feat: (core) make compatible with ros2_control

Qos disable

auto_start/auto_start_anchor.sh

@@ -15,7 +15,11 @@ echo "[INFO] Network interface is up!"
 echo "[INFO] Starting ROS node..."
 
 # Source ROS 2 Humble setup script
+if command -v nixos-rebuild; then
+    echo "[INFO] running on NixOS"
+else
     source /opt/ros/humble/setup.bash
+fi
 
 # Source your workspace setup script
 source $SCRIPT_DIR/../install/setup.bash

auto_start/auto_start_headless_full.sh

@@ -15,7 +15,11 @@ echo "[INFO] Network interface is up!"
 echo "[INFO] Starting ROS node..."
 
 # Source ROS 2 Humble setup script
+if command -v nixos-rebuild; then
+    echo "[INFO] running on NixOS"
+else
     source /opt/ros/humble/setup.bash
+fi
 
 # Source your workspace setup script
 source $SCRIPT_DIR/../install/setup.bash

auto_start/start_rosbag.sh

@@ -17,7 +17,11 @@ done
 echo "[INFO] Network interface is up!"
 
 
+if command -v nixos-rebuild; then
+    echo "[INFO] running on NixOS"
+else
     source /opt/ros/humble/setup.bash
+fi
 source $ANCHOR_WS/install/setup.bash
 [[ -f $AUTONOMY_WS/install/setup.bash ]] && source $AUTONOMY_WS/install/setup.bash
 

flake.lock

@@ -24,27 +24,27 @@
         "nixpkgs": "nixpkgs"
       },
       "locked": {
-        "lastModified": 1761810010,
-        "narHash": "sha256-o0wJKW603SiOO373BTgeZaF6nDxegMA/cRrzSC2Cscg=",
+        "lastModified": 1770108954,
+        "narHash": "sha256-VBj6bd4LPPSfsZJPa/UPPA92dOs6tmQo0XZKqfz/3W4=",
         "owner": "lopsided98",
         "repo": "nix-ros-overlay",
-        "rev": "e277df39e3bc6b372a5138c0bcf10198857c55ab",
+        "rev": "3d05d46451b376e128a1553e78b8870c75d7753a",
         "type": "github"
       },
       "original": {
         "owner": "lopsided98",
-        "ref": "master",
+        "ref": "develop",
         "repo": "nix-ros-overlay",
         "type": "github"
       }
     },
     "nixpkgs": {
       "locked": {
-        "lastModified": 1744849697,
-        "narHash": "sha256-S9hqvanPSeRu6R4cw0OhvH1rJ+4/s9xIban9C4ocM/0=",
-        "owner": "lopsided98",
+        "lastModified": 1759381078,
+        "narHash": "sha256-gTrEEp5gEspIcCOx9PD8kMaF1iEmfBcTbO0Jag2QhQs=",
+        "owner": "NixOS",
         "repo": "nixpkgs",
-        "rev": "6318f538166fef9f5118d8d78b9b43a04bb049e4",
+        "rev": "7df7ff7d8e00218376575f0acdcc5d66741351ee",
         "type": "github"
       },
       "original": {

flake.nix

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   description = "Development environment for ASTRA Anchor";
 
   inputs = {
-    nix-ros-overlay.url = "github:lopsided98/nix-ros-overlay/master";
+    nix-ros-overlay.url = "github:lopsided98/nix-ros-overlay/develop";
     nixpkgs.follows = "nix-ros-overlay/nixpkgs"; # IMPORTANT!!!
   };
 
@@ -56,10 +56,12 @@
                   control-msgs
                   control-toolbox
                   moveit-core
+                  moveit-planners
                   moveit-common
                   moveit-msgs
                   moveit-ros-planning
                   moveit-ros-planning-interface
+		  moveit-ros-visualization
                   moveit-configs-utils
                   moveit-ros-move-group
                   moveit-servo
@@ -68,9 +70,9 @@
                   pilz-industrial-motion-planner
                   pick-ik
                   ompl
-                  chomp-motion-planner
                   joy
-                  # ros2-controllers nixpkg does not build :(
+                  ros2-controllers
+		  chomp-motion-planner
                 ];
               }
             )

src/anchor_pkg/anchor_pkg/anchor_node.py

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import rclpy
 from rclpy.node import Node
+from rclpy.executors import ExternalShutdownException
 from std_srvs.srv import Empty
 
 import signal
@@ -7,6 +8,7 @@ import time
 import atexit
 
 import serial
+import serial.tools.list_ports
 import os
 import sys
 import threading
@@ -15,10 +17,15 @@ import glob
 from std_msgs.msg import String, Header
 from astra_msgs.msg import VicCAN
 
