Warning

This tutorial is for installing Ubuntu 24.04 and ROS 2 natively on your machine.

Proceed with this method ONLY if you have encountered persistent issues with the VM despite following the VM tutorial, debugging independently, and attending office hours.

Installing Ubuntu 24.04 and ROS2 Jazzy

This tutorial provides a step-by-step guide to installing Ubuntu 24.04 (Noble Numbat) and setting up ROS2 (Jazzy Jalisco) using an UNTESTED automated script.

This guide is intended for users who wish to set up a native (bare metal) Linux environment or a fresh Virtual Machine. The script automates the installation of essential tools, ROS2, and workspace configurations.

Prerequisites

  • A USB drive (minimum 8GB) for Ubuntu installation.
  • A stable internet connection.
  • Backup your data: If installing on bare metal, ensure all important files are backed up as partitioning can lead to data loss.

Step 1: Install Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

  1. Download the ISO: Get the "Desktop" image from the Official Ubuntu Website.
  2. Create a Bootable Drive: Use a tool like Etcher or Rufus to flash the ISO onto your USB drive.
  3. Boot from USB: Restart your computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI (usually F2, F10, or Del) to select the USB drive as the boot priority.
  4. Follow the Installer:
    • Select "Install Ubuntu".
    • Choose "Interactive Installation".
    • Select "Extended selection" (to ensure you have basic utilities).
    • Recommended: Check the box "Install third-party software for graphics and Wi-Fi hardware."
  5. Restart: Once finished, remove the USB drive and log into your new Ubuntu desktop.

Step 2: Prepare the System

Before running the script, open a terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and ensure your system is up to date:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install git curl -y

Step 3: Run the Setup Script

The script provided by RAS automates the ROS2 Jazzy installation, configures environment variables, and installs necessary build tools (like Colcon and Rosdep).

  1. Download the script:

     curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ras-mobile-robotics/vm_setup/main/deploy/setup_vanilla_ubuntu.sh

  2. Make it executable:

     chmod +x setup_vanilla_ubuntu.sh

  3. Run the script:

     ./setup_vanilla_ubuntu.sh

Note: The script will prompt for your sudo password to install packages.

Step 4: Verify the Installation

After the script finishes, restart your terminal or run source ~/.bashrc. Then, verify ROS2 is working:

  1. Check ROS2 version:

     echo $ROS_DISTRO

Expected Output: jazzy

  1. Run a Demo Talker:

     ros2 run demo_nodes_cpp talker

  2. Run a Demo Listener (in a new terminal):

     ros2 run demo_nodes_py listener

If the listener receives messages, your installation is successful!

Troubleshooting

1. "Untested" Disclaimer

As noted, this script is considered "untested" for every specific hardware configuration. If the script fails, check which command caused the error. Most issues are resolved by running:

sudo apt --fix-broken install

2. Rosdep Initialization

If the script does not do it for you, you must initialize rosdep manually:

sudo rosdep init
rosdep update

3. Why Ubuntu 24.04?

Ubuntu 24.04 is the target OS for ROS2 Jazzy. Using older versions (like 22.04 or 20.04) with this script will likely result in "Package not found" errors.