Two wheels, endless paths. A differential-drive robot steers like a tank — set each wheel's speed and watch the trajectory curve, loop, or spin in place.
Differential Drive RobotLive
wheel speeds → path
Controls
Presets
A differential-drive robot steers by spinning its two wheels at different speeds — like a tank. Equal speeds go straight, a difference curves the path, and opposite speeds spin in place. Its forward speed is the average of the wheels and its turn rate is their difference over the wheelbase.
Reading this result: The faster right wheel pushes the robot into an arc that curves toward the slower left side, with radius set by how close the two speeds are.
Runs locally in your browser — free forever. Scale to the cloud when reality gets heavy.
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How it works
A differential-drive robot follows the unicycle kinematic model: its forward speed is the average of the two wheel speeds, and its turn rate is their difference divided by the wheelbase. Equal speeds go straight, unequal speeds arc, and opposite speeds rotate on the spot. The basis of most mobile robots and vacuum bots.
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The math, the assumptions, real-world uses, or a code translation — explained for this exact simulation.
Is this differential drive robot simulator tool really free?▾
Yes. Differential Drive Robot runs entirely in your browser using your device's own compute, so local use is free forever. You only pay Compute Tokens if you scale a job to the cloud.
Do I need to install anything?▾
No. Everything runs client-side in a modern browser — no downloads, no license, no account required to start.
Can I save or share my simulation?▾
Create a free account to save projects, and use a shareable embed or minted DOI to publish a live, interactive version anywhere.
How accurate are the results?▾
The solver uses established numerical methods, but results are for research and educational purposes and should be validated against experiment or professional review before you rely on them.