not finished, showcase for what hase to be changed

controller_interface/test/test_chainable_controller_interface.cpp

@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ TEST_F(ChainableControllerInterfaceTest, export_reference_interfaces)
   EXPECT_EQ(reference_interfaces[0].get_prefix_name(), TEST_CONTROLLER_NAME);
   EXPECT_EQ(reference_interfaces[0].get_interface_name(), "test_itf");
 
-  EXPECT_EQ(reference_interfaces[0].get_value(), INTERFACE_VALUE);
+  EXPECT_EQ(reference_interfaces[0].get_value<double>(), INTERFACE_VALUE);
 }
 
 TEST_F(ChainableControllerInterfaceTest, reference_interfaces_storage_not_correct_size)
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ TEST_F(ChainableControllerInterfaceTest, setting_chained_mode)
   EXPECT_FALSE(controller.is_in_chained_mode());
 
   // Fail setting chained mode
-  EXPECT_EQ(reference_interfaces[0].get_value(), INTERFACE_VALUE);
+  EXPECT_EQ(reference_interfaces[0].get_value<double>(), INTERFACE_VALUE);
 
   EXPECT_FALSE(controller.set_chained_mode(true));
   EXPECT_FALSE(controller.is_in_chained_mode());

hardware_interface/include/hardware_interface/actuator_interface.hpp

@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ class ActuatorInterface : public rclcpp_lifecycle::node_interfaces::LifecycleNod
 
   double get_state(const std::string & interface_name) const
   {
-    return actuator_states_.at(interface_name)->get_value();
+    return actuator_states_.at(interface_name)->get_value<double>();
   }
 
   void set_command(const std::string & interface_name, const double & value)
@@ -408,37 +408,60 @@ class ActuatorInterface : public rclcpp_lifecycle::node_interfaces::LifecycleNod
 
   double get_command(const std::string & interface_name) const
   {
-    return actuator_commands_.at(interface_name)->get_value();
+    return actuator_commands_.at(interface_name)->get_value<double>();
   }
 
-  void set_emergency_stop(const double & emergency_stop)
+  void set_emergency_stop(const bool & emergency_stop)
   {
     emergency_stop_->set_value(emergency_stop);
   }
 
-  double get_emergency_stop() const { return emergency_stop_->get_value(); }
+  bool get_emergency_stop() const { return emergency_stop_->get_value<bool>(); }
 
-  void set_error_code(const double & error_code) { error_signal_->set_value(error_code); }
+  void set_error_code(std::array<uint8_t, hardware_interface::error_signal_count> error_codes)
+  {
+    error_signal_->set_value(error_codes);
+  }
 
-  double get_error_code() const { return error_signal_->get_value(); }
+  std::array<uint8_t, hardware_interface::error_signal_count> get_error_code() const
+  {
+    return error_signal_->get_value<std::array<uint8_t, hardware_interface::error_signal_count>>();
+  }
 
-  void set_error_message(const double & error_message)
+  void set_error_message(
+    std::array<std::string, hardware_interface::error_signal_count> error_messages)
   {
-    error_signal_message_->set_value(error_message);
+    error_signal_message_->set_value(error_messages);
   }
 
-  double get_error_message() const { return error_signal_message_->get_value(); }
+  std::array<std::string, hardware_interface::error_signal_count> get_error_message() const
+  {
+    return error_signal_message_
+      ->get_value<std::array<std::string, hardware_interface::error_signal_count>>();
+  }
 
-  void set_warning_code(const double & warning_codes) { warning_signal_->set_value(warning_codes); }
+  void set_warning_code(std::array<int8_t, hardware_interface::warning_signal_count> warning_codes)
+  {
+    warning_signal_->set_value(warning_codes);
+  }
 
-  double get_warning_code() const { return warning_signal_->get_value(); }
+  std::array<int8_t, hardware_interface::warning_signal_count> get_warning_code() const
+  {
+    return warning_signal_
+      ->get_value<std::array<int8_t, hardware_interface::warning_signal_count>>();
+  }
 
