Open Robotics Profile: History, Structure, ROS and Gazebo
Updated: Oct 15
Open Robotics is the organization that stewards the Robot Operating System, known as ROS, and the Gazebo simulator, the open-source software on which much of modern robotics is built. It began in 2012 as the Open Source Robotics Foundation. This profile sets out its history, its structure and what changed when Intrinsic bought its commercial arm.
Open Robotics at a Glance
Fact | Detail |
Organization | Open Source Robotics Foundation, known as Open Robotics |
Founded | May 2012 |
Headquarters | Mountain View, California, USA |
Software | ROS, Gazebo and Open-RMF |
Commercial arm | Acquired by Intrinsic in December 2022 |
Current governance | Open Source Robotics Alliance, since April 2024 |
Type | Non-profit foundation |
History
The first ROS distribution was released in May 2010, and the Open Source Robotics Foundation was created two years later to look after it. Its first contract came from DARPA, for the simulation software used in the DARPA Robotics Challenge; later it supported NASA's Space Robotics Challenge and the DARPA Subterranean Challenge.
In September 2016 the foundation set up a for-profit subsidiary, the Open Source Robotics Corporation, to do contract engineering. From May 2017 the two together were known as Open Robotics, and in 2018 a first overseas office opened in Singapore.
Key milestones
May 2010: First ROS distribution.
May 2012: Foundation created.
September 2016: For-profit subsidiary created.
May 2017: Open Robotics name adopted.
2018: Singapore office.
December 2022: Commercial subsidiaries acquired by Intrinsic.
April 2024: Open Source Robotics Alliance launched.
The Intrinsic Deal and the Alliance
In December 2022 Intrinsic, the robotics software company then owned by Alphabet, acquired the for-profit subsidiaries in the United States and Singapore, and with them most of the engineering staff. The non-profit foundation remained independent and kept responsibility for the open-source projects.
On April 15, 2024, the foundation launched the Open Source Robotics Alliance, a membership organization through which companies fund and help govern ROS, Gazebo and Open-RMF.
Software
Project | Purpose |
ROS | Open-source framework of libraries and tools for building robot software |
Gazebo | Robot simulator |
Open-RMF | Framework for coordinating fleets of robots from different makers in buildings |
Funding
Over the years its work has been funded by DARPA, NASA, Amazon, Bosch, Nvidia and the Toyota Research Institute, among others.
Why It Matters
ROS is used in research labs and in commercial robots across the industry, including many of the mobile robots and arms covered on this site. Open Robotics does not sell robots; its importance lies in maintaining the common software that others build on.
Open Robotics FAQ
What is Open Robotics?
The organization that stewards the open-source Robot Operating System and the Gazebo simulator.
Is Open Robotics owned by Google or Intrinsic?
No. Intrinsic acquired its for-profit subsidiaries in December 2022; the non-profit foundation remains independent.
What is the Open Source Robotics Alliance?
A membership organization launched in April 2024 to fund and govern ROS, Gazebo and Open-RMF.
When was Open Robotics founded?
The Open Source Robotics Foundation was created in May 2012.
Is ROS free?
Yes. It is open-source software.