-serial_pub = None
-thread = None
+KNOWN_USBS = [
+    (0x2E8A, 0x00C0),  # Raspberry Pi Pico
+    (0x1A86, 0x55D4),  # Adafruit Feather ESP32 V2
+    (0x10C4, 0xEA60),  # DOIT ESP32 Devkit V1
+    (0x1A86, 0x55D3),  # ESP32 S3 Development Board
+]
 
 
+class Anchor(Node):
     """
     Publishers:
     * /anchor/from_vic/debug
@@ -39,19 +46,62 @@ Subscribers:
         - Publish raw strings to this topic to send directly to the MCU for debugging
     """
 
-
-class SerialRelay(Node):
     def __init__(self):
         # Initalize node with name
         super().__init__("anchor_node")  # previously 'serial_publisher'
 
-        # Loop through all serial devices on the computer to check for the MCU
-        self.port = None
+        self.serial_port: str | None = None  # e.g., "/dev/ttyUSB0"
+
+        # Serial port override
         if port_override := os.getenv("PORT_OVERRIDE"):
-            self.port = port_override
-        ports = SerialRelay.list_serial_ports()
-        for i in range(4):
-            if self.port is not None:
+            self.serial_port = port_override
+
+        ##################################################
+        # Serial MCU Discovery
+
+        # If there was not a port override, look for a MCU over USB for Serial.
+        if self.serial_port is None:
+            comports = serial.tools.list_ports.comports()
+            real_ports = list(
+                filter(
+                    lambda p: p.vid is not None
+                    and p.pid is not None
+                    and p.device is not None,
+                    comports,
+                )
+            )
+            recog_ports = list(filter(lambda p: (p.vid, p.pid) in KNOWN_USBS, comports))
+
+            if len(recog_ports) == 1:  # Found singular recognized MCU
+                found_port = recog_ports[0]
+                self.get_logger().info(
+                    f"Selecting MCU '{found_port.description}' at {found_port.device}."
+                )
+                self.serial_port = found_port.device  # String, location of device file; e.g., '/dev/ttyACM0'
+            elif len(recog_ports) > 1:  # Found multiple recognized MCUs
+                # Kinda jank log message
+                self.get_logger().error(
+                    f"Found multiple recognized MCUs: {[p.device for p in recog_ports].__str__()}"
+                )
+                # Don't set self.serial_port; later if-statement will exit()
+            elif (
+                len(recog_ports) == 0 and len(real_ports) > 0
+            ):  # Found real ports but none recognized; i.e. maybe found an IMU or camera but not a MCU
+                self.get_logger().error(
+                    f"No recognized MCUs found; instead found {[p.device for p in real_ports].__str__()}."
+                )
+                # Don't set self.serial_port; later if-statement will exit()
+            else:  # Found jack shit
+                self.get_logger().error("No valid Serial ports specified or found.")
+                # Don't set self.serial_port; later if-statement will exit()
+
+        # We still don't have a serial port; fall back to legacy discovery (Areeb's code)
+        # Loop through all serial devices on the computer to check for the MCU
+        if self.serial_port is None:
+            self.get_logger().warning("Falling back to legacy MCU discovery...")
+            ports = Anchor.list_serial_ports()
+            for _ in range(4):
+                if self.serial_port is not None:
                     break
                 for port in ports:
                     try:
@@ -63,22 +113,60 @@ class SerialRelay(Node):
 
                         # if pong is in response, then we are talking with the MCU
                         if b"pong" in response:
-                        self.port = port
-                        self.get_logger().info(f"Found MCU at {self.port}!")
+                            self.serial_port = port
+                            self.get_logger().info(f"Found MCU at {self.serial_port}!")
                             break
                     except:
                         pass
 
