Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for controlling robots based on generated robot simulations. A robot simulation application is configured to receive a robot definition specifying the geometry of a robot, a list of points defining a toolpath that a head of the robot follows during an operation, and a number of simulations of the robot performing the operation. The simulation application then performs the number of simulations, displays results of those simulations, and generates code for controlling a physical robot based on a user selection of one of those simulations. During each simulation, if a robotic problem, such as an axis limit or a singularity problem, is encountered, then the simulation application attempts to resolve the problem by rotating the robot head in both directions about a tool axis and determining a smallest angle of rotation in either direction that resolves the robotic problem, if any.