Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Software => Software => Topic started by: neo01124 on January 08, 2008, 03:12:16 PM

Title: Simulation environment query
Post by: neo01124 on January 08, 2008, 03:12:16 PM
I am working with my team towards an autonomous bot and at this stage we are looking into pathfinding algorithms (D* , LPA*,etc.).I want to know what sort of a graphical simulation environment could be used for implementing and finetuning these algorithms.
Basically we are looking into scripting our algorithms in a game like AOE or using a platform given to us last year in a c++ based programming competition.
The problem with the first one is that we wouldnt be implementing in c++ which is our final aim and spending a lot of time with learning the particular scripting methods while the problem with the second one is that we would have to delve into a lot of graphics programming ( not really our aim) to customize the code to suite our needs.
It would be great if you guys could suggest some simulation environmen to test such algorithms or may be help us out with the graphics programming and then we could put up the program for users of SoR....
Title: Re: Simulation environment query
Post by: Admin on January 08, 2008, 10:35:49 PM
I have unfortunately not been able to find any good user friendly simulation software.

Below is what I know about

Player/Stage/Gazebo
http://playerstage.sourceforge.net/

MSRS
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/robotics/default.aspx
Title: Re: Simulation environment query
Post by: cracoucass on January 17, 2008, 04:58:38 PM
The most user-friendly robot simulator is Webots :
http://www.cyberbotics.com
Title: Re: Simulation environment query
Post by: Admin on January 18, 2008, 04:21:08 PM
But Webots is prohibitively expensive for a hobbyist.

Educational version is $400, with full version at $3450 . . .
Title: Re: Simulation environment query
Post by: cracoucass on January 26, 2008, 01:44:34 PM
More precisely $293 at the moment (with the weak dollar !).
And the $293 version is fine for a common usage ...
In addition you will get started more quickly with Webots.
Cheers !