-        if self.port is None:
-            self.get_logger().info("Unable to find MCU...")
+        # If port is still None then we ain't finding no mcu
+        if self.serial_port is None:
+            self.get_logger().error("Unable to find MCU. Exiting...")
+            time.sleep(1)
+            sys.exit(1)
+        # Found a Serial port, try to open it; above code has not officially opened a Serial port
+        else:
+            self.get_logger().debug(
+                f"Attempting to open Serial port '{self.serial_port}'..."
+            )
+            try:
+                self.serial_interface = serial.Serial(
+                    self.serial_port, 115200, timeout=1
+                )
+
+                # Attempt to get name of connected MCU
+                self.serial_interface.write(
+                    b"can_relay_mode,on\n"
+                )  # can_relay_ready,[mcu]
+                mcu_name: str = ""
+                for _ in range(4):
+                    response = self.serial_interface.read_until(bytes("\n", "utf8"))
+                    try:
+                        if b"can_relay_ready" in response:
+                            args: list[str] = response.decode("utf8").strip().split(",")
+                            if len(args) == 2:
+                                mcu_name = args[1]
+                            break
+                    except UnicodeDecodeError:
+                        pass  # ignore malformed responses
+                self.get_logger().info(
+                    f"MCU '{mcu_name}' is ready at '{self.serial_port}'."
+                )
+
+            except serial.SerialException as e:
+                self.get_logger().error(
+                    f"Could not open Serial port '{self.serial_port}' for reason:"
+                )
+                self.get_logger().error(e.strerror)
                 time.sleep(1)
                 sys.exit(1)
 
-        self.ser = serial.Serial(self.port, 115200)
-        self.get_logger().info(f"Enabling Relay Mode")
-        self.ser.write(b"can_relay_mode,on\n")
+        # Close serial port on exit
         atexit.register(self.cleanup)
 
+        ##################################################
+        # ROS2 Topic Setup
+
         # New pub/sub with VicCAN
         self.fromvic_debug_pub_ = self.create_publisher(
             String, "/anchor/from_vic/debug", 20
@@ -115,22 +203,10 @@ class SerialRelay(Node):
             String, "/anchor/relay", self.on_relay_tovic_string, 10
         )
 
-    def run(self):
-        # This thread makes all the update processes run in the background
-        global thread
-        thread = threading.Thread(target=rclpy.spin, args={self}, daemon=True)
-        thread.start()
-
-        try:
-            while rclpy.ok():
-                self.read_MCU()  # Check the MCU for updates
-        except KeyboardInterrupt:
-            sys.exit(0)
-
     def read_MCU(self):
         """Check the USB serial port for new data from the MCU, and publish string to appropriate topics"""
         try:
-            output = str(self.ser.readline(), "utf8")
+            output = str(self.serial_interface.readline(), "utf8")
 
             if output:
                 self.relay_fromvic(output)
@@ -156,14 +232,20 @@ class SerialRelay(Node):
         except serial.SerialException as e:
             print(f"SerialException: {e}")
             print("Closing serial port.")
-            if self.ser.is_open:
-                self.ser.close()
+            try:
+                if self.serial_interface.is_open:
+                    self.serial_interface.close()
+            except:
+                pass
             exit(1)
         except TypeError as e:
             print(f"TypeError: {e}")
             print("Closing serial port.")
-            if self.ser.is_open:
-                self.ser.close()
+            try:
+                if self.serial_interface.is_open:
+                    self.serial_interface.close()
+            except:
+                pass
             exit(1)
         except Exception as e:
             print(f"Exception: {e}")
@@ -184,7 +266,7 @@ class SerialRelay(Node):
             output += f",{round(num, 7)}"  # limit to 7 decimal places
         output += "\n"
         # self.get_logger().info(f"VicCAN relay to MCU: {output}")
-        self.ser.write(bytes(output, "utf8"))
+        self.serial_interface.write(bytes(output, "utf8"))
 
     def relay_fromvic(self, msg: str):
         """Relay a string message from the MCU to the appropriate VicCAN topic"""
@@ -246,7 +328,7 @@ class SerialRelay(Node):
         """Relay a raw string message to the MCU for debugging"""
         message = msg.data
         # self.get_logger().info(f"Sending command to MCU: {msg}")
-        self.ser.write(bytes(message, "utf8"))
+        self.serial_interface.write(bytes(message, "utf8"))
 
