Advanced virtual testbeds: Robotics know how for virtual worlds

In recent years, virtual reality has emerged as a key technology for improving and streamlining design, programming, manufacturing and training processes. Based on experiences in the fields of space robotics, industrial manufacturing, multi-physics and virtual prototyping, "virtual testbeds" are currently being designed and implemented. Building on experiences gained in space robotics applications, the idea of "virtual testbeds" currently conquers new fields of applications in the manufacturing industry, on construction sites and even "in the woods". Interestingly, all fields can be supported with a rather generic and common basis so that the different applications can be realized very cost-efficiently. This paper is an attempt to give an overview over different current applications and setups. Furthermore, it will focus on the phases of a product\´s lifecycle that can already today be efficiently supported by virtual and augmented reality technologies. From a system theoretic standpoint, virtual testbeds are currently bridging the gap between virtual reality and robotics because on the one hand, robotics know how related to kinematics and physics based modeling is being used in virtual worlds to make them "behave realistically", on the other hand, those virtual worlds make very efficient representations of "real worlds" in which planning systems for robotics can try out action alternatives quickly and without danger to the robotic hardware.