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Robot Operating System (ROS) and Open Source Robotics

Developing and deploying robotics systems is difficult, time consuming, and error prone, and as a result robotics innovation and commercialization efforts have been slowed or stalled. To address the problem Robot Operating System (ROS)—open source system software for robotics—was developed. ROS includes software libraries, tools, and a run-time environment specifically designed to ease the burden of creating advanced robotic applications.

ROS usage among robotics researchers is widespread and increasing rapidly. ROS is now considered standard technology among robotics researchers, but equally important, the next-generation of robotics engineers will be versed in ROS. Industry support for ROS is also gaining, with a commercial robots and automation products based on ROS entering and succeeding in the market. ROS has the potential to become a foundational software platform for all manner of actuated devices, ranging from service robots to industrial manipulators and on to consumer systems, autonomous vehicles, and more.

This report will address a number of important issues related to Robot Operating System including 1) the commercial use of open source software, 2) the components of the ROS framework, 3) ROS adoption and growth, ROS for industrial systems, 5) the limitations of ROS, and 6) the future of Robot Operating Systems.

Table of Contents

  • 1. INTRODUCTION
  • 2. WHY IS ROS IMPORTANT?
  • 3. OPEN SOURCE AND STANDARDS
    • 3.1. Open Source for Robotics
    • 3.2. Open Source Usage for Robotics
    • 3.3. Open Source for Commercial Systems
    • 3.4. Exceeding Enterprise IT Benefits
    • 3.5. Commercial Open Source
    • 3.6. Open Source for Real-time Systems
    • 3.7. Setting a Precedent
  • 4. ROBOT OPERATING SYSTEM
    • 4.1. The Problem
    • 4.2. Robot Operating System
    • 4.3. The Goals of ROS
    • 4.4. Open Source Robotics Foundation
    • 4.5. The ROS Ecosystem
    • 4.6. Platform Support
  • 5. DEVELOPMENT TOOLS
  • 6. ADOPTION AND GROWTH OF ROS
    • 6.1. ROS for Research Systems
    • 6.2. Commercial ROS Based Research Systems
    • 6.3. ROS for Industrial Systems
    • 6.4. ROS for Service Systems
    • 6.5. ROS for Consumer Systems
    • 6.6. ROS for Military/Defense Systems
    • 6.7. Future Growth
  • 7. ROS FOR INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS (ROS INDUSTRIAL)
    • 7.1. The ROS-Industrial Consortium
    • 7.2. Proven Consortium Model
    • 7.3. "Open" Business Model
    • 7.4. RIC Membership
    • 7.5. Focused Technical Projects
    • 7.6. ROS-I Technical Support
    • 7.7. Future Plans
  • 8. LIMITATIONS OF ROS
  • 9. ROS 2.0

Tables

  1. Open Source Robotics Foundation Sponsors (9/2014)
  2. Estimated Commercial Robots Systems Supporting ROS
  3. Hardware Supported by ROS-Industrial (9/2014)
  4. ROS-Industrial Consortium Members (9/2014)
  5. Funding Sources for the ROS-Industrial Consortium
  6. ROS-Industrial Sponsorship Levels

Charts

  1. ROS .Deb Downloads
  2. Cumulative Number of Papers Citing ROS: An Open-source Robot Operating System
  3. Commercial Robots Supporting ROS
  4. ROSCon 2014 Attendees

Figures

  1. ROS and the Open Source Robotics Foundation
  2. The ROS Ecosystem and Solutions Stack
  3. Examples of Commercial Research Robots Employing ROS
  4. Examples of Commercial Industrial Robots and Supporting Technologies Employing ROS
  5. Examples of Commercial Service Robots Employing ROS
  6. ROS and Industrial Robots
  7. The ROS-Industrial Ecosystem
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Research Information

Price
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Publish Date
4Q 2014
Code
AN-1836
Research Type
Technology Analysis Report
Pages
24