> For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL.
> For a complete documentation index, see https://docs.stereolabs.com/docs/integrations/isaac-sim/old-version-of-the-zed-extension-for-isaac-sim/llms.txt.
> For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://docs.stereolabs.com/_mcp/server.

# ZED Isaac Sim Extension Overview

> **Warning**
>
> This is documentation for previous versions of the **Isaac Sim ZED Extension \< 4.0.0**.
>
> For the most recent version, please refer to [this page](/docs/integrations/isaac-sim/)

The ZED Camera extension for NVIDIA® Isaac Sim enables developers to connect the ZED SDK to their virtual ZED Cameras in Isaac Sim, allowing them to seamlessly simulate ZED-based robotics applications.

Some examples of applications:

* Smart navigation, where mobile robots autonomously navigate in a virtual environment using the ZED SDK, the ZED ROS 2 wrapper, and any virtual robot rigged with the ZED X camera.
* Repeatable testing environment that makes it easier to debug and optimize applications.

![image](/_fern-img/3f0749c55b4ef89d9fcd8bd22eaa16aa7c4001d66382cc4778eb74c272a6cde9.webp)

## ZED Camera extension

The extension is available through the community (or third-party) tab in the NVIDIA® Isaac Sim extension manager. It includes the Omnigraph node needed to stream data and the USD model of the ZED X camera.

The extension can also be found on the official [StereoLabs GitHub repository](https://github.com/stereolabs/zed-isaac-sim).

## Get started

To connect your virtual ZED camera to the ZED SDK, you have to complete the following steps:

### Step 1: Install NVIDIA® Isaac Sim

The recommended way to install Isaac Sim is to use the [Omniverse launcher](https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/omniverse/). You can find the [installation instructions here](/docs/integrations/isaac-sim/old-version-of-the-zed-extension-for-isaac-sim/get-started-with-isaac-sim).

### Step 2: Install the ZED SDK

The ZED SDK must be installed on the machine running Isaac Sim. You can find the [installation instructions here](/docs/development/zed-sdk).

### Step 3: Add the virtual camera to your simulation

If you haven't already, we recommend familiarizing yourself with Isaac Sim by reading the [Isaac Sim Main Concepts](https://docs.isaacsim.omniverse.nvidia.com/latest/reference_material/reference_glossary.html) section of the official NVIDIA® documentation.

Then, get started with the [ZED camera in Isaac Sim](/docs/integrations/isaac-sim/old-version-of-the-zed-extension-for-isaac-sim/setting-up-the-zed-in-isaac-sim)!

### ROS 2 integration

Isaac Sim can be used to simulate robots and generate ZED data for use with ROS 2 and the ZED ROS 2 Wrapper.

Follow this [guide](/docs/integrations/isaac-sim/old-version-of-the-zed-extension-for-isaac-sim/using-the-zed-with-ros-2-in-isaac-sim) to learn how to configure the [*Isaac Sim ROS 2 Bridge*](https://docs.isaacsim.omniverse.nvidia.com/latest/installation/install_ros.html#enabling-the-ros-bridge-extension) to send simulated information to a [*ZED ROS 2 Wrapper*](https://github.com/stereolabs/zed-ros2-wrapper) node.

## Docs

- [Getting started with Isaac Sim](https://docs.stereolabs.com/docs/integrations/isaac-sim/old-version-of-the-zed-extension-for-isaac-sim/get-started-with-isaac-sim.md)
- [Setting up ZED Camera in Isaac Sim](https://docs.stereolabs.com/docs/integrations/isaac-sim/old-version-of-the-zed-extension-for-isaac-sim/setting-up-the-zed-in-isaac-sim.md)
- [Using ZED with ROS 2 and Isaac Sim](https://docs.stereolabs.com/docs/integrations/isaac-sim/old-version-of-the-zed-extension-for-isaac-sim/using-the-zed-with-ros-2-in-isaac-sim.md)