Real-world vs simulation datasets

Most teams do not need to choose only one. They need to understand where simulation accelerates iteration and where real-world data becomes non-negotiable.

Simulation strengths
  • Cheap scaleFast coverage for policy warm starts and ablations.
  • Perfect labelsUseful for controlled evaluation and debugging.
  • Controlled resetsBetter for scenario sweeps than live operations.
Real-world strengths
  • Sensor noise and calibration drift
  • Contact variation and wear
  • Human corrections and interventions
  • Operational edge cases
Best use

Use this page to frame a blended strategy: simulation for coverage, real-world for truth, and evaluation data for deployment confidence.

Design a blended dataset strategy

We can help decide when to simulate, when to collect in the field, and how to measure the gap.