Gazebo Fundamentals

Gazebo is a 3D simulation environment for robotics that provides realistic physics, high-quality graphics, and convenient programmatic interfaces.

Key Components

System Requirements

Gazebo is computationally intensive. Ensure your system meets the minimum requirements:

• GPU: NVIDIA or AMD with OpenGL 3.3+ support
• RAM: Minimum 8GB (16GB recommended for complex simulations)
• OS: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (recommended) or Ubuntu 20.04 LTS

• Physics Engine (ODE, Bullet, Simbody)
• Rendering Engine (OGRE)
• Sensors (cameras, lidar, IMU, etc.)
• Robot models and world files

Performance Tip

Start with simple worlds and gradually add complexity. Disable unnecessary sensors and reduce physics update rates if experiencing lag. Use the real_time_factor metric to monitor simulation performance.