ROS / ROS 2

ROS (Robot Operating System)

Active Open source Real-time capable API available

CATEGORYROS / ROS 2

LICENSESApache-2.0

ROS (Robot Operating System) is an open-source framework and middleware for building robot software. Despite its name, it is not an operating system — it provides an inter-process (node) communication model based on topics, services and actions, as well as a set of libraries, hardware drivers and tools (including for visualization, simulation, coordinate-frame transforms and package management).

The first generation (ROS 1) originated at the Willow Garage lab and became the de facto standard in robotics research. The modern ROS 2 generation was redesigned for production and multi-robot systems: communication is based on the DDS standard, with better support for real-time operation, security and distributed deployment. ROS 2 releases (e.g. Humble, Jazzy, Kilted, Rolling) follow a cycle tied to Ubuntu versions.

ROS is developed by the open-source community and the Open Source Robotics Foundation / Open Robotics, and is released under the Apache-2.0 license (ROS 2; ROS 1 was historically BSD). It is the foundation for a huge number of robots, libraries and projects — including the EasyNavigation and StrataSLAM navigation systems and many others listed in this set.

Website Documentation Repository

Type & Roles

Software types

Robotics middleware

Middleware layer integrating robotic-system components (communication, drivers, tools).

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Maturity & Adoption

Last update9 November 2026

ROS supportCompatibility with ROS / ROS 2 ecosystem

ROS 2

ROS 1

System capabilities

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Open source

Source code is publicly available under an open-source license — enables security audits, custom modifications, and integration without licensing barriers.

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⚡

Real-time capable

Designed with timing-determinism guarantees — meets the requirements of control loops, safety systems, and tasks demanding low, predictable latency.

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⟨/⟩

API available

The software exposes a programmable interface (REST, gRPC, SDK, or language bindings) that enables automation and integration with other systems.

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📦

Pre-built / binary

Distributed as ready-to-use binary packages, container images, or installers — no need to build from source.

Programming languages

C++Python

C++

A compiled, high-performance, general-purpose programming language. The primary implementation language of the ONNX Runtime core.

Python

A high-level interpreted language dominant in machine learning. ONNX Runtime provides an official Python API.

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Licenses

Apache-2.0Apache License 2.0

Permissive open-source license with a patent grant.

BSD-3-ClauseBSD 3-Clause License

Permissive open-source license with three clauses.

No version history.