.output(velocity_idx_, value_to_output);
where value_to_output is what you want SimpleAircraftControllerPID to receive as its input.
Third, place following in the class declaration:
    uint8_t altitude_idx_ = 0;
    uint8_t heading_idx_ = 0;
    uint8_t velocity_idx_ = 0;
Failed to parse entity at start position: x=-900, y=0
Failed to generate entity