论文标题
一项关于使用机器人模拟器进行测试的挑战的研究
A Study on the Challenges of Using Robotics Simulators for Testing
论文作者
论文摘要
机器人模拟在机器人系统的设计,开发和验证和验证中起着重要作用。最近的研究表明,模拟可以用作较便宜,更安全,更可靠的手动替代品,并且可以广泛使用现场测试的过程。在连续集成管道的背景下,这一点尤其重要,因为集成的自动化测试是降低成本同时保持系统安全的关键。但是,模拟和自动化测试并未看到其潜力会激发其潜力的广泛采用程度。本文我们的目标是对开发人员在过程中使用模拟的方式以及他们在这样做面临的挑战中使用模拟的方式有原则的理解。这种理解可以指导开发更有效的模拟器和现代机器人开发的测试技术。 为此,我们对来自各种背景的82个机器人开发人员进行了调查,这些开发人员涉及实践中模拟技术的当前功能和限制。我们发现,85%的参与者使用模拟进行测试,许多参与者希望将模拟用作测试自动化的一部分。我们确定了10个高级挑战,这些挑战阻碍了开发人员将模拟用于手动和自动化测试以及一般目的。这些挑战包括模拟与现实之间的差距,缺乏可重复性以及与使用模拟器相关的大量资源成本。最后,我们概述了改进新模拟器开发的途径,这些途径可以帮助模拟以作为验证和验证的手段来发挥其潜力。
Robotics simulation plays an important role in the design, development, and verification and validation of robotic systems. Recent studies have shown that simulation may be used as a cheaper, safer, and more reliable alternative to manual, and widely used, process of field testing. This is particularly important in the context of continuous integration pipelines, where integrated automated testing is key to reducing costs while maintaining system safety. However, simulation and automated testing are not seeing the degree of widespread adoption in practice that their potential would motivate. Our goal in this paper is to develop a principled understanding of the ways developers use simulation in their process, and the challenges they face in doing so. This type of understanding can guide the development of more effective simulators and testing techniques for modern robotics development. To that end, we conduct a survey of 82 robotics developers from a diversity of backgrounds that addresses the current capabilities and limits of simulation technology in practice. We find that simulation is used by 85% of our participants for testing, and that many participants desire to use simulation as part of their test automation. We identify 10 high-level challenges that impede developers from using simulation for manual and automated testing, and general purposes. These challenges include the gap between simulation and reality, a lack of reproducibility, and considerable resource costs associated with using simulators. Finally, we outline avenues for improvement in the development of new simulators that can help simulation reach its potential as a means of verification and validation.