     @staticmethod
     def list_serial_ports():
@@ -254,28 +336,29 @@ class SerialRelay(Node):
 
     def cleanup(self):
         print("Cleaning up before terminating...")
-        if self.ser.is_open:
-            self.ser.close()
-
-
-def myexcepthook(type, value, tb):
-    print("Uncaught exception:", type, value)
-    if serial_pub:
-        serial_pub.cleanup()
+        if self.serial_interface.is_open:
+            self.serial_interface.close()
 
 
 def main(args=None):
+    try:
         rclpy.init(args=args)
-    sys.excepthook = myexcepthook
+        anchor_node = Anchor()
 
-    global serial_pub
+        thread = threading.Thread(target=rclpy.spin, args=(anchor_node,), daemon=True)
+        thread.start()
 
-    serial_pub = SerialRelay()
-    serial_pub.run()
+        rate = anchor_node.create_rate(100)  # 100 Hz -- arbitrary rate
+        while rclpy.ok():
+            anchor_node.read_MCU()  # Check the MCU for updates
+            rate.sleep()
+    except (KeyboardInterrupt, ExternalShutdownException):
+        print("Caught shutdown signal, shutting down...")
+    finally:
+        rclpy.try_shutdown()
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-    # signal.signal(signal.SIGTSTP, lambda signum, frame: sys.exit(0))  # Catch Ctrl+Z and exit cleanly
     signal.signal(
         signal.SIGTERM, lambda signum, frame: sys.exit(0)
     )  # Catch termination signals and exit cleanly

src/anchor_pkg/launch/rover.launch.py

@@ -1,13 +1,21 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
 
 from launch import LaunchDescription
-from launch.actions import DeclareLaunchArgument, OpaqueFunction, Shutdown
+from launch.actions import (
+    DeclareLaunchArgument,
+    OpaqueFunction,
+    Shutdown,
+    IncludeLaunchDescription,
+)
 from launch.substitutions import (
     LaunchConfiguration,
     ThisLaunchFileDir,
     PathJoinSubstitution,
 )
+from launch.launch_description_sources import PythonLaunchDescriptionSource
+from launch.conditions import IfCondition
 from launch_ros.actions import Node
+from launch_ros.substitutions import FindPackageShare
 
 
 # Prevent making __pycache__ directories
@@ -40,7 +48,10 @@ def launch_setup(context, *args, **kwargs):
                 executable="core",  # change as needed
                 name="core",
                 output="both",
-                parameters=[{"launch_mode": mode}],
+                parameters=[
+                    {"launch_mode": mode},
+                    {"use_ros2_control": LaunchConfiguration("use_ros2_control", default=False)},
+                ],
                 on_exit=Shutdown(),
             )
         )
@@ -133,4 +144,46 @@ def generate_launch_description():
         description="Launch mode: arm, core, bio, anchor, or ptz",
     )
 
-    return LaunchDescription([declare_arg, OpaqueFunction(function=launch_setup)])
+    ros2_control_arg = DeclareLaunchArgument(
+        "use_ros2_control",
+        default_value="false",
+        description="Whether to use DiffDriveController for driving instead of direct Twist",
+    )
+
+    rsp = IncludeLaunchDescription(
+        PythonLaunchDescriptionSource(
+            PathJoinSubstitution(
+                [
+                    FindPackageShare("core_description"),
+                    "launch",
+                    "robot_state_publisher.launch.py",
+                ]
+            )
+        ),
+        condition=IfCondition(LaunchConfiguration("use_ros2_control")),
+        launch_arguments={("hardware_mode", "physical")},
+    )
+
+    controllers = IncludeLaunchDescription(
+        PythonLaunchDescriptionSource(
+            PathJoinSubstitution(
+                [
+                    FindPackageShare("core_description"),
+                    "launch",
+                    "spawn_controllers.launch.py",
+                ]
+            )
+        ),
+        condition=IfCondition(LaunchConfiguration("use_ros2_control")),
+        launch_arguments={("hardware_mode", "physical")},
+    )
+
+    return LaunchDescription(
+        [
+            declare_arg,
+            ros2_control_arg,
+            rsp,
+            controllers,
+            OpaqueFunction(function=launch_setup),
+        ]
+    )

src/arm_pkg/arm_pkg/arm_node.py

@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ class SerialRelay(Node):
 
