Forget gaming on your Steam Deck, it's being used to control a Mars rover prototype instead
Airbus engineers have employed Valve's Steam Deck handheld as a fancy remote control for the firm's new ExoMars
Valve's Steam Deck, a portable PC typically used for gaming, is being repurposed in an unexpected way by Airbus. The aerospace company is utilizing the Deck to control a prototype Mars rover during its development and testing phase. The ExoMars rover, a fully autonomous device set to explore the Red Planet, is being crafted in the UK by Airbus.
A video shared by YouTuber Tom Scott, following a visit to Airbus' facility, showcased the Steam Deck running custom software, with the thumbsticks, triggers, and face buttons employed to maneuver the rover in a Mars-like environment. Although utilizing a Steam Deck may appear unconventional, the device's Linux-powered, Linux-compatible design with physical, touchscreen, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth capabilities makes it a