Projects / Webots

Webots

3D & Animation

An open-source desktop environment for modelling, programming and simulating robots and mechanical systems.

Use with conditions
Last updated2026-10-02
Open source licenseApache-2.0
PlatformsLinux · Windows · macOS
DeploymentDesktop

About this project

Webots is a desktop robotics development environment for modelling, programming and simulating robots, vehicles and mechanical systems. Its interface supports scene-based simulation and visualization of sensors. The project links introductory material and tutorials for newcomers as well as a reference manual for more detailed work.

Official precompiled packages are available for Linux, Windows and macOS. Users select an appropriate release and follow the corresponding installation guide, then work through a tutorial or sample simulation. Building from source is an optional contributor path rather than a prerequisite for using the released desktop software.

Webots uses Apache-2.0 and is maintained by Cyberbotics. Robotics models, controllers and simulated sensor behavior still require subject knowledge, and the official documentation lists known bugs and workarounds. A simulator provides a model of a system; its presence does not establish that a physical robot or a particular experiment will behave identically.

Project sources

  • Tom Dörr

    @tom_doerr

    Project mention

    Introduces robot simulation capabilities and links Webots; no personal evaluation was established.

    View original post

Source labels distinguish recommendations, neutral mentions and the author’s own releases. Commercial relationships are unknown unless an author relationship is shown. Worthary reviews project eligibility separately.

Decision guide
01

Why it is worth a look

  • Model, program and simulate robots and mechanical systems
  • Desktop scene and sensor visualization
02

Before you use it

  • Robotics modelling and controller programming have a learning curve
  • Check the hardware and system requirements of the selected release
  • Review documented known bugs for your scenario
  • Simulation results are not physical-hardware validation
Manual setupModerate
With an AI agentModerate
DeploymentDesktop
Additional requirementsNot verified

Robotics modelling and controller programming have a learning curve; Check the hardware and system requirements of the selected release; Review documented known bugs for your scenario; Simulation results are not physical-hardware validation; Some requirements have not been verified. Check the official setup instructions.

03

What it can do

  • Model, program and simulate robots and mechanical systems
  • Desktop scene and sensor visualization
  • Precompiled packages and robotics tutorials

Who it fits

Good for

Learning robot modelling and controllers; Building and examining reproducible robot simulations

Not a fit

A general-purpose design tool without robotics concepts; Using a simulation alone as proof of real-world behavior

Getting started

  1. Choose an official precompiled release for your operating system
  2. Follow the matching platform installation guide
  3. Run an introductory tutorial and inspect its world, controller and sensor settings before building your own simulation