In the world of robotics, open-source software has become a cornerstone for innovation, collaboration, and accessibility. Free and open-source software (FOSS) empowers developers, researchers, and enthusiasts to create, share, and improve robotic systems without the constraints of proprietary licenses. By leveraging FOSS, the robotics community fosters a collaborative environment where knowledge is freely exchanged, and cutting-edge technology is made accessible to all. This page introduces you to the role of FOSS in the field of robotics, with a special focus on its integration with the Robot Operating System (ROS). ROS is an open-source framework that provides tools, libraries, and conventions to simplify the development of complex robotic systems. Whether you're designing a new robot, exploring robotic algorithms, or contributing to an open-source project, you'll find how FOSS tools and ROS can accelerate your work and expand the potential of your robotics projects.

ROS 1 (Robot Operating System 1) is the pioneering open-source framework that has become the backbone of modern robotics development. Launched over a decade ago, ROS 1 has enabled robotics researchers, engineers, and enthusiasts around the world to create, share, and improve robotic systems with unprecedented ease and flexibility. While ROS 1 has been the foundation of many successful robotic projects, it has also paved the way for ROS 2, which builds on its strengths while addressing new challenges. However, it is considered obsolete nowadays.

ROS 2 (Robot Operating System 2) is the next-generation framework designed to support the development of advanced robotic systems. Building on the success of its predecessor, ROS 1, ROS 2 introduces a host of new features that address the evolving needs of modern robotics, including real-time performance, improved security, and enhanced scalability for complex, distributed systems. At its core, ROS 2 offers a flexible set of tools, libraries, and conventions that simplify the development, simulation, and deployment of robotics applications. It contains enhanced communication frameworks, better integration with industry-standard hardware, and the ability to deploy on multiple platforms, from embedded systems to cloud-based infrastructures. This enables roboticists to address real-time requirements, multi-robot coordination, and other advanced capabilities with ease.

MoveIt! is one of the most widely used open-source libraries for motion planning, manipulation, and control in robotics. It provides advanced tools for robot arm manipulation, 3D perception, and planning with various optimization methods. It is crucial for industrial applications like robotic arms and has been adopted by a large number of research institutions and companies.

Gazebo is a powerful simulation environment that integrates with ROS to simulate robots in 3D environments. It allows developers to test algorithms, design robots, and conduct experiments without the need for real-world hardware. Gazebo is critical for testing and developing robotic systems in a virtual environment before deployment, making it an essential tool for robotics development.