Child scripts
A child script is a simulation script. V-REP supports an unlimited number of child scripts per scene. Each child script represents a small code or program written in Lua allowing handling a particular function in a simulation. Child scripts are attached to (or associated with) scene objects, and they can be easily recognized from their script icon in the scene hierarchy: [A child script associated with object youBot] Double-clicking the script icon allows opening the script editor. You can change properties of a given script, or associate it with another object via the script dialog. You can attach a new child script to an object by selecting the object, then navigating to [menu bar --> Add --> Associated child script]. A child script's association with a scene object has important and positive consequences: Child scripts can have a list of simulation parameters attached to them, called script simulation parameters. Those parameters can be used as a quick way of adjusting values of a specific simulation model for example (e.g. the maximum velocity of a mobile robot or the resolution of a sensor). Child scripts can be of two different types: non-threaded child scripts or threaded child scripts: [non-threaded child script icon (left), threaded child script icon (right)]
Non-threaded child scripts are pass-through scripts. This means that every time they are called, they should perform some task and then return control. If control is not returned, then the whole simulation halts. Non-threaded child scripts operate as functions, and are called by the main script twice per simulation step: from the main script's actuation phase, and from the main script's sensing phase. This type of child script should always be chosen over threaded child scripts whenever possible. Non-threaded child scripts are executed in a cascaded way: child scripts are executed starting with root objects (or parentless objects), and ending with leaf objects (or childless objects). The command simHandleChildScripts, called from the default main script, handles the execution of non-threaded child scripts. Imagine an example of a simulation model representing an automatic door: a proximity sensor in the front and the back allows detecting an approaching person. When the person is close enough, the door opens automatically. Following code shows a typical non-threaded child script illustrating above example: if (sim_call_type==sim_childscriptcall_initialization) then sensorHandleFront=simGetObjectHandle("DoorSensorFront") sensorHandleBack=simGetObjectHandle("DoorSensorBack") motorHandle=simGetObjectHandle("DoorMotor") end if (sim_call_type==sim_childscriptcall_actuation) then resF=simReadProximitySensor(sensorHandleFront) resB=simReadProximitySensor(sensorHandleBack) if ((resF>0)or(resB>0)) then simSetJointTargetVelocity(motorHandle,-0.2) else simSetJointTargetVelocity(motorHandle,0.2) end end if (sim_call_type==sim_childscriptcall_sensing) then end if (sim_call_type==sim_childscriptcall_cleanup) then -- Put some restoration code here end A non-threaded child script should be segmented in 4 parts:
Threaded child scripts are scripts that will launch in a thread. The launch of threaded child scripts is handled by the default main script code, via the simLaunchThreadedChildScripts function, in a cascaded way. When a threaded child script's execution is still underway, it will not be launched a second time. When a threaded child script ended, it can be relaunched only if the execute once item in the script properties is unchecked. A threaded child script icon in the scene hierarchy is displayed in light blue instead of white to indicate that it will be launched in a thread. Threaded child scripts have several weaknesses compared to non-threaded child scripts if not programmed appropriately: they are more resource-intensive, they can waste some processing time, and they can be a little bit less responsive to a simulation stop command. Following shows a typical threaded child script code, which is however not perfect since it is wasting precious computation time in the loop (the code handles the automatic sliding doors from above's example): threadFunction=function() while simGetSimulationState()~=sim_simulation_advancing_abouttostop do resF=simReadProximitySensor(sensorHandleFront) resB=simReadProximitySensor(sensorHandleBack) if ((resF>0)or(resB>0)) then simSetJointTargetVelocity(motorHandle,-0.2) else simSetJointTargetVelocity(motorHandle,0.2) end -- this loop wastes precious computation time since we should only read new -- values when the simulation time has changed (i.e. in next simulation step). end end -- Put some initialization code here: sensorHandleFront=simGetObjectHandle("DoorSensorFront") sensorHandleBack=simGetObjectHandle("DoorSensorBack") motorHandle=simGetObjectHandle("DoorMotor") -- Here we execute the regular thread code: res,err=pcall(threadFunction) if not res then simAddStatusbarMessage('Lua runtime error: '..err) end -- Put some clean-up code here: Threaded child scripts should be segmented in 3 parts: V-REP uses threads to mimic the behavior of coroutines, instead of using them traditionally, which allows for a great deal of flexibility and control: by default a threaded child script will execute for about 1-2 milliseconds before automatically switching to another thread. This default behavior can be changed with the simSetThreadSwitchTiming command. Once the current thread was switched, it will resume execution at next simulation pass (i.e. at a time currentTime+simulationTimeStep). The thread switching is automatic (occurs after the specified time), but the simSwitchThread command allows to shorten that time when needed. Using above three commands, an excellent synchronization with the main simulation loop can be achieved. Following code (handling the automatic sliding doors from above's example) shows child script synchronization with the main simulation loop: threadFunction=function() while simGetSimulationState()~=sim_simulation_advancing_abouttostop do resF=simReadProximitySensor(sensorHandleFront) resB=simReadProximitySensor(sensorHandleBack) if ((resF>0)or(resB>0)) then simSetJointTargetVelocity(motorHandle,-0.2) else simSetJointTargetVelocity(motorHandle,0.2) end simSwitchThread() -- Switch to another thread now! -- from now on, above loop is executed once every time the main script is about to execute. -- this way you do not waste precious computation time and run synchronously. end end -- Put some initialization code here: simSetThreadSwitchTiming(200) -- set the thread switch timing to the maximum (200 milliseconds) sensorHandleFront=simGetObjectHandle("DoorSensorFront") sensorHandleBack=simGetObjectHandle("DoorSensorBack") motorHandle=simGetObjectHandle("DoorMotor") -- Here we execute the regular thread code: res,err=pcall(threadFunction) if not res then simAddStatusbarMessage('Lua runtime error: '..err) end -- Put some clean-up code here: Above while loop will now execute exactly once for each main simulation loop and not waste time reading sensors states again and again for same simulation times. By default, threads always resume when the main script calls simResumeThreads(sim_scriptthreadresume_default). If you need to make sure your thread runs only while the main script is in the sensing phase, you can resquedule the thread's resume location with the API function simSetThreadResumeLocation. The coroutine-like behavior of V-REP's threads cannot be distinguished from regular threads, with the exception that if an external command (for example socket communication commands provided by Lua libraries) is blocking, then V-REP will also appear as blocking. In that case, a non-blocking section can be defined as in following example: simSetThreadIsFree(true) -- Start of the non-blocking section http = require("socket.http") print(http.request("http://www.google.com")) -- this command may take several seconds to execute simSetThreadIsFree(false) -- End of the non-blocking section While in a non-blocking section, try to avoid calling sim-functions. Never forget to close the blocking section otherwise V-REP might hang or run much slowlier. Also refer to the thread-related functions and to the blocking functions for more details on thread operation in V-REP. Some operation should not be interrupted in order to execute correctly (imagine moving several objects in a loop). In that case, you can temporarily forbid thread switches with the simSetThreadAutomaticSwitch function. Recommended topics |