ROS MCP Server
Robot Operating System interfaces enable AI control and observation of ROS and ROS 2 robots.
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Overview
ROS MCP Server allows large language models to interact with robotic systems by bridging communication between AI agents and ROS environments. It facilitates bidirectional flow, allowing models to subscribe to sensor data, monitor robot states, call services, and execute actions directly through existing ROS infrastructure. The server is designed to work without requiring modifications to existing robot source code, requiring only the addition of a rosbridge node. It automatically discovers topics, services, actions, and custom types, enabling agents to interpret robot capabilities and perform diagnostics or task execution based on natural language prompts.
Our verdict
This server receives a security score of 38/100, indicating a high-risk profile primarily due to the complete lack of an authentication method, meaning anyone with access to the configuration can control connected robots. It also provides full write access by default with no read-only mode, and it is a community-maintained project rather than an official vendor release. Given these risks, this tool is best suited for controlled research or development environments rather than deployment on production or sensitive physical hardware.
- Supports both ROS 1 and ROS 2 distributions
- Zero direct dependencies reduce supply chain surface
- Enables automated discovery of custom topics and service types
- No authentication method available
- Default configuration allows full write access
- Community-maintained without official vendor support
Compatibility
| Client | Local | Docker | Remote | Read-only |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | ||||
| Claude Desktop | ||||
| Cursor | ||||
| VS Code | ||||
| Windsurf |
Frequently asked questions
›What ROS versions are supported by the server?
The server is compatible with ROS 2 distributions such as Jazzy and Humble, as well as ROS 1.
›Do I need to modify my existing robot source code to use this server?
No, you do not need to change your robot source code; you simply need to add the rosbridge node to your existing ROS setup.
›What are the environment requirements for running the server?
The server requires Python 3.10 or higher and pip version 23.0 or higher.
›Which AI clients are compatible with this MCP server?
The server works with any MCP-compatible client, including Claude Code, Codex CLI, Gemini CLI, Claude Desktop, ChatGPT, and Cursor.
Alternatives
Changelog
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