ROS on Windows using WSL2?

Hello, everyone

I write here because I need some information about how to use ROS melodic on WSL. To make a long story short, I have to use ROS for my thesis project, that consists in using some Intel cameras in order to make SLAM. Now, I know that WSL2, until now, has no direct access to the USB ports and so it seems impossible to connect the camera directly to ROS installed in the WSL. Is there anyone that tried to use ROS on WSL and was able to use a camere/to connect an HW device trough the USB port? And if the asnwer is yes, how did you manage the "USB problem"? If the answer is no, what do you suggest? I know that maybe the dual boot is the best option, but, well, I'm not a fun of dual booting and so I'd like to avoid it...so if you have also other options to suggest, I will be very happy to read them

Asked by rödjack on 2020-12-12 07:20:12 UTC

Comments

I have no direct experience with this, but according to this comment on microsoft/WSL:

this is not entirely WSL2's fault, since native USB pass-through is just not supported by Hyper-V

There are some work-arounds described in that issue, but seeing as you write you "[want to] us[e] some Intel cameras in order to make SLAM", I doubt any of those work-arounds will provide sufficient bandwidth and stability.

You could always try though.

Asked by gvdhoorn on 2020-12-13 03:02:58 UTC