Analysis of Numerical Simulation for Nonlinear Robot Control Based on Dynamic Modeling Using Low-Cost and Open-Source Technology

Professors, students, and researchers from universities around the world use software distributed under licenses for numerical simulation purposes, which requires a computer with considerable hardware capabilities. This implies a high cost of simulations in engineering applications that require dynamic modeling using numerical methods, particularly in robotics and nonlinear control. This article compares and analyzes the performance of a frugal simulation scheme based on the use of low-cost, free, and open-source technology, specifically a low-power, single-board minicomputer (Raspberry Pi) in conjunction with GNU-Octave software. The benchmark is a numerical simulation of trajectory tracking control in the joint space of a Selective Conformal Assembly Robot Arm (SCARA). To perform this task, a system of coupled nonlinear differential equations is solved in matrix form using a numerical method known as an ODE solver. This solution includes the control law and the dynamic system model derived from Euler–Lagrange formalism. The time complexity and accuracy are analyzed to compare the performance of the frugal simulation tool with that of a conventional simulation setup consisting of a personal computer and MATLABTM running the same simulation code. The analysis shows minimal deviations in the numerical solutions and reasonable time complexity. Moreover, the frugality score of this approach and the low acquisition cost of the simulation tool enable the creation of simulation laboratories at universities with limited budgets for education and research.