Algoryx | Sensor Simulation

Simulate sensor behaviour on moving machines for sensor stack design, sensor validation, and more.

ENGINEERING CHALLENGE

The sensor stack is how your machine understands its surroundings. It can’t be an afterthought.

Understanding sensor behaviour on moving machines is difficult to achieve through real-world testing—especially during complex tasks in unstructured environments.

A simulation-based approach allows engineering teams to explore sensor selection, sensor placement and sensor fusion in a faster, more systematic way.

To ensure reliable results, virtual sensors must be physically accurate and tightly integrated with the machine and environment simulation. This ensures that synthetic sensor data reflects real-world physics in real time—even as machines interact with and reshape terrain and materials.

ALGORYX’S SOLUTION

Physics-Based Sensor Simulation in Full Machine and Terrain Context

Set up the Machine Simulation

Use a simulation-ready machine model and environment in AGX Dynamics, where machine behaviour, terrain and machine-environment interaction are represented.

Define the Sensor Environment

Specify the objects, terrain, materials and surrounding features that virtual sensors should be able to detect.

Add and Configure Virtual Sensors

Place LIDAR, camera, IMU or other sensors on the machine and configure their model, output and operating characteristics.

Use the Generated Sensor Output

Read sensor data into analysis, control, perception or validation workflows.

DEMO VIDEO

Sensor Simulation in Action

KEY FEATURES

What Sets Algoryx’s Sensor Simulation Solutions Apart

An Expanding Library of Configurable Sensor Models

Model common sensors used in machines and vehicles, including LIDAR, IMUs, accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, odometers and wheel encoders.

Environment-Aware Sensor Simulation

Account for how surfaces, materials, reflectivity, occlusion and atmospheric effects influence simulated sensor returns and point-cloud data.

Realistic Sensor Behaviour and Imperfections

Move beyond idealized readings by modelling sensor-specific behaviour, measurement variation and real-world imperfections that affect signal quality.

RELATED USE CASES

Digital Machine Twins

Create and simulate physics-based full-system models of machines and vehicles

Control System Development

Develop and test high-level planning and low-level control systems in simulation

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is physics-based sensor simulation?

Physics-based sensor simulation means that virtual sensor output is generated from a simulated machine and its surrounding physical environment. Instead of treating sensors as isolated data sources, AGX Sensor connects virtual sensing to machine motion, detectable objects, terrain, materials and scenario conditions.

Which sensor types can be simulated with AGX Sensor?

AGX Sensor supports common sensors used in machines, vehicles and robotics, including lidar, camera, IMU, accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, encoder and odometer. These sensors can be placed in a physics-based simulation and configured for the scenario, machine and development workflow.

How does AGX Sensor account for materials and environmental conditions?

Objects and surfaces in the sensor environment can be assigned material properties that affect how sensors perceive them. For lidar simulation, this includes reflection characteristics from different surfaces and ambient effects such as air, fog, rainfall and snowfall.

What can simulated sensor data be used for?

Simulated sensor data can be used to evaluate sensor placement, test scenarios, support perception and control development, and prepare for physical validation. It gives engineering teams a way to explore sensor behaviour earlier, before relying on hardware tests alone.

Ready to get in touch?

Contact our sales team and book a discovery call to explore how Algoryx can help you achieve engineering success.

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