Flexible XML‐based configuration of physical simulations

The extensible markup language XML can be used to support the integration of several component programming environments to create a flexible physical simulation system. Data exchange via open‐standard‐based plain text files allows system components to be loosely‐coupled, rather than combined into an integrated development environment, so that the most appropriate tools can be used for each component and the system can be extended with minimal disruption. This paper details an example application using this technology to configure a simulation of robotic manipulation. Those parts of the system that require real‐time data exchange use simple UNIX socket‐based interactions, which are configured using shared XML setup files. The approach provides a reusable template for other, similar projects. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.