Differential wheeled robot simulator

This Processing application is ment to simulate a differential wheeled robot, very used nowadays. This app will be usefull in our Robotics Workshops!

Differential Drive Simulator in Processing

I missed the github class so here it is the good’old zip
Here’s the link to the repo, you’re welcome to contribute ;)

There are still a couple of enhancements on the list:

  • real metrics and scale
  • connect to motor encoders
  • record a path on the virtual world and let the real robot follow it
  • become real simulator of the arduino code used in our robotics workshops

The video is reproduced a lot faster than the program really performs  :p

Some control keys are available:
Differential Drive Simulator in Processing
Differential Drive Simulator in Processing

The overall program is quite simple to use, just pass the mouse over the joystick area to control the bot.
Differential Drive Simulator in Processing

The program basically maps joystick values X and Y to a differential drive system where two motors are used to drive a robot.

There is also a representation of a robot and its path according to the motors differential rotation.

Credits:

The joystick program was based on a program entitled ‘JoystickSimulation’ by: Vince Thompson
http://diyroboticslab.wordpress.com/2009/06/17/joystick-simulation-with-processing/

The robot program was based on a program entitled ‘Kephera Simulator’ by Adam Matic of Croatia
http://gritsgroup.org/robotsimulator.htm