-  void set_warning_message(const double & error_message)
+  void set_warning_message(
+    std::array<std::string, hardware_interface::warning_signal_count> error_message)
   {
     warning_signal_message_->set_value(error_message);
   }
 
-  double get_warning_message() const { return warning_signal_message_->get_value(); }
+  std::array<std::string, hardware_interface::error_signal_count> get_warning_message() const
+  {
+    return warning_signal_message_
+      ->get_value<std::array<std::string, hardware_interface::error_signal_count>>();
+  }
 
 protected:
   HardwareInfo info_;

hardware_interface/include/hardware_interface/handle.hpp

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 #include <limits>
 #include <memory>
 #include <string>
+#include <type_traits>
 #include <utility>
 #include <variant>
 
@@ -30,7 +31,19 @@
 namespace hardware_interface
 {
 
-typedef std::variant<double> HANDLE_DATATYPE;
+using HANDLE_DATATYPE = std::variant<
+  bool, double, hardware_interface::WARNING_SIGNALS, hardware_interface::ERROR_SIGNALS,
+  hardware_interface::WARNING_MESSAGES>;
+
+// Define a type trait for allowed types
+template <typename T>
+struct HANDLE_DATATYPE_TYPES : std::disjunction<
+                                 std::is_same<T, bool>, std::is_same<T, double>,
+                                 std::is_same<T, hardware_interface::WARNING_SIGNALS>,
+                                 std::is_same<T, hardware_interface::ERROR_SIGNALS>,
+                                 std::is_same<T, hardware_interface::WARNING_MESSAGES>>
+{
+};
 
 /// A handle used to get and set a value on a given interface.
 class Handle
@@ -49,10 +62,10 @@ class Handle
   : prefix_name_(interface_description.prefix_name),
     interface_name_(interface_description.interface_info.name)
   {
+    // TODO(Manuel): implement this.
     // As soon as multiple datatypes are used in HANDLE_DATATYPE
     // we need to initialize according the type passed in interface description
-    value_ = std::numeric_limits<double>::quiet_NaN();
-    value_ptr_ = std::get_if<double>(&value_);
+    // value_ = std::numeric_limits<double>::quiet_NaN();
   }
 
   [[deprecated("Use InterfaceDescription for initializing the Interface")]]
@@ -95,32 +108,23 @@ class Handle
 
   const std::string & get_prefix_name() const { return prefix_name_; }
 
-  double get_value() const
+  template <typename T, typename std::enable_if<HANDLE_DATATYPE_TYPES<T>::value, int>::type = 0>
+  T get_value() const
   {
-    // BEGIN (Handle export change): for backward compatibility
-    // TODO(Manuel) return value_ if old functionality is removed
-    THROW_ON_NULLPTR(value_ptr_);
-    return *value_ptr_;
-    // END
+    return std::get<T>(value_);
   }
 
-  void set_value(double value)
+  template <typename T, typename std::enable_if<HANDLE_DATATYPE_TYPES<T>::value, int>::type = 0>
+  void set_value(T value)
   {
-    // BEGIN (Handle export change): for backward compatibility
-    // TODO(Manuel) set value_ directly if old functionality is removed
-    THROW_ON_NULLPTR(this->value_ptr_);
-    *this->value_ptr_ = value;
-    // END
+    value_ = value;
   }
 
 protected:
   std::string prefix_name_;
   std::string interface_name_;
   HANDLE_DATATYPE value_;
-  // BEGIN (Handle export change): for backward compatibility
-  // TODO(Manuel) redeclare as HANDLE_DATATYPE * value_ptr_ if old functionality is removed
   double * value_ptr_;
-  // END
 };
 
 class StateInterface : public Handle

hardware_interface/include/hardware_interface/loaned_command_interface.hpp

@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ class LoanedCommandInterface
 
   void set_value(double val) { command_interface_.set_value(val); }
 
-  double get_value() const { return command_interface_.get_value(); }
+  double get_value() const { return command_interface_.get_value<double>(); }
 
 protected:
   CommandInterface & command_interface_;

hardware_interface/include/hardware_interface/loaned_state_interface.hpp

@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ class LoanedStateInterface
 
   const std::string & get_prefix_name() const { return state_interface_.get_prefix_name(); }
 
