RViz/RViz2 (a robot visualizer)
Note: This documentation primarily focuses on RViz2, the visualization tool for ROS 2.
1. Introduction
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RViz (ROS 1) and RViz2 (ROS 2) are interactive visualization and debugging tools for the Robot Operating System (ROS).
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They are used to visualize robot models, sensor data, coordinate frames (TF), maps, point clouds, and navigation information in real time.
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They help developers monitor, analyze, and debug robot perception, localization, mapping, and navigation without directly inspecting raw ROS messages.
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RViz is designed for ROS 1, while RViz2 is its successor for ROS 2, offering similar visualization capabilities with support for the ROS 2 architecture.
2. RViz2 versions and Ubuntu platforms
- Unlike RViz (ROS 1), RViz2 is released as part of each ROS 2 distribution, with each distribution targeting specific Ubuntu Long-Term Support (LTS) releases.
| ROS 2 Distribution | Ubuntu LTS Platform | RViz Tool | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foxy Fitzroy | Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | RViz2 | LTS (EOL) |
| Humble Hawksbill | Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | RViz2 | LTS |
| Jazzy Jalisco | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | RViz2 | Current LTS |