3D Simulator Based on SimTwo to Evaluate Algorithms in Micromouse Competition

Abstract

Robotics competitions are increasing in complexity and number challenging the researchers, roboticists and enthusiastic to address the robot applications. One of the well-known competition is the micromouse where the fastest mobile robot to solve a maze is the winner. There are several topics addressed in this competition such as robot prototyping, control, electronics, path planning, optimization, among others. A simulation can be used to speed-up the development and testing algorithms but faces the gap between the reality in the dynamics behaviour. In this paper, an open source realistic simulator tool is presented where the dynamics of the robot, the slippage of the wheels, the friction and the 3D visualization can be found. The complete simulator with the robot model and an example is available that allow the users to test, implement and change all the environment. The presented results validate the proposed simulator.