Simulation with CAD in Robotics. Free Software Versus Proprietary Software in University Teaching

In teaching and professional activities within the field of Robotics, it is paramount to avail of powerful platforms that are able to develop simulations of a system and even several robotic systems operating jointly. In this paper, two of the most widely used platforms for this purpose are compared, one of which is free and open source, FreeCAD, and the other, Autodesk Inventor, is a patented CAD software that forms part of the Autodesk products, but which is currently complemented by an educational version with free access for use in the educational field, both for teachers and students.