Robot Operating System

Robot Operating System
Open Source Robotics Foundation · CC BY 3.0 · source
Name	Robot Operating System
Developer	Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory and Morgan Quigley
Initial release	2007
Operating system	Linux, macOS, Windows
Language	C++, Python
License	BSD license

Robot Operating System is a software framework that enables developers to create and manage complex robotics systems, such as those used in NASA's Curiosity Rover and Boston Dynamics' Atlas (robot). The system provides a set of tools and libraries that simplify the process of building and programming robots, allowing developers to focus on creating innovative applications, like those used in MIT Robotics and Carnegie Mellon University's School of Computer Science. With its open-source nature, the Robot Operating System has become a widely-used platform in the robotics community, with contributions from researchers and developers at institutions like Stanford University and Georgia Institute of Technology. The system's flexibility and customizability have made it a popular choice for a range of applications, from autonomous vehicles to human-robot interaction systems, as seen in projects like Google Self-Driving Car and Microsoft Robotics Studio.

Introduction

The Robot Operating System is designed to provide a common platform for building and programming robots, allowing developers to create complex systems that can interact with their environment and perform a variety of tasks, such as those demonstrated by Honda ASIMO and Sony Aibo. The system is built on top of a Linux kernel and provides a set of tools and libraries that simplify the process of building and programming robots, including support for computer vision and machine learning algorithms, as used in OpenCV and TensorFlow. With its modular architecture, the Robot Operating System allows developers to easily integrate new components and sensors, such as those provided by Intel and Microsoft, into their systems, enabling the creation of complex robots like KUKA and ABB Robotics. The system's open-source nature has also led to the development of a large community of users and contributors, including researchers and developers at institutions like University of California, Berkeley and University of Michigan.

History

The Robot Operating System was first developed in 2007 by Morgan Quigley and Brian Gerkey at the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, with support from Willow Garage and Google. The system was initially designed to provide a common platform for building and programming robots, and has since become a widely-used platform in the robotics community, with contributions from researchers and developers at institutions like Carnegie Mellon University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The system's early development was influenced by the work of researchers like Rodney Brooks and Hans Moravec, who developed early robotics systems like Soar (cognitive architecture) and ELIZA. The Robot Operating System has also been used in a range of applications, including autonomous vehicles and human-robot interaction systems, as seen in projects like DARPA Grand Challenge and European Robotics League.

Architecture

The Robot Operating System is built on top of a Linux kernel and provides a set of tools and libraries that simplify the process of building and programming robots, including support for computer vision and machine learning algorithms, as used in OpenCV and TensorFlow. The system's architecture is modular, allowing developers to easily integrate new components and sensors into their systems, enabling the creation of complex robots like KUKA and ABB Robotics. The system also provides a set of tools for debugging and testing, including support for GDB and Valgrind, as well as integration with IDEs like Eclipse and Visual Studio. The Robot Operating System's architecture is also influenced by the work of researchers like David Kortenkamp and Reid Simmons, who developed early robotics systems like 3T (robotics) and Nomad (robot). The system's flexibility and customizability have made it a popular choice for a range of applications, from autonomous vehicles to human-robot interaction systems, as seen in projects like Google Self-Driving Car and Microsoft Robotics Studio.

Components

The Robot Operating System includes a range of components, including support for computer vision and machine learning algorithms, as used in OpenCV and TensorFlow. The system also provides a set of tools for debugging and testing, including support for GDB and Valgrind, as well as integration with IDEs like Eclipse and Visual Studio. The system's components are designed to be modular, allowing developers to easily integrate new components and sensors into their systems, enabling the creation of complex robots like KUKA and ABB Robotics. The Robot Operating System also includes support for a range of sensors and actuators, including LIDAR and GPS, as used in autonomous vehicles and human-robot interaction systems, as seen in projects like DARPA Grand Challenge and European Robotics League. The system's components are also influenced by the work of researchers like Seth Hutchinson and Frank Dellaert, who developed early robotics systems like Player (robotics) and Stage (robotics). The Robot Operating System's components have been used in a range of applications, including autonomous vehicles and human-robot interaction systems, as seen in projects like Google Self-Driving Car and Microsoft Robotics Studio.

Applications

The Robot Operating System has been used in a range of applications, including autonomous vehicles and human-robot interaction systems, as seen in projects like DARPA Grand Challenge and European Robotics League. The system's flexibility and customizability have made it a popular choice for a range of applications, from autonomous vehicles to human-robot interaction systems, as seen in projects like Google Self-Driving Car and Microsoft Robotics Studio. The Robot Operating System has also been used in a range of industrial and commercial applications, including manufacturing and logistics, as seen in projects like KUKA and ABB Robotics. The system's open-source nature has also led to the development of a large community of users and contributors, including researchers and developers at institutions like University of California, Berkeley and University of Michigan. The Robot Operating System's applications are also influenced by the work of researchers like Rodney Brooks and Hans Moravec, who developed early robotics systems like Soar (cognitive architecture) and ELIZA. The system's applications have been recognized with awards like National Science Foundation and DARPA funding, as well as partnerships with companies like Intel and Microsoft.

Development and Community

The Robot Operating System is developed and maintained by a large community of users and contributors, including researchers and developers at institutions like Stanford University and Carnegie Mellon University. The system's open-source nature has led to the development of a large community of users and contributors, with contributions from researchers and developers at institutions like University of California, Berkeley and University of Michigan. The Robot Operating System's development is also influenced by the work of researchers like David Kortenkamp and Reid Simmons, who developed early robotics systems like 3T (robotics) and Nomad (robot). The system's community is supported by a range of organizations, including Willow Garage and Google, as well as institutions like MIT Robotics and Georgia Institute of Technology. The Robot Operating System's development and community have been recognized with awards like National Science Foundation and DARPA funding, as well as partnerships with companies like Intel and Microsoft. The system's community has also been involved in a range of projects, including autonomous vehicles and human-robot interaction systems, as seen in projects like Google Self-Driving Car and Microsoft Robotics Studio.

Category:Robotics software