Survey of popular robotics simulators, frameworks, and toolkits | IEEE Conference Publication | IEEE Xplore

Survey of popular robotics simulators, frameworks, and toolkits

Publisher: IEEE

Abstract:

Robotic simulators, frameworks, and related toolkits are very important in today's research community. The need to accurately simulate movements, algorithms, and interact...View more

Abstract:

Robotic simulators, frameworks, and related toolkits are very important in today's research community. The need to accurately simulate movements, algorithms, and interactions with the real world is quickly becoming a major research focus as humans and robots interact in more situations and differently than ever before. This is a survey of popular robotics simulators and some of the main frameworks and toolkits that are used to help bring robotics simulations to a one-to-one relationship with real-world interaction.
Date of Conference: 17-20 March 2011
Date Added to IEEE Xplore: 21 April 2011
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ISSN Information:

Publisher: IEEE
Conference Location: Nashville, TN, USA

I. Introduction

Robotics simulators have grown with the field of robotics in general. Since the beginning of the robotics revolution there has been a need to simulate the motions and reactions to stimuli of different machines. Simulations are conducted in many cases to test safety protocols, to determine calibration techniques, and to test new sensors or equipment among other things. Robotics simulators in the past were generally written specifically for a own line of robots or for a specific purpose. In recent years, however, the improvement of physics engines and video game engines as well as computer processing speed has helped spur a new breed of simulators that combine physics calculations and accurate graphical representations of a robot in a simulation. These simulators have the potential flexibility to simulate any type of robot. As the simulation algorithms and graphical capabilities the game engines become better and more efficient, simulations step out of the computer and become more real-world. Such engines can be applied to the creation of a simulator, and in the words of Craighead et al. “. it is no longer necessary to build a robotic simulator from the ground up.” [1].

References

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