Robotics Software Design Principles Why Robotics Software Is Different Robotics code operates under constraints that most software never faces: 1. Physical consequences — A bug doesn't just crash a process, it crashes a robot into a wall 2. Real-time deadlines — Missing a 1ms control loop deadline can cause oscillation or damage 3. Sensor uncertainty — All inputs are noisy, delayed, and occasionally wrong 4. Hardware diversity — Same algorithm must work on 10 different grippers from 5 vendors 5. Sim-to-real gap — Code must run identically in simulation and on real hardware 6. Long-running ope…