A JSON interface to ROS that enables web and non-ROS clients to interact with ROS topics, services, and parameters via WebSockets or TCP.
rosbridge_suite is a collection of server implementations that provide a JSON interface to the Robot Operating System (ROS). It enables external clients—such as web applications, mobile apps, or programs in other languages—to interact with ROS by sending JSON messages over WebSockets or TCP to publish to topics, subscribe to topics, call services, and access parameters.
Robotics developers and researchers who need to integrate ROS with web interfaces, mobile applications, or non-ROS systems, as well as those building multi-language robotics applications.
It offers a standardized, transport-agnostic protocol that simplifies ROS integration for web and external clients, supported by multiple official and community client libraries, reducing the barrier to connecting ROS with modern software ecosystems.
Server Implementations of the rosbridge v2 Protocol
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Provides a consistent JSON interface to ROS, enabling any JSON-capable client to interact with ROS topics, services, and parameters, as outlined in the rosbridge protocol specification.
Supports both WebSocket and TCP transports, allowing for adaptable connectivity options suitable for web browsers and other network environments.
Includes the rosapi package for retrieving ROS meta-information like topic lists and interacting with the Parameter Server, enhancing client capabilities beyond basic publishing/subscribing.
Offers officially supported and community-maintained client libraries in JavaScript, Java, Python, and Rust, facilitating integration with diverse software stacks as part of the Robot Web Tools effort.
The JSON serialization and deserialization process introduces latency and computational cost, making it less suitable for high-frequency, real-time robotics applications compared to native ROS communication.
Rosbridge may not fully leverage ROS 2's security features like SROS2, potentially exposing systems to risks if not properly configured with additional measures such as secure WebSockets (WSS).
Requires running a separate rosbridge server and managing client connections, adding operational overhead compared to direct ROS node-to-node communication within the same ecosystem.