What design and analysis tools are used to simulate not also kinematics and static of multi body systems, but also kinetics and dynamics aspect of robotic and mechatronic system?
MATLAB simulink - simmechanics ... it can use in dynamic simulation .. and can be connected with any CAD program to take your design to simulation directly if i drown before
Workspace Software is a solution for the above problem. 3 levels of softwares are available. Workspace LT which is free downloadable but has constrains in usage, Workspace 5 educational licence and Workspace 5 with individual licence. I have been teaching basic robot modeling and analysis for undergraduate engineering students for past 2 years in Workspace 5 with educational licence. More detais on the software is available in http://www.workspacelt.com/
Probably much depends on your budget :-). Fairly good commercial programs are
1) Matlab + Simulink
2) Maple + MapleSim (http://www.maplesoft.com/products/maplesim/)
Also from the following IFToMM:s webpages you can find description of 7 different, professional Multibody Simulation Softwares. The pages are operated by IFToMM:s Techical Commitee for Multibody Dynamics.