         # Create subscribers
         self.man_sub = self.create_subscription(
-            ArmManual, "/arm/control/manual", self.send_manual, 10
+            ArmManual, "/arm/control/manual", self.send_manual, 2
         )
 
         # New messages
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ class SerialRelay(Node):
 
         command += f"can_relay_tovic,digit,39,{msg.effector_yaw},{msg.effector_roll}\n"
 
-        # command += f"can_relay_tovic,digit,26,{msg.gripper}\n"  # no hardware rn
+        command += f"can_relay_tovic,digit,26,{msg.gripper}\n"  # no hardware rn
 
         command += f"can_relay_tovic,digit,28,{msg.laser}\n"
 

src/core_pkg/core_pkg/core_node.py

@@ -31,14 +31,14 @@ CORE_WHEEL_RADIUS = 0.171  # meters
 CORE_GEAR_RATIO = 100.0  # Clucky: 100:1, Testbed: 64:1
 
 control_qos = qos.QoSProfile(
-    history=qos.QoSHistoryPolicy.KEEP_LAST,
+    # history=qos.QoSHistoryPolicy.KEEP_LAST,
     depth=2,
-    reliability=qos.QoSReliabilityPolicy.BEST_EFFORT,
-    durability=qos.QoSDurabilityPolicy.VOLATILE,
-    deadline=Duration(seconds=1),
-    lifespan=Duration(nanoseconds=500_000_000),  # 500ms
-    liveliness=qos.QoSLivelinessPolicy.SYSTEM_DEFAULT,
-    liveliness_lease_duration=Duration(seconds=5),
+    # reliability=qos.QoSReliabilityPolicy.BEST_EFFORT,
+    # durability=qos.QoSDurabilityPolicy.VOLATILE,
+    # deadline=Duration(seconds=1),
+    # lifespan=Duration(nanoseconds=500_000_000),  # 500ms
+    # liveliness=qos.QoSLivelinessPolicy.SYSTEM_DEFAULT,
+    # liveliness_lease_duration=Duration(seconds=5),
 )
 
 # Used to verify the length of an incoming VicCAN feedback message
@@ -66,6 +66,10 @@ class SerialRelay(Node):
         self.launch_mode = self.get_parameter("launch_mode").value
         self.get_logger().info(f"Core launch_mode is: {self.launch_mode}")
 
+        self.declare_parameter("use_ros2_control", False)
+        self.use_ros2_control = self.get_parameter("use_ros2_control").value
+        self.get_logger().info(f"Use ros2_control: {self.use_ros2_control}")
+
         ##################################################
         # Topics
 
@@ -85,6 +89,12 @@ class SerialRelay(Node):
 
         # Control
 
+        if self.use_ros2_control:
+            # Joint state control for topic-based controller
+            self.joint_command_sub_ = self.create_subscription(
+                JointState, "/core/joint_commands", self.joint_command_callback, 2
+            )
+        else:
             # autonomy twist -- m/s and rad/s -- for autonomy, in particular Nav2
             self.cmd_vel_sub_ = self.create_subscription(
                 TwistStamped, "/cmd_vel", self.cmd_vel_callback, 1
@@ -100,9 +110,7 @@ class SerialRelay(Node):
                 self.control_state_callback,
                 qos_profile=control_qos,
             )
-        self.twist_max_duty = (
-            0.5  # max duty cycle for twist commands (0.0 - 1.0); walking speed is 0.5
-        )
+            self.twist_max_duty = 0.5  # max duty cycle for twist commands (0.0 - 1.0); walking speed is 0.5
 
         # Feedback
 
@@ -122,7 +130,7 @@ class SerialRelay(Node):
         )  # TODO: not sure about this
         # Joint states for topic-based controller
         self.joint_state_pub_ = self.create_publisher(
-            JointState, "/core/joint_states", qos_profile=qos.qos_profile_sensor_data
+            JointState, "/joint_states", qos_profile=qos.qos_profile_sensor_data
         )
         # IMU (embedded BNO-055)
         self.imu_pub_ = self.create_publisher(
@@ -148,6 +156,7 @@ class SerialRelay(Node):
 
