MATLAB: Result of combining multiple matrices turns into int32

MATLABmatrx int32 horzcat single

I have several matrices, which I want to combine into one big matrix:
robotnumber =
       1
       2
       3
       4
orientation =
     -0.0002
    179.9671
      0.0020
    179.9953
detection =
             1         782
             1         782
             1         782
             1         782
detdistance =
      0.1533
      0.1483
      0.1569
      0.1647
spacer =
       0     0     0
       0     0     0
       0     0     0
       0     0     0
distance =
           0    2.1629    0.9540    3.8822
      2.1629         0    1.5346    2.1488
      0.9540    1.5346         0    3.5705
      3.8822    2.1488    3.5705         0
But, if I try the following code:
Robotinfo = [robotnumber,orientation,detection,detdistance,speed,spacer,distance];
All the data goes, apparently, through an int32 function, resulting in:
Robotinfo =
The workspace also says: Robotinfo 4×14 int32, instead of Robotinfo 4×14 single.
Does anyone know what causes this problem?
Thanks!

Best Answer

Most likely one of your variable is int32. As a result, all the other variables are implicitly converted to int32. Convert it to double before concatenating it.
concat = [dblvar, dblvar, double(int32var)];
rant: Most languages have made the sensible decision that implicit conversions are widening. That is, an implicit conversion will only happen if there is no loss of data (e.g. int8 -> int32, float->double or int->double). Matlab, on the other hand has narrowing conversions. An int32 will get demoted to an int8 with all the loss of data that ensues. Same with double->float or as in your case double->int. Completely absurd!
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