-  double get_value() const { return state_interface_.get_value(); }
+  double get_value() const { return state_interface_.get_value<double>(); }
 
 protected:
   StateInterface & state_interface_;

hardware_interface/include/hardware_interface/sensor_interface.hpp

@@ -265,30 +265,53 @@ class SensorInterface : public rclcpp_lifecycle::node_interfaces::LifecycleNodeI
 
   double get_state(const std::string & interface_name) const
   {
-    return sensor_states_.at(interface_name)->get_value();
+    return sensor_states_.at(interface_name)->get_value<double>();
   }
 
-  void set_error_code(const double & error_code) { error_signal_->set_value(error_code); }
+  void set_error_code(std::array<uint8_t, hardware_interface::error_signal_count> error_codes)
+  {
+    error_signal_->set_value(error_codes);
+  }
 
-  double get_error_code() const { return error_signal_->get_value(); }
+  std::array<uint8_t, hardware_interface::error_signal_count> get_error_code() const
+  {
+    return error_signal_->get_value<std::array<uint8_t, hardware_interface::error_signal_count>>();
+  }
 
-  void set_error_message(const double & error_message)
+  void set_error_message(
+    std::array<std::string, hardware_interface::error_signal_count> error_messages)
   {
-    error_signal_message_->set_value(error_message);
+    error_signal_message_->set_value(error_messages);
   }
 
-  double get_error_message() const { return error_signal_message_->get_value(); }
+  std::array<std::string, hardware_interface::error_signal_count> get_error_message() const
+  {
+    return error_signal_message_
+      ->get_value<std::array<std::string, hardware_interface::error_signal_count>>();
+  }
 
-  void set_warning_code(const double & warning_codes) { warning_signal_->set_value(warning_codes); }
+  void set_warning_code(std::array<int8_t, hardware_interface::warning_signal_count> warning_codes)
+  {
+    warning_signal_->set_value(warning_codes);
+  }
 
-  double get_warning_code() const { return warning_signal_->get_value(); }
+  std::array<int8_t, hardware_interface::warning_signal_count> get_warning_code() const
+  {
+    return warning_signal_
+      ->get_value<std::array<int8_t, hardware_interface::warning_signal_count>>();
+  }
 
-  void set_warning_message(const double & error_message)
+  void set_warning_message(
+    std::array<std::string, hardware_interface::warning_signal_count> error_message)
   {
     warning_signal_message_->set_value(error_message);
   }
 
-  double get_warning_message() const { return warning_signal_message_->get_value(); }
+  std::array<std::string, hardware_interface::error_signal_count> get_warning_message() const
+  {
+    return warning_signal_message_
+      ->get_value<std::array<std::string, hardware_interface::error_signal_count>>();
+  }
 
 protected:
   HardwareInfo info_;

hardware_interface/include/hardware_interface/system_interface.hpp

@@ -430,15 +430,14 @@ class SystemInterface : public rclcpp_lifecycle::node_interfaces::LifecycleNodeI
    * \return state.
    */
   void set_state(const rclcpp_lifecycle::State & new_state) { lifecycle_state_ = new_state; }
-
   void set_state(const std::string & interface_name, const double & value)
   {
     system_states_.at(interface_name)->set_value(value);
   }
 
   double get_state(const std::string & interface_name) const
   {
-    return system_states_.at(interface_name)->get_value();
+    return system_states_.at(interface_name)->get_value<double>();
   }
 
   void set_command(const std::string & interface_name, const double & value)
@@ -448,37 +447,60 @@ class SystemInterface : public rclcpp_lifecycle::node_interfaces::LifecycleNodeI
 
   double get_command(const std::string & interface_name) const
   {
-    return system_commands_.at(interface_name)->get_value();
+    return system_commands_.at(interface_name)->get_value<double>();
   }
 
