# Integration Testing using ROS

This topic explains how to run (and extend) PX4's ROS-based integration tests.

Note

MAVSDK Integration Testing is preferred when writing new tests. Use the ROS-based integration test framework for use cases that require ROS (e.g. object avoidance).

All PX4 integraton tests are executed automatically by our Continuous Integration system.

# Prerequisites:

# Execute Tests

To run the MAVROS tests:

source <catkin_ws>/devel/setup.bash
cd <PX4-Autopilot_clone>
make px4_sitl_default sitl_gazebo
make <test_target>

test_target is a makefile targets from the set: tests_mission, tests_mission_coverage, tests_offboard and tests_avoidance.

Test can also be executed directly by running the test scripts, located under test/:

source <catkin_ws>/devel/setup.bash
cd <PX4-Autopilot_clone>
make px4_sitl_default sitl_gazebo
./test/<test_bash_script> <test_launch_file>

For example:

./test/rostest_px4_run.sh mavros_posix_tests_offboard_posctl.test

Tests can also be run with a GUI to see what's happening (by default the tests run "headless"):

./test/rostest_px4_run.sh mavros_posix_tests_offboard_posctl.test gui:=true headless:=false

The .test files launch the corresponding Python tests defined in integrationtests/python_src/px4_it/mavros/

# Write a New MAVROS Test (Python)

This section explains how to write a new python test using ROS(1)/MAVROS, test it, and add it to the PX4 test suite.

We recommend you review the existing tests as examples/inspiration (integrationtests/python_src/px4_it/mavros/ (opens new window)). The official ROS documentation also contains information on how to use unittest (opens new window) (on which this test suite is based).

To write a new test:

  1. Create a new test script by copying the empty test skeleton below:

    #!/usr/bin/env python
    # [... LICENSE ...]
    
    #
    # @author Example Author <author@example.com>
    #
    PKG = 'px4'
    
    import unittest
    import rospy
    import rosbag
    
    from sensor_msgs.msg import NavSatFix
    
    class MavrosNewTest(unittest.TestCase):
    	"""
    	Test description
    	"""
    
    	def setUp(self):
    		rospy.init_node('test_node', anonymous=True)
    		rospy.wait_for_service('mavros/cmd/arming', 30)
    
    		rospy.Subscriber("mavros/global_position/global", NavSatFix, self.global_position_callback)
    		self.rate = rospy.Rate(10) # 10hz
    		self.has_global_pos = False
    
    	def tearDown(self):
    		pass
    
    	#
    	# General callback functions used in tests
    	#
    	def global_position_callback(self, data):
    		self.has_global_pos = True
    
    	def test_method(self):
    		"""Test method description"""
    
    		# FIXME: hack to wait for simulation to be ready
    		while not self.has_global_pos:
    			self.rate.sleep()
    
    		# TODO: execute test
    
    if __name__ == '__main__':
    	import rostest
    	rostest.rosrun(PKG, 'mavros_new_test', MavrosNewTest)
    
  2. Run the new test only

    • Start the simulator:
      cd <PX4-Autopilot_clone>
      source Tools/setup_gazebo.bash
      roslaunch launch/mavros_posix_sitl.launch
      
    • Run test (in a new shell):
      cd <PX4-Autopilot_clone>
      source Tools/setup_gazebo.bash
      rosrun px4 mavros_new_test.py
      
  3. Add new test node to a launch file

    • In test/ create a new <test_name>.test ROS launch file.
    • Call the test file using one of the base scripts rostest_px4_run.sh or rostest_avoidance_run.sh
  4. (Optional) Create a new target in the Makefile

    • Open the Makefile
    • Search the Testing section
    • Add a new target name and call the test

    For example:

    tests_<new_test_target_name>: rostest
    	@"$(SRC_DIR)"/test/rostest_px4_run.sh mavros_posix_tests_<new_test>.test
    

Run the tests as described above.