drake
Model-based design and verification for robotics
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you are working on robot dynamics, control design, or trajectory optimization and can work with Python ≥3.12. The active maintenance, recent release, and zero known vulnerabilities are positive signals. However, verify that the Mosek solver dependency and mixed licensing (BSD + proprietary) align with your project's requirements and budget before committing.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python ≥3.12; Mosek solver (a runtime dependency) may require a separate license or installation.
- Medium install friction due to compiled wheels for specific Python versions (3.12–3.14) and platforms (Linux, macOS ARM64/x86_64).
- Active maintenance with a release 30 days ago.
License · maintenance · safety
Various (permissive) — Licensed under BSD and other proprietary terms ("Various"). The permissive treatment suggests no viral copyleft, but the mixed licensing warrants review of the full license terms before commercial use.
last release 2026-07-15 (30 days)
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 265,414 downloads/mo, #8,325 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install drake
import drake
plant = drake.systems.LeafSystem()- Whether Mosek is freely available or requires a commercial license for production use.
- Full scope of "Various" license terms and any restrictions on derivative works or commercial deployment.
- Availability of pre-built wheels for all target platforms and Python versions in your environment.
What it is and what it does
Drake is a robotics toolbox developed by the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab and now led by the Toyota Research Institute. It provides tools for analyzing robot dynamics and designing control systems with an emphasis on optimization-based approaches. The package integrates with standard scientific Python libraries (numpy, matplotlib) and includes visualization via pydot and configuration via PyYAML.
It is primarily used by roboticists and control engineers to model, simulate, and verify robotic systems. The package targets modern Python (3.12+) and is distributed as compiled wheels for Linux and macOS, making installation straightforward on supported platforms. Its heavy reliance on optimization—particularly via the Mosek solver—means it is best suited for users working on trajectory planning, motion control, and system verification rather than general-purpose robotics tasks.
Use it for
- Simulate and analyze robot arm dynamics for trajectory planning and control design.
- Verify robot locomotion controllers using optimization-based methods.
- Design and test manipulation tasks with dynamics constraints.
- Build and validate multi-robot coordination strategies.
- Prototype and validate control algorithms before hardware deployment.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you are working on robot dynamics, control design, or trajectory optimization and can work with Python ≥3.12.
The active maintenance, recent release, and zero known vulnerabilities are positive signals. However, verify that the Mosek solver dependency and mixed licensing (BSD + proprietary) align with your project's requirements and budget before committing.
Install
drake on PyPI
Before you install
Medium install friction due to compiled wheels for specific Python versions (3.12–3.14) and platforms (Linux, macOS ARM64/x86_64). Active maintenance with a release 30 days ago. Requires Python ≥3.12 and has five runtime dependencies including the commercial solver Mosek.
Requires Python ≥3.12; Mosek solver (a runtime dependency) may require a separate license or installation.
License in practice
Licensed under BSD and other proprietary terms ("Various"). The permissive treatment suggests no viral copyleft, but the mixed licensing warrants review of the full license terms before commercial use.
Quickstart
pip install drake
import drake
plant = drake.systems.LeafSystem()Verify before relying
- Whether Mosek is freely available or requires a commercial license for production use.
- Full scope of "Various" license terms and any restrictions on derivative works or commercial deployment.
- Availability of pre-built wheels for all target platforms and Python versions in your environment.
Package facts
| License | Various permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.12 |
| Install friction | Medium. Platform-specific wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 5 packagesmatplotlibnumpypydotPyYAMLMosek |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 30 days since the last release |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 265,414 / month, #8,325 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 4 - BetaEnvironment :: ConsoleIntended Audience :: DevelopersIntended Audience :: Science/ResearchLicense :: OSI Approved :: BSD LicenseLicense :: Other/Proprietary LicenseOperating System :: MacOSOperating System :: POSIX :: LinuxProgramming Language :: Python :: 3 :: OnlyProgramming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPythonTopic :: Scientific/EngineeringTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python Modules |
Evidence: drake-1.55.0-cp312-cp312-manylinux_2_34_aarch64.whl; drake-1.55.0-cp312-cp312-manylinux_2_34_x86_64.whl; drake-1.55.0-cp313-cp313-macosx_15_0_arm64.whl; drake-1.55.0-cp313-cp313-manylinux_2_34_aarch64.whl; drake-1.55.0-cp313-cp313-manylinux_2_34_x86_64.whl; drake-1.55.0-cp314-cp314-macosx_15_0_arm64.whl; drake-1.55.0-cp314-cp314-manylinux_2_34_aarch64.whl; drake-1.55.0-cp314-cp314-manylinux_2_34_x86_64.whl
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See also python-motion-planning · flexivrdk · libpinocchio · pin · robosuite · toppra · mjlab · robotframework · gym-aloha · aero-open-sdk