ROS / ROS 2

ROS (Robot Operating System) is not an operating system but a set of ready-made components for navigation, perception, arm control and simulation, with a common way for them to exchange messages. ROS 2 is the current generation, built for commercial and real-time use.

If a robot supports ROS 2, you can use a large body of existing software and hire people who already know it. For education and research this is nearly a requirement. For a restaurant owner it is mostly irrelevant, but it signals that the vendor does not lock you into a closed system.