This repository provides a curated, ranked list of open-source robotics simulators, updated weekly. It aims to help researchers and developers discover and evaluate simulation tools across various categories, including generic, 2D, aerial, domain-specific, AI training, and physics engines. The list is automatically generated based on GitHub metrics and package manager data, offering a quality score, star count, and activity status for each project.

How It Works

The project automatically scrapes GitHub and package manager data to calculate a "project-quality score" for each simulator. This score is derived from metrics such as GitHub stars, forks, issue counts, recent updates, and download statistics. Projects are categorized and ranked based on this score, providing a quantitative basis for comparison. The list is regenerated weekly to reflect the latest project activity and popularity.

Quick Start & Requirements

To explore the list, simply view the README. To contribute or add projects, you can clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/knmcguire/best-of-robot-simulators

No specific software installation is required to view the curated list.

Highlighted Details

• Features 95 open-source projects across 10 categories, totaling over 310K stars.
• Projects are ranked by a composite quality score derived from GitHub metrics and package manager data.
• Includes indicators for new, inactive, or trending projects, as well as license warnings.
• Provides direct links to GitHub repositories, documentation, and relevant community resources for each simulator.

Maintenance & Community

The list is maintained by Kimberly McGuire (@knmcguire) and contributions are actively encouraged via GitHub issues or pull requests. The project also links to related resources, other "best-of" lists, and relevant academic papers on robotics simulation.

Licensing & Compatibility

The repository itself is licensed under the MIT License. However, the individual simulators listed have varying licenses, including Apache-2.0, MIT, BSD, GPL, and proprietary licenses. Users must consult the specific license for each simulator they intend to use.

Limitations & Caveats

The ranking is based on automated metrics and may not fully capture the nuances of simulator suitability for specific use cases. Some listed projects are marked as "End of Life" or have not been updated recently, requiring careful evaluation before adoption. Several simulators also have restrictive or proprietary licenses.