ROS 2 (Robot Operating System 2)

ROS 2 (Robot Operating System 2) is a popular open-source software framework used globally for robotics development. Built from the ground up to address the limitations of the original ROS 1, it provides a set of software tools, libraries, and conventions that simplify the task of creating complex and robust robot behavior across a wide variety of hardware platforms. Unlike traditional software, it is not 'manufactured' in a single location but is developed and maintained by a global community of contributors, though its primary stewardship and intellectual property are managed in the United States.

The project originated from research at Stanford University and was further developed by the incubator Willow Garage in Mountain View, California. In 2012, the Open Source Robotics Foundation (OSRF) was established to steer the project independently. A significant shift occurred in late 2022 when Alphabet (Google's parent company) through its subsidiary Intrinsic, acquired the for-profit arm of Open Robotics (Open Source Robotics Corporation). However, the ROS 2 brand and core open-source projects remain under the control of the independent, non-profit Open Source Robotics Foundation to ensure the ecosystem remains open and vendor-neutral.