Robot Operating System (ROS) is a widely used software framework in modern robotic applications. Although it is not an operating system, ROS is an open-source platform that provides the necessary tools and infrastructure for developing, managing, and controlling robotic systems. The primary reason for using ROS in the robotics world is that it offers flexibility and scalability, speeding up the software development process in complex robotics projects.

Why is it Used?

ROS facilitates communication between robots by offering a messaging infrastructure that enables seamless data sharing between different components such as sensors, motors, control systems, and artificial intelligence algorithms. Additionally, due to its modular structure, new robots can be created using existing solutions and packages without the need to develop software from scratch for each robot. This makes ROS a preferred choice for its reusability, flexibility, and time-saving benefits during the development process.

Applications

Autonomous Vehicles and Drones: ROS helps process sensor data to enable vehicles or drones to perceive their surroundings and navigate autonomously.
Industrial Robotics: In factory automation systems, ROS is used to enable robotic arms to perform precise and repeatable movements
Research and Development: In the academic world, ROS is widely accepted as a standard platform for robotics research, allowing for rapid development of experiments.
Healthcare Robotics: ROS is used to control surgical robots and robots in care services, ensuring high precision.
Service Robots: In domestic or commercial settings, ROS plays a critical role in enabling robots to perceive the environment and plan tasks, such as cleaning or delivery.

Benefits

Open Source and Flexible: Developers can utilize thousands of ROS packages created by global communities and customize them as needed.

Modular Architecture: ROS manages each component of a robot as individual nodes, meaning that changes or updates to one component do not affect the other systems.

Reusability: There are already developed libraries and algorithms available for many robotic projects. Developers can use these existing solutions instead of starting from scratch.

Simulation Support: ROS integrates with simulation tools like Gazebo, allowing virtual testing before real-world trials. This reduces development costs and risks.

Large Community and Support: ROS has a large global user and developer community, enabling quick support and the development of new solutions when challenges arise.

In summary, ROS makes robotic systems more accessible and flexible through its powerful tools for development, simulation, and integration, finding wide applications in both industry and academia.