The Steam Deck Is Being Used to Test Mars Rovers
The Steam Deck has been around for four years at this point, and while I mostly use it to play Ball x Pit while I watch TV, scientists at Airbus in the UK have used it to test the the ExoMars Rover.
The Steam Deck, a gaming handheld device, has been repurposed by scientists at Airbus in the UK for testing the ExoMars Rover. In a YouTube video, a senior engineer explains the progress of the rover, which will be controlled autonomously via mounted 3D cameras due to the vast distance between Mars and Earth. Currently, the rover requires manual control using a computer.
Initially, instructions were given to the prototype rover through a laptop. Later in the video, a Steam Deck running a custom program enables real-time control of a different prototype rover, thanks to the integrated controller. While the video lacks specifics about the program, the potential applications for the Steam Deck extend beyond gaming.
Valve's open hardware, designed for Linux, allows users to install various programs, including those for controlling robotics. Valve engineers seem receptive to this use case, emphasizing the versatility of good hardware. This open-ended approach has led to the Steam Deck, Steam Machine, and Steam Frame being utilized for unconventional purposes, including Mars rover testing.
The Steam Frame, in particular, holds promise for future applications, with the potential for scientists to leverage its motion-tracking capabilities in innovative ways.
Written by urgent.news from IGN's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
