Virtual Machine

The Try-a-Bot Virtual Machine consists of a lightweight Linux environment ready to run in VirtualBox, packed with an installation of Webots and Jupyter notebooks.

First, you need to install VirtualBox and VirtualBox Extension Pack in your computer (download for Windows, Linux or macOS).

Now, the Try-a-Bot Virtual Machine can be downloaded from: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1WYe93ZQnJ5JSohz_29wqjHliTCILfgPE

And it can be imported into VirtualBox (menu File / Import Appliance...):

The virtual machine can be started simply by selecting "Try-a-Bot VM" and pressing the Start button (Normal Start).

After a short while, it should come up with this screen:

Now, just do a single click on any of the "try_*" icons, and a login window will pop up.

You can use any E-mail address (it is not saved) and the password "webots":

The simulator is now running in the background of the virtual machine.

Now you are going to connect to it through the browser of your host computer (not the virtual machine).

Simply open this link in a new tab/window:

http://localhost:8000

You should see this window with a black scene (for the moment):

Now click on the "Connect" button, and the simulation window will be displayed (e.g. if "try_a_pioneer" has been selected):

As the last step, click on the link "Open Notebooks", and Jupyter will open in a new tab or window:

It is recommended to split your desktop in two for the simultaneous visualization of the notebooks and the simulation in the browser (the virtual machine can be minimized but it must not be closed).

Please remember that the notebooks are stored in the virtual machine. If modified, you can download at any time a copy to your local host with "File / Download as / Notebook (.ipynb)".

For closing down, please follow these steps:

1. Close all the jupyter notebooks in your browser.
2. Click on the button "Disconnect" of the simulation window, and close the window.
3. Quit Webots in the virtual machine (maximize the application, then select "File/Quit").
4. Shut down the virtual machine.

Acknowledgements

Support of IEEE RAS through the CEMRA program (Creation of Educational Material for Robotics and Automation) is gratefully acknowledged.