A robotics simulator is used to create embedded applications for a robot without depending physically on the actual machine. The good part is that most applications used in simulation can be transferred to physical robots without major changes.

Advantages of Using Simulation

Simulation can be useful whether or not you have a physical robot.

If you do not have a robot, you can start the work without buying, waiting for the delivery, and making the robot. It is free! You should install the special software and go throw this tutorial. You can start writing the working code and see the results in a short time!

If you have a real robot you can save your time and money using simulation:

  1. Cost

    There would be no risk damaging your hardware if you want to test some new programs. No hardware consumption, no maintenance.

  2. Time

    You do not have to wait the battery recharge. You can run simulations in parallel or you can run different types of robots in one model. You do not have to spend your time on hardware repairing.

  3. Experiments

    You can choose any environment, any robot and any sensor. In real life it is difficult to repeat the exact circumstances again so you only get one chance to collect the results and you cannot test different ideas under the exact circumstances. You can test the same system again and again with different inputs using simulation software.

Unfortunately, despite all advantages, even the best software cannot simulate the real world perfectly.

Start Using TurtleBot in Gazebo Simulator!

We use Gazebo simulation platform in this tutorial. Gazebo supports ROS and is maintained by Open Robotics. Gazebo is an open source software platform for which anyone can develop a plug-in with model components. Gazebo can simulate complex systems. For instance, several robots with objects in their environments. It is used especially in developing robots used in interaction, to lift or grab objects, to push, or for any other activity which requires recognition and localization in space.