NAVist

NAVist, short for Navigation and Visualization System, is an open-source software framework designed for map-based navigation and autonomous systems. It provides a modular suite of components for localization, mapping, route planning, perception, and simulation, with emphasis on interoperability and extensibility. It is used in robotics research, autonomous vehicles, and geographic information applications, supporting 2D and 3D maps and real-time operation on multiple platforms.

NAVist employs a plugin-based architecture with a core engine that exposes standardized interfaces for sensors, vehicle models, and world representations. The framework supports data formats such as OpenStreetMap, OpenDRIVE, and GeoJSON, and can ingest sensor streams from LIDAR, cameras, and GNSS. It runs as a standalone application or integrates with ROS and ROS2.

It features modules for perception, localization, mapping, and planning, including SLAM-based localization, multi-sensor fusion, and multiple planners (for example, A*, D*, and sampling-based methods). The built-in simulator provides sensor models and scenario playback, aiding development and testing in a controlled environment.

Development is governed by an Apache 2.0 license, with community contributions through an official repository. A Technical Steering Committee coordinates workstreams for perception, planning, visualization, and quality assurance. The NAVist ecosystem includes examples, tutorials, and dockerized deployment to facilitate adoption in research and industry.

Applications span academic research, automotive pilot projects, and education. NAVist is commonly used with Gazebo or other simulators and can interoperate with cloud workflows and CI pipelines. While widely adopted, users may encounter a learning curve and integration effort for complex multi-robot or large-scale deployments.