         # Old
 
+        if not self.use_ros2_control:
             # /core/control
             self.control_sub = self.create_subscription(
                 CoreControl, "/core/control", self.send_controls, 10
@@ -283,6 +292,40 @@ class SerialRelay(Node):
 
         # print(f"[Sys] Relaying: {command}")
 
+    def joint_command_callback(self, msg: JointState):
+        # So... topic based control node publishes JointState messages over /joint_commands
+        #  with len(msg.name) == 5 and len(msg.velocity) == 4... all 5 non-fixed joints
+        #  are included in msg.name, but ig it is implied that msg.velocity only
+        #  includes velocities for the commanded joints (ros__parameters.joints).
+        # So, this will be much more hacky and less adaptable than I would like it to be.
+        if len(msg.name) != 5 or len(msg.velocity) != 4 or len(msg.position) != 0:
+            self.get_logger().warning(
+                f"Received joint control message with unexpected number of joints. Ignoring."
+            )
+            return
+        if msg.name != [
+            "left_suspension_joint",
+            "bl_wheel_joint",
+            "br_wheel_joint",
+            "fl_wheel_joint",
+            "fr_wheel_joint",
+        ]:
+            self.get_logger().warning(
+                f"Received joint control message with unexpected name[]. Ignoring."
+            )
+            return
+
+        (bl_vel, br_vel, fl_vel, fr_vel) = msg.velocity
+
+        bl_rpm = radps_to_rpm(bl_vel) * CORE_GEAR_RATIO
+        br_rpm = radps_to_rpm(br_vel) * CORE_GEAR_RATIO
+        fl_rpm = radps_to_rpm(fl_vel) * CORE_GEAR_RATIO
+        fr_rpm = radps_to_rpm(fr_vel) * CORE_GEAR_RATIO
+
+        self.send_viccan(
+            20, [fl_rpm, bl_rpm, fr_rpm, br_rpm]
+        )  # order expected by embedded
+
     def cmd_vel_callback(self, msg: TwistStamped):
         linear = msg.twist.linear.x
         angular = -msg.twist.angular.z
@@ -528,22 +571,27 @@ class SerialRelay(Node):
                 match motorId:
                     case 1:
                         motor = self.feedback_new_state.fl_motor
-                        joint_state_msg.name = ["fl_motor_joint"]
+                        joint_state_msg.name = ["fl_wheel_joint"]
                     case 2:
                         motor = self.feedback_new_state.bl_motor
-                        joint_state_msg.name = ["bl_motor_joint"]
+                        joint_state_msg.name = ["bl_wheel_joint"]
                     case 3:
                         motor = self.feedback_new_state.fr_motor
-                        joint_state_msg.name = ["fr_motor_joint"]
+                        joint_state_msg.name = ["fr_wheel_joint"]
                     case 4:
                         motor = self.feedback_new_state.br_motor
-                        joint_state_msg.name = ["br_motor_joint"]
+                        joint_state_msg.name = ["br_wheel_joint"]
                     case _:
                         self.get_logger().warning(
                             f"Ignoring REV motor feedback 58 with invalid motorId {motorId}"
                         )
                         return
 
+                # make the fucking shit work
+                joint_state_msg.name.append("left_suspension_joint")
+                joint_state_msg.position.append(0.0)
+                joint_state_msg.velocity.append(0.0)
+
                 joint_state_msg.header.stamp = msg.header.stamp
                 self.joint_state_pub_.publish(joint_state_msg)
             case _:
@@ -581,6 +629,10 @@ def map_range(
     return (value - in_min) * (out_max - out_min) / (in_max - in_min) + out_min
 
 
+def radps_to_rpm(radps: float):
+    return radps * 60 / (2 * pi)
+
+
 def main(args=None):
     rclpy.init(args=args)
     sys.excepthook = myexcepthook

src/headless_pkg/src/headless_node.py

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import rclpy
 from rclpy.node import Node
+from rclpy.executors import ExternalShutdownException
 from rclpy import qos
 from rclpy.duration import Duration
 
