UniRoVE : Unified Robot Virtual Environment Framework

With robotics applications playing an increasingly significant role in our daily lives, it is crucial to develop effective methods for teaching and understanding their behavior. However, limited access to physical robots in educational institutions and companies poses a significant obstacle for many individuals. To overcome this barrier, a novel framework that combines realistic robot simulation and intuitive control mechanisms within a virtual reality environment is presented. By accurately emulating the physical characteristics and behaviors of various robots, this framework offers an immersive and authentic learning experience. Through an intuitive control interface, users can interact naturally with virtual robots, facilitating the acquisition of practical robotics skills. In this study, a qualitative assessment to evaluate the effectiveness and user satisfaction with the framework is conducted. The results highlighted its usability, realism, and educational value. Specifically, the framework bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application in robotics, enabling users to gain hands-on experience and develop a deeper understanding of robot behavior and control strategies. Compared to existing approaches, the framework provides a more accessible and effective alternative for interacting with robots, particularly for individuals with limited physical access to such devices. In conclusion, the study presents a comprehensive framework that leverages virtual reality technology to enhance the learning and training process in robotics. By combining realistic simulations and intuitive controls, this framework represents a significant advancement in providing an immersive and effective learning environment. The positive user feedback obtained from the study reinforces the value and potential of the framework in facilitating the acquisition of essential robotics skills. Ultimately, this work contributes to flattening the robotics learning curve and promoting broader access to robotics education. CC BY 4.0© 2023 by the authors.Correspondence: azn3@alu.ua.esWe would like to thank “A way of making Europe” European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 CiteNPL CiteNPLCiteNPL for supporting this work under the MoDeaAS project (grantPID2019-104818RB-I00). Furthermore, we would like to thank ASSAR Innovation Arena for their support. Finally, we would like to thank Jorge Guillen Pastor, who was involved in the initial stages of the project and Patrik Gustavsson, the author of the software used as starting point for the developed work.