Robotic Kinematics Learning Guidance Based on Game Engine Simulation

Abstract

This paper investigates the creation processes of robotic kinematics simulation software for educational guidance purposes using a game engine. The game engine, Unity3D, was chosen due to its accessibility, versatility, and built-in real-time rendering. Three functionalities were implemented to showcase common robotic kinematic concepts: Object Coordinates Simulation, Prismatic Kinematic Simulation, and Modified Denavit-Hartenberg Table Simulation. Each simulation allows users to interact with the concepts and visualize their behavior. The objective is to inform the ease of creating educational robotic simulations with free and accessible tools in details, exploring comparison of simulation to traditional lectures or videos as simulation improve the spatial understanding of robotic concepts better as they can be explicitly visualized, and they allow the student to explore and immerse in the content, increasing classroom engagement. They are also inexpensive and maintenance-free compared to practical labs, making them accessible and cost-effective educational tools.