Gazebo
Gazebo is an open-source 3D robotics simulator used for developing, testing, and validating robot models and algorithms in realistic virtual environments. It provides physics simulation, sensor data generation, and graphical rendering, enabling users to simulate complex robotic systems without physical hardware. It is widely used in research, education, and industry for applications like autonomous vehicles, drones, and industrial automation.
Developers should learn Gazebo when working on robotics projects that require simulation-based testing, such as developing control algorithms, sensor fusion, or path planning, as it reduces costs and risks associated with physical prototypes. It is essential for robotics engineers, researchers, and students in fields like autonomous systems, where simulating environments (e.g., urban settings for self-driving cars) is critical for validation and iteration before real-world deployment.