Robot Room Explorer โ 2.5D Navigation Simulator
Drive a robot around a room in this interactive 2.5D simulator! Use WASD or set autonomous navigation targets with A* pathfinding. Watch ultrasonic sensors detect obstacles in real-time, see collision detection in action, and explore different control modes. Perfect for understanding robot perception, path planning, and control basics. 100% browser-side, no sign-up.
๐ Robot Status
๐ก Ultrasonic Sensors
๐ฎ Control Mode
๐ฐ SLAM Mode
๐บ๏ธ Exploration
๐ Event Log
How Robot Navigation Works
1. The Room
A 2.5D room with walls and furniture. You control a robot (blue cylinder) with wheels. The robot has no camera โ it relies solely on ultrasonic sensors to detect obstacles.
2. Manual Mode
Use WASD or arrow keys to drive. The colored rays show sensor beams โ red means danger (obstacle close!), yellow means caution, green means clear.
3. A* Navigation
Set a target and the A* algorithm finds the optimal path around obstacles. Watch the robot follow the purple path to reach its destination.
4. Wander Mode
The robot autonomously explores the room, avoiding obstacles using sensor feedback. Watch the coverage percentage climb as it discovers new areas.
5. Collision Detection
The robot cannot pass through walls or furniture. Every collision is counted and logged. Each sensor ray-casts to detect the nearest obstacle distance.
6. Use It Yourself
This simulator helps you understand the basics of robot perception, path planning, and control โ essential concepts in robotics and autonomous systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the robot detect obstacles?
The robot uses simulated ultrasonic sensors that emit beams and measure the distance to the nearest obstacle. The three sensors cover front, left, and right directions. When a sensor beam hits something within range, the distance is displayed and color-coded: red for danger (<0.4m), yellow for caution (<0.8m), and green for safe.
What is A* pathfinding?
A* (A-star) is a widely-used pathfinding algorithm that finds the shortest path between two points while avoiding obstacles. It combines the actual distance traveled with a heuristic estimate of remaining distance to efficiently explore the search space. A* is optimal โ it always finds the shortest path if one exists.
Is this a real robot simulation?
This is an educational 2.5D simulator running entirely in your browser. While it demonstrates real robotics concepts (ultrasonic sensing, path planning, collision detection, autonomous exploration), it's designed for learning rather than industrial accuracy.
Can I learn robotics with this?
Absolutely! This tool teaches fundamental robotics concepts: sensor-based perception, path planning with A*, autonomous navigation, and coverage exploration. It's perfect for students, hobbyists, and anyone curious about how robots navigate the world.
Does this work on mobile?
Yes! The 3D scene is rendered with WebGL and works on any modern browser including mobile devices. For best experience on small screens, we recommend landscape orientation.
Is my data private?
Yes. Everything runs locally in your browser. No data is uploaded to any server. You can disconnect from the internet after the page loads and the simulator will continue to work.
What technologies power this simulator?
Built with Three.js for 3D rendering, vanilla JavaScript for physics and pathfinding, and HTML5 Canvas for the isometric display. The A* algorithm and collision detection are implemented from scratch.
Is this tool free?
Completely free, no sign-up required. It's an educational tool designed to make robotics concepts accessible to everyone. We believe learning should be free and fun.