MULTI-MODE ROBOT PROGRAMMING

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for robot programming. One of the methods comprises generating an interactive user interface that includes an illustration of a virtual robot corresponding to a physical robot; receiving first user input data specifying a first target pose of the virtual robot; causing the physical robot to traverse to the first target pose while updating in real-time the illustration of the virtual robot as the physical robot transitions to the first target pose; receiving a user request to switch from operating in a synchronized mode to operating in an unsynchronized mode; receiving second user input data specifying a second target pose of the virtual robot; and generating an animation of the virtual robot transitioning from the first target pose to the second target pose but withholding causing the physical robot to traverse to the second target pose.