As one of many world’s strongest numerical computing platforms, MATLAB® is utilized by tens of millions of engineers and scientists worldwide. Sitting on the forefront of analysis and innovation, this software program from MathWorks provides unparalleled options for superior robotics.
RoboDK has a robust integration with the MathWorks platform. In comparison with alternate options, this pairing offers a extra strong and sensible technique to introduce superior algorithms into your industrial robotic deployments.
On this article, we present some examples of real-world purposes and clarify how you should utilize RoboDK and MATLAB software program in your individual initiatives.
Introducing… MathWorks, MATLAB, and Simulink®
MathWorks is the corporate behind the extensively in style software program platform, MATLAB and Simulink. Used extensively in analysis, training, and {industry}, these instruments are the birthplace of most of the world’s most pioneering developments.
Simulink — Simulink is a block diagram setting for multidomain simulation and Mannequin-Primarily based Design. It helps system-level design, simulation, automated code technology, and steady check and verification of embedded programs. Simulink offers a graphical editor, customizable block libraries, and solvers for modeling and simulating dynamic programs.
MATLAB — MATLAB is a high-level language and interactive setting for numerical computation, visualization, and programming. It allows you to analyze information, develop algorithms, and create fashions and purposes. With MATLAB, you’ll be able to carry out duties starting from fast calculations to large-scale simulations. With Robotics System Toolbox™ accessible in MATLAB, engineers acquire ready-to-use algorithms and simulations for movement planning, management, and testing of robotic programs. Extensively adopted throughout analysis, training, and {industry}, MATLAB powers purposes from sign and imaging processing to AI, robotics, and superior system design.
What’s Lacking? How RoboDK Provides Strong Industrial Assist
Whereas MATLAB excels in modeling, simulation, and algorithm design, it doesn’t natively present integration with the broad ecosystem of commercial robots utilized in factories worldwide. This creates a niche in direct deployment workflows – significantly round {hardware} connectivity and fast implementation in some industrial environments.
That’s the place the RoboDK integration is available in…
RoboDK bridges this hole by providing intensive assist for over 1000 industrial robotic fashions from many robotic manufacturers. With our devoted plugins, it’s fast and simple to ship MATLAB and Simulink packages to your robotic {hardware} and work in tandem with these highly effective software program instruments. Collectively, these two platforms create a complete answer for each analysis and industrial purposes. This dependable integration permits customers to leverage MATLAB and Simulink for superior duties. Like AI, laptop imaginative and prescient, and state machine design whereas guaranteeing compatibility with industrial-grade robotics {hardware}.
3 Actual-World Functions with RoboDK and MATLAB
The facility of RoboDK and MATLAB comes when you’ll be able to see how one can apply them to real-world purposes.
Listed here are 3 examples of real-world purposes the place the platforms mix for superior robotics:
1. Smarter QA Testing with Imaginative and prescient-Guided Robots
One promising utility is utilizing MATLAB for high quality assurance (QA) testing and inspection.
On this case, the imaginative and prescient system captures product information. The visible info is then processed with MATLAB’s highly effective processing algorithms, figuring out duties or areas to examine. These duties are then dynamically despatched to RoboDK. Which instructions the robotic to maneuver exactly between inspection factors.To study extra about the usage of MATLAB and deep studying for automated inspection, see right here.
Utilizing MATLAB and deep studying to carry out visible inspection.
2. Optimum & Collision-Free Movement in Industrial Duties
On the latest Worldwide Convention on Robotics and Automation (ICRA 2025), an utility was demonstrated utilizing RoboDK and MATLAB for a sophisticated bin-picking utility.
By making use of the CHOMP algorithm for inflexible physique movement planning, the staff optimized robotic trajectories to be each collision-avoiding and easy, guaranteeing environment friendly and dependable efficiency in a bin-picking activity. This highlights how the combination of RoboDK and MATLAB permits the design of an optimum path that balances security, precision, and execution velocity.
3. From Algorithm to Actual Robotic: Actual-Time Deployment Powered by MATLAB + RoboDK
A key benefit of the MATLAB–RoboDK workflow is the flexibility to take algorithms that had been designed, simulated, and verified in MATLAB. And use RoboDK to deploy them on to industrial robotic {hardware}.
A latest instance used a Mecademic MECA500 robotic to exhibit this end-to-end workflow. The event staff first used MATLAB to generate a posh polygon-drawing algorithm and validated the movement just about utilizing MATLAB’. As soon as the algorithm behaved as supposed, the identical trajectory was handed by way of RoboDK, which dealt with communication with the robotic and executed the instructions in actual time—each within the RoboDK simulator and on the bodily MECA500.
Algorithm designed and simulated in MATLAB, deployed in actual time to the MECA500 by way of RoboDK
Getting ready the Subsequent Era of Robotics Engineers
With MATLAB’s confirmed impression throughout {industry} and training, the collaboration with RoboDK opens much more doorways for academic robotics.
The mix of those highly effective software program instruments permits college students and lecturers to design and check algorithms in MATLAB/Simulink after which instantly validate these in an correct robotic simulation. This mixture is extra strong than alternate options, resembling ROS, which might have limitations in stability, real-time efficiency, and technical assist.
With RoboDK’s intensive Robotic Library, the scholars acquire entry to the identical robotic {hardware} utilized in {industry}. From industry-leading manufacturers like KUKA and ABB to education-compatible platforms like Dobot, this can give college students abilities that can straight apply to careers past academic settings.
RoboDK is already a go-to platform for a lot of academic and analysis initiatives. With the MATLAB integrations, this actually closes the hole with industrial robotics and the following technology of engineers.
Getting Began with RoboDK + MATLAB
Are you able to bridge the hole between superior programming and industrial robotics?
Whether or not you’re an engineer, researcher, pupil, or one thing else, the RoboDK and MathWorks integration empowers you to take your robotic initiatives to the following degree.
A great place to begin is to familiarize your self with RoboDK and its capabilities. You possibly can begin by making a easy program with the MATLAB API to program your simulated robotic from inside the MATLAB setting. From there, you’re restricted solely by your creativeness!
By integrating the immense computing energy of MATLAB/Simulink with RoboDK’s intensive robotic compatibility, you’ll be able to create robotic purposes that might even innovate the following technology of robotics.
What utility will you create first with MATLAB and RoboDK? Be part of the dialogue on LinkedIn, Twitter, Fb, Instagram, or in the RoboDK Discussion board.. Additionally, take a look at our intensive video assortment and subscribe to the RoboDK YouTube Channel.
