ROS (Robot Operating System) - definition
ROS (Robot Operating System) - definition
ROS (Robot Operating System) is an open source development environment designed to develop software for robotic systems. Despite its name, ROS is not a classic operating system, but a software layer running above a traditional system, most commonly Linux. It provides a set of tools, libraries and conventions to design complex applications that control robots, including inter-process communication, sensor management, actuators, location, motion planning and perception.
The basis of the ROS architecture is communication based on a publish-subscribe model and services that enable the exchange of data between independent components - so-called nodes. Each node is responsible for a specific functionality and can be developed independently, which promotes modularity and easy code reuse. This makes it possible to create scalable distributed systems in which multiple components interact in real time.
ROS supports many programming languages, including C++ and Python, making it easy to integrate with existing solutions and create new algorithms. The rich ecosystem of ROS packages includes off-the-shelf libraries for mapping, SLAM (simultaneous localisation and mapping), navigation, object detection, image processing and interfaces to popular hardware platforms. The system also includes Tools for data visualisation (RViz), simulation of environments (Gazebo) and configuration management and application launch (roslaunch).
Versions of ROS are developed and released periodically, and newer implementations, such as ROS 2, offer support for real-time systems, cross-platform communication and improved security and reliability for industrial applications. ROS is widely used in research, education, prototyping and commercial robotic systems, from mobile robots to industrial arms and social robots.
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