Phobos

An add-on for Blender allowing editing and exporting of robots for the MARS simulation

Creating adequate simulation models of a robot is a difficult task that especially in the world of open source and research oftentimes comes down to editing complex custom data files by hand. Phobos is an open-source Add-On for Blender designed to simplify this task, allowing the user to create robot models in a visual, interactive user interface and supporting their export as URDF files as well as SMURF robot descriptions for use with the MARS simulation.
Website: https://github.com/rock-simulation/phobos
Keywords: Simulation, robot model, modelling
Status: active
Operating system: Linux, Mac OS, Windows
Programming languages: Python 3
Licence: LGPL3
Ownership: This software was developed by the DFKI as well as by the Robotics Research Group and the University of Bremen and is being further developed under this responsibility. For questions and suggestions, please refer to the contact persons.
 

Software description

Structure of complex robot models in Phobos using different types of objects ;here the SpaceClimber robot (Source: DFKI GmbH)

Phobos makes use of Blender’s hierarchical object graph and its bone objects. These objects, normally used for animating 3D characters, allow to store 3D coordinate systems and apply constraints to their movements, for instance to restrict the movement of an object to a certain range on a specific axis. This allows to replicate the links and joints defined in a URDF model and together with the hierarchical tree of parent and child objects, the complete, branching kinematic chain of a robot can be represented.
By attaching meshes or primitives to the bones, Phobos allows to add visual and collision objects to a model. Additional objects allow storing further information, e.g. centers of mass of each part of a robot, thus refining the physical representation. Sensor objects can be added to correctly place and orient devices such as laser scanners, cameras or contact sensors. Making use of Blender’s custom object properties, any necessary information can be added to the model, from inertia tensors to opening angles of cameras.

Features

  • Model error checking
  • Batch editing of object properties
  • Measurements (e.g. distance of parts, sum of masses)
  • Synchronization of mass information between different layers
  • Auto-generation of collision objects
  • Auto-generation of simplified inertia; combination of manually defined precise inertia
  • Online definition and testing of joint constraints
  • Import and export various model formats

References

Application Field: Electric Mobility
SAR- & Security Robotics
Underwater Robotics
Space Robotics
Related Projects: Q-Rock
AI-based Qualification of Deliberative Behaviour for a Robotic Construction Kit (08.2018- 07.2021)
ROBDEKON
Robot systems for decontamination in hostile environments (06.2018- 06.2022)
SARGON
Space Automation & Robotics General Controller (01.2016- 12.2017)
LIMES
Learning Intelligent Motions for Kinematically Complex Robots for Exploration in Space (05.2012- 04.2016)
Related Robots: Sherpa
Expandable Rover for Planetary Applications
ARTER
Autonomous Rough Terrain Excavator Robot
ASGUARD III
Advanced Security Guard V3
Sponsor: German Aerospace Center e.V.
© DFKI GmbH
last updated 16.11.2023