@@ -11,6 +12,8 @@ import os
 import sys
 import threading
 import glob
+import pwd
+import grp
 from math import copysign
 
 from std_msgs.msg import String
@@ -32,14 +35,14 @@ ARM_STOP_MSG = ArmManual()  # "
 BIO_STOP_MSG = BioControl()  # "
 
 control_qos = qos.QoSProfile(
-    history=qos.QoSHistoryPolicy.KEEP_LAST,
+    # history=qos.QoSHistoryPolicy.KEEP_LAST,
     depth=2,
-    reliability=qos.QoSReliabilityPolicy.BEST_EFFORT,
-    durability=qos.QoSDurabilityPolicy.VOLATILE,
-    deadline=Duration(seconds=1),
-    lifespan=Duration(nanoseconds=500_000_000),  # 500ms
-    liveliness=qos.QoSLivelinessPolicy.SYSTEM_DEFAULT,
-    liveliness_lease_duration=Duration(seconds=5),
+    # reliability=qos.QoSReliabilityPolicy.BEST_EFFORT,
+    # durability=qos.QoSDurabilityPolicy.VOLATILE,
+    # deadline=Duration(seconds=1),
+    # lifespan=Duration(nanoseconds=500_000_000),  # 500ms
+    # liveliness=qos.QoSLivelinessPolicy.SYSTEM_DEFAULT,
+    # liveliness_lease_duration=Duration(seconds=5),
 )
 
 CORE_MODE = "twist"  # "twist" or "duty"
@@ -71,10 +74,37 @@ class Headless(Node):
             print("No gamepad found. Waiting...")
 
         # Initialize the gamepad
-        self.gamepad = pygame.joystick.Joystick(0)
+        id = 0
+        while True:
+            self.num_gamepads = pygame.joystick.get_count()
+            if id >= self.num_gamepads:
+                self.get_logger().fatal("Ran out of controllers to try")
+                sys.exit(1)
+
+            try:
+                self.gamepad = pygame.joystick.Joystick(id)
                 self.gamepad.init()
+            except Exception as e:
+                self.get_logger().error("Error when initializing gamepad")
+                self.get_logger().error(e)
+                id += 1
+                continue
             print(f"Gamepad Found: {self.gamepad.get_name()}")
 
+            if self.gamepad.get_numhats() == 0 or self.gamepad.get_numaxes() < 5:
+                self.get_logger().error("Controller not correctly initialized.")
+                if not is_user_in_group("input"):
+                    self.get_logger().warning(
+                        "If using NixOS, you may need to add yourself to the 'input' group."
+                    )
+                if is_user_in_group("plugdev"):
+                    self.get_logger().warning(
+                        "If using NixOS, you may need to remove yourself from the 'plugdev' group."
+                    )
+            else:
+                break
+            id += 1
+
         self.create_timer(0.15, self.send_controls)
 
         self.core_publisher = self.create_publisher(CoreControl, "/core/control", 2)
@@ -115,7 +145,7 @@ class Headless(Node):
                 sys.exit(0)
 
         # Check if controller is still connected
-        if pygame.joystick.get_count() == 0:
+        if pygame.joystick.get_count() != self.num_gamepads:
             print("Gamepad disconnected. Exiting...")
             # Send one last zero control message
             self.core_publisher.publish(CORE_STOP_MSG)
@@ -296,10 +326,33 @@ def deadzone(value: float, threshold=0.05) -> float:
     return value
 
 
+def is_user_in_group(group_name: str) -> bool:
+    # Copied from https://zetcode.com/python/os-getgrouplist/
+    try:
+        username = os.getlogin()
+
+        # Get group ID from name
+        group_info = grp.getgrnam(group_name)
+        target_gid = group_info.gr_gid
+
+        # Get user's groups
+        user_info = pwd.getpwnam(username)
+        user_groups = os.getgrouplist(username, user_info.pw_gid)
+
+        return target_gid in user_groups
+    except KeyError:
+        return False
+
+
 def main(args=None):
+    try:
         rclpy.init(args=args)
+
         node = Headless()
         rclpy.spin(node)
+    except (KeyboardInterrupt, ExternalShutdownException):
+        print("Caught shutdown signal. Exiting...")
+    finally:
         rclpy.shutdown()