From Simulation to Real Robots with Predictable Results: Methods and Examples

Published

December 1, 2009

Author(s)

Stephen B. Balakirsky, Stefano Carpin, George Dimitoglou, Benjamin Balaguer

Abstract

From a theoretical perspective, one may easily argue (as we will in this chapter) that simulation accelerates the algorithm development cycle. However, in practice many in the robotics development community share the sentiment that "Simula-tion is doomed to succeed" [Brooks] p. 209. This comes in large part from the fact that many simulation systems are brittle; they do a fair-to-good job of simulating the expected, and fail to simulate the unexpected. It is the authors' belief that a simulation system is only as good as its models, and that deficiencies in these models lead to the majority of these failures. This chapter will attempt to address these deficiencies by presenting a systematic methodology with examples for the development of both simulated mobility models and sensor models for use with one of today's leading simulation engines. Techniques for using simulation for algorithm development leading to real-robot implementation will be presented, as well as opportunities for involvement in international robotics competitions based on these techniques.

Citation

Performance Evaluation and Benchmarking of Intelligent Systems

Publisher Info

Springer, Norwell, MA

Pub Type

Book Chapters

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Keywords

Simulation, performance metrics, algorithm development, mobility models, sensor models, robotics competition

Citation

Balakirsky, S. , Carpin, S. , Dimitoglou, G. and Balaguer, B. (2009), From Simulation to Real Robots with Predictable Results: Methods and Examples, Performance Evaluation and Benchmarking of Intelligent Systems, Springer, Norwell, MA, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=902330 (Accessed October 13, 2025)