I’m keenly working on a hospitality robot project driven by personal interest and a genuine enthusiasm for robotics, and I’m seeking guidance on what to focus on next.
I currently have a solid grasp of ROS 2 Jazzy fundamentals, including nodes, topics, services, actions, lifecycle nodes, URDF/Xacro, launch files, and executors. I’m comfortable bringing up a robot model and understanding how the ROS 2 system fits together.
My aim is to build a simulation-first MVP for a lobby scenario (greeter, wayfinding, and escort use cases). I’m deliberately keeping the scope practical and do not plan to add arms initially unless they become necessary.
At this stage, I would really value direction from more experienced practitioners on how to progress from foundational ROS knowledge toward a real, working robot.
In particular, I’d appreciate insights on:
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What are the most important areas to focus on after mastering ROS 2 basics?
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Which subsystems are best tackled first, and in what sequence?
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What level of completeness is typically expected in simulation before transitioning to physical hardware?
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Are there recommended ROS 2 packages, example bringups, or architectural patterns well suited for this type of robot?
Any advice, lessons learned, or references that could help shape the next phase of development would be greatly appreciated.