Flexible system for simulating and tele-operating robots through the Internet

Simulation and teleoperation tools offer many advantages for the training or learning of technological subjects, such as flexibility in time-tables and student access to expensive and limited equipment. In this paper, we present a new system for simulating and teleoperating robot arms through the Internet, which allows many users to simulate and test positioning commands for a robot by means of a virtual environment, as well as execute the validated commands in a real remote robot of the same characteristics. The main feature of the system is its flexibility in managing different robots or including new robot models and equipment. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.