K-10 was created by the Intelligent Robotics Group (IRG) at NASA's Ames Research Center, as part of a project to build exploration rovers for future robotic missions to the moon and to Mars.

K-10 runs Red Hat Linux, which NASA says was chosen for its large user base and application compatibility. According to NASA, "Linux's flexibility and scalability enable us to easily add, remove, and extend devices with minimal difficulty."

The Scout is a fully autonomous vehicle that can also be teleoperated, or controlled by touchscreen and joystick. Its control system is based on a pair of Dell D400 laptops running Gentoo Linux. NASA Robotics. HRP-2M Choromet



Low-cost, user-programmable humanoid robot targeting educational and research applications. The Choromet stands about 13-3/4 inches tall, and is capable of walking upright on two legs. It can also assume supine or prone positions, and stand up from either. The Choromet is based on several technologies developed by AIST, including an operating system said to provide a user-space real-time Linux environment called "ARTLinux". AIST Fujitsu Miniature Humanoid Robot



Humanoid Robot called HOAP-1 (Humanoid for Open Architecture Platform) developed by Fujitsu is designed for wide range of applications in research and development of robotic technologies. Fujitsu miniature humanoid Robot runs on RTLinux. The basic simulation software and user-developed programs are designed to run on RTLinux. Fujitsu Automation. The "Katana" Robotic Arm



Owned by Switzerland-based Neuronics. The Katana Robotic Arm is typically used for handling, measurement, or testing applications in assembly, production, and laboratory automation, says Neuronics. Operating system that runs on Katana is Linux 2.4.25 with Xenomai hard real-time extensions. The robot is billed as an "intelligent" industrial robotic arm with safety features that "allow it to work directly hand-in-hand with human operators without the need for any additional safeguards or fences," says the company. Neuronics Group. Nao - Humanoid Household Service Robot Running Linux

Aldebaran Robotics, of Paris, created Nao - a humanoid household service robot running Linux. "Nao" household robot will compete with robotic research prototypes in terms of functionality. The walking, talking, WiFi-enabled bot will stand 21.6 inches tall, and will feature 23 degrees of freedom of motion. Aldebaran-Robotics.

Sony Ericsson ROB-1



ROB-1 is actually a robot with a built-in digital camera that you control from your Sony Ericsson mobile phone using Bluetooth. It is equipped with a VGA camera (640x480) that will transmit the video back to the mobile phone. The camera is a mini computer running on Linux, powered by a 200Mhz ARM processor and 2MB of memory. Robosoft RobuROC Autonomous Vehicle



French transport and cleanliness robot specialist RoboSoft has used real-time Linux in a six-wheeled outdoor autonomous vehicle aimed at reducing human risks in reconnaissance, monitoring, and safety operations. RoboSoft says that despite its relatively small size, the RoboROC 6 boasts "incomparable crossing capabilities" thanks to its flexible, articulated design. RoboSoft Advanced Robotics. Zeno - Robot boy with two brains

The 17-inch, 4.5-pound humanoid robot can speak, learn, interact with its surroundings, and even recognize faces, according to creator Hanson Robotics. Linux is responsible for the robot's "physical brain," controlling its animation, while Windows XP is responsible for its "verbal brain," controlling its voice recognition and interaction with others.



Hanson Robotics. AIBO and Der neue Roboter scrum



Sony's AIBO (artificial intelligence bot) platform with a canid design and an open API (application programming interface), was among the most widely used platform in robo tournaments like Robocup. However, Sony announced in January of 2006 that it would discontinue AIBO. der neue Roboter (the new robot), the would-be AIBO replacement, also had a canid design similar to the AIBO. der neue Roboter is much larger than the AIBO and has 15 joints, including three for each leg, and three for the neck. courtesy: linuxfordevices



Also Read ..

Linux have a special place in Robotics. Many Robots built by multi billion organizations like NASA for advanced space exploration and other complicated tasks are powered by Linux. Robotics and automation is the key for human progress and it is good to know that Linux holds a special advantage when advanced Robotics is concerned. Here is a nicely compiled list of Robots powered by Linux from around the world.