-  void set_emergency_stop(const double & emergency_stop)
+  void set_emergency_stop(const bool & emergency_stop)
   {
     emergency_stop_->set_value(emergency_stop);
   }
 
-  double get_emergency_stop() const { return emergency_stop_->get_value(); }
+  bool get_emergency_stop() const { return emergency_stop_->get_value<bool>(); }
 
-  void set_error_code(const double & error_code) { error_signal_->set_value(error_code); }
+  void set_error_code(std::array<uint8_t, hardware_interface::error_signal_count> error_codes)
+  {
+    error_signal_->set_value(error_codes);
+  }
 
-  double get_error_code() const { return error_signal_->get_value(); }
+  std::array<uint8_t, hardware_interface::error_signal_count> get_error_code() const
+  {
+    return error_signal_->get_value<std::array<uint8_t, hardware_interface::error_signal_count>>();
+  }
 
-  void set_error_message(const double & error_message)
+  void set_error_message(
+    std::array<std::string, hardware_interface::error_signal_count> error_messages)
   {
-    error_signal_message_->set_value(error_message);
+    error_signal_message_->set_value(error_messages);
   }
 
-  double get_error_message() const { return error_signal_message_->get_value(); }
+  std::array<std::string, hardware_interface::error_signal_count> get_error_message() const
+  {
+    return error_signal_message_
+      ->get_value<std::array<std::string, hardware_interface::error_signal_count>>();
+  }
 
-  void set_warning_code(const double & warning_codes) { warning_signal_->set_value(warning_codes); }
+  void set_warning_code(std::array<int8_t, hardware_interface::warning_signal_count> warning_codes)
+  {
+    warning_signal_->set_value(warning_codes);
+  }
 
-  double get_warning_code() const { return warning_signal_->get_value(); }
+  std::array<int8_t, hardware_interface::warning_signal_count> get_warning_code() const
+  {
+    return warning_signal_
+      ->get_value<std::array<int8_t, hardware_interface::warning_signal_count>>();
+  }
 
-  void set_warning_message(const double & error_message)
+  void set_warning_message(
+    std::array<std::string, hardware_interface::warning_signal_count> error_message)
   {
     warning_signal_message_->set_value(error_message);
   }
 
-  double get_warning_message() const { return warning_signal_message_->get_value(); }
+  std::array<std::string, hardware_interface::error_signal_count> get_warning_message() const
+  {
+    return warning_signal_message_
+      ->get_value<std::array<std::string, hardware_interface::error_signal_count>>();
+  }
 
 protected:
   HardwareInfo info_;

hardware_interface/include/hardware_interface/types/hardware_interface_error_signals.hpp

@@ -16,13 +16,15 @@
 #define HARDWARE_INTERFACE__TYPES__HARDWARE_INTERFACE_ERROR_SIGNALS_HPP_
 
 #include <cstdint>
+#include <string>
 #include <vector>
 
 namespace hardware_interface
 {
 
 // Count of how many different error signals there are that can be reported.
 const size_t error_signal_count = 32;
+using ERROR_SIGNALS = std::array<uint8_t, hardware_interface::error_signal_count>;
 
 constexpr char ERROR_SIGNAL_INTERFACE_NAME[] = "ERROR_SIGNAL";
 // Available error signal names
@@ -62,6 +64,8 @@ enum class error_signal : std::uint8_t
   ERROR_SIGNAL_31 = 31
 };
 
+using ERROR_MESSAGES = std::array<std::string, hardware_interface::error_signal_count>;
+
 constexpr char ERROR_SIGNAL_MESSAGE_INTERFACE_NAME[] = "ERROR_SIGNAL_MESSAGE";
 // Available WARNING signal message names
 enum class error_signal_message : std::uint8_t