tf API: Axes/order of rotation

edit

Hello ROS users!

I'm working with tf and I've a few questions about the API.

I am defining frames such that Yaw is applied around Z, followed by Pitch around the new Y and then Roll around new X.

Consider a transform from base_link --> camera_frame. Assuming I only have constant rotation between the frames (zero translation), here's how I create the transform:

//Fixed transform values
double roll, pitch, yaw;
yaw = DEGREES_TO_RADIANS(90); // 90 degrees around Z 
pitch = DEGREES_TO_RADIANS(0); // 0 degrees around new Y
roll = DEGREES_TO_RADIANS(-90); // -90 degrees around new X

//Create Quaternion from Euler angles
tf::Quaternion quat;
quat.setRPY(roll, pitch, yaw);
//quat.setEuler(pitch, roll, -yaw); // 

//Set rotations
geometry_msgs::TransformStamped bLink_to_cam;

bLink_to_cam.transform.rotation.x = quat.x();
bLink_to_cam.transform.rotation.y = quat.y();
bLink_to_cam.transform.rotation.z = quat.z();
bLink_to_cam.transform.rotation.w = quat.w();

//Set translations
bLink_to_cam.transform.translation.x = 0;
bLink_to_cam.transform.translation.y = 0;
bLink_to_cam.transform.translation.z = 0;

In another node, I have a tf::TransformListener object which receives this transform. Here I print out the values :

void printEulerAngles(tf::StampedTransform& transform){
    double roll, pitch, yaw;
    tf::Matrix3x3 m(transform.getRotation());

    m.getRPY(roll, pitch, yaw);
    //m.getEulerZYX(yaw, pitch, roll);
    ROS_INFO("\nRoll    : %.3f\n"
            "Pitch  : %.3f\n"
            "Yaw    : %.3f\n",
            RADIANS_TO_DEGREES(roll), RADIANS_TO_DEGREES(pitch), RADIANS_TO_DEGREES(yaw)  );

}

I expected to see the transform as defined above. However, I see Roll, Pitch, Yaw (90,90, 0). I did some research and found that setRPY() and getRPY() follow this convention:

• (roll around X, pitch around Y and yaw around z) around fixed axes.

Here are my questions:

1) How do I define rotations when I need to rotate (w.r.t to base_link axes) in the following convention?

• (yaw around Z, then pitch around new Y, then roll around new X)

2) Once I get the above rotation from tf, how do I modify the printEulerAngles() method to display them in the same convention as above?

I'd really appreciate any assistance in understanding tf. Thanks!