ROAMS (Rover Analysis, Modeling and Simulation) is a physics based simulation tool for the analysis, design, development, test and operation of rovers for planetary surface exploration missions. ROAMS provides a modular rover simulation framework to facilitate its use by planetary exploration missions for system engineering studies, technology development, and mission operation teams. ROAMS is currently being developed and used by NASA's Mars Program as a virtual testing ground for various rover subsystems and components. ROAMS is a rover specific extension of the multi-mission DARTS and DSHELL spacecraft simulation toolkit which is capable of modeling vehicle dynamics, engineering sensors and actuators, environments and is in use by several interplanetary missions such as Cassini, SIM, DS-1, Mars Pathfinder etc.

ROAMS provides a library of high fidelity models for the surface rover. Its modular architecture permits the user to configure the simulation tailored to specific needs and fidelity. For instance different rover vehicles, environments, navigation modes etc. can be defined for setting up the simulation. ROAMS' models include the mechanical model of a rover, instrument arms, actuators and sensors, power resource models, interactions with the terrain as well as models for onboard software such as navigation and locomotion modules. ROAMS includes models for the robotic vehicles kinematic and dynanmics of the mechanical subsystem; sensor models such as sun sensors, tilt sensors, clearance sensors; interactions with the terrain environment; power resource models for solar panels and batteries; and models for on-board navigation and locomotion control software.

ROAMS can be used in stand-alone mode or in closed-loop with onboard software. ROAMS can also be embedded within a Matlab/Simulink environment for use in analysis and algorithm development. During mission operations, ROAMS can be used for sequence design and testing as well as anomaly assessment. It also can be used for Monte Carlo studies to generate performance statistics using a variety of terrain environment models. Using the real-time features of the underlying Darts/Dshell simulation toolkit, ROAMS can also be used for real-time simulations.
Additional information is available at the ROAMS Wiki.