Robot simulation

Engineers now have a more accurate way to simulate robots in action before they are put to work thanks to software developed by Microsoft and Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks.

Users of Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio 2008 (Microsoft RDS) will be able directly incorporate 3D CAD models designed in SolidWorks software into Microsoft’s Visual Simulation Environment (Microsoft VSE) and simulate their operation more accurately. 

As a result, robotics developers can correct any robotic application issues early and maximise the robots’ performance. The solution takes advantage of the fact that both applications support a common XML format, COLLADA, for rendering 3D objects and motion.

A robot designer, for example, can download the free SolidWorks/Microsoft RDS integration software, export a SolidWorks robot design into Microsoft VSE, develop the robotic application, then simulate the robots’ operation prior to deployment.

The integration preserves dimensions, constraints, mass properties, motors, springs, colours, textures, and more from the SolidWorks model.