URDF Viewer: A robotic workcell analysis and visualization tool

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URDF Viewer is a powerful, browser-based platform designed for robot workcell analysis, workspace visualization, and feasibility assessment. Whether you're a robotics engineer, system integrator, or sales professional, URDF Viewer can help you answer one critical question before any complex programming begins:

Can this robot physically accomplish the required tasks within this specific workspace configuration?

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The problem

When evaluating whether a robot can handle a specific application, discussions typically focus on:

• Technical specifications (payload capacity, reach radius, speed)
• Robot capabilities (degrees of freedom, repeatability, accuracy)
• Software algorithms (motion planning, path optimization, collision avoidance)

While these factors are  important, there's a critical element that's frequently overlooked: the physical configuration of the robot workcell itself.

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Based on our experience in robotics deployment, we've discovered that many challenging robotics problems can be solved more efficiently by optimizing the physical setup before diving into complex algorithmic solutions. This includes carefully considering:

• Robot base placement and mounting position
• Obstacle positioning within the workspace
• Task region location and orientation
• Approach angle constraints for specific operations
• Clearance requirements for robot motion

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The current way to approach this

When evaluating robot workcell feasibility today, professionals typically face two  choices.

The first option involves setting up a full ROS/MoveIt environment, which requires installing frameworks, importing robot models, and building collision scenes. While powerful for final implementation, in this approach:

• Setup takes days or weeks
• Demands specialized technical expertise
• Making quick iteration is slow

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The second option is purchasing vendor-specific simulation software, which comes with its own challenges:

• License costs
• Requires training and learning curves
• Limited to specific robot brands with no platform flexibility

Both approaches are good at what they're designed for, but they create barriers when you simply need a quick feasibility check.

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Our Solution: URDF Viewer

We built URDF Viewer specifically to bridge this gap as a web-based platform that works with any robot, allows custom workspace setup, requires no download, and has a quick learning curve.

The goal is simple: workcell feasibility and robot placement decisions in minutes, not weeks.

Core design principles behind URDF viewer are:

• Robot Compatibility: Work with any robot that has a URDF model not limited to specific brands or vendors.
• Zero Installation Required: Runs entirely in your web browser. No downloads, no installations, no IT approvals needed.
• Minimal Learning Curve: Intuitive interface designed for quick onboarding. Start evaluating workcells within minutes, not days.
• Rapid Iteration: Test multiple workspace configurations quickly. Adjust robot placement, move obstacles, redefine task regions, and immediately see the impact.
• Early-Stage Decision Support: Get critical feasibility answers in minutes, enabling informed decisions about robot selection and workspace design before significant resources are committed.

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What you can do with URDF Viewer?

1. Select from wide range of robot models:

Quickly compare different robots in the same workspace without switching platforms or dealing with vendor-specific tools. Test whether a cobot or industrial robot is better suited for your application with just a few clicks.

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2. Move the robot around interactively:

URDF Viewer offers multiple intuitive ways to control and position robots in your workspace. Use visual gizmo controls for drag-and-drop end-effector positioning with real-time feedback, enter precise pose coordinates for exact spatial positioning, or adjust individual joint angles to understand configuration constraints. This flexibility lets you quickly explore workspace possibilities or validate specific target positions, adapting to whether you're brainstorming layouts or testing known requirements.

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3. Insert obstacles and define task regions:

Create realistic workcell environments through simple drag-and-drop interaction. Add and configure obstacles with simple clicks. Define task regions where robots need to operate. This  interface enables rapid modeling of real-world workspace constraints.

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4. Set approach angle constraints and run workspace analysis:

URDF Viewer leverages AI-powered analysis to evaluate workcell feasibility comprehensively. Define regions with approach angle constraints for specific tasks and run detailed assessments that identify which task regions are reachable, visualize failures with color-coded displays, and explain why positions fail in natural language.

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Who is this for?

Our goal is to help professionals and enthusiasts across robotics. Sales engineers gain quick feasibility assessments during customer meetings and faster sales cycles. System integrators and manufacturing engineers streamline workcell layout design and robot placement optimization while reducing engineering time. Students and hobbyists access professional-grade learning tools for free, exploring robot kinematics interactively without complex setup.

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Try URDF Viewer Today

URDF Viewer is live and ready to use at urdfviewer.com. No account registration, downloads, or installations required, just open your browser and start analyzing workcells immediately.

Have a specific workcell scenario you're trying to solve? Need help evaluating a particular robot configuration or workspace layout? We'd love to connect with you and discuss your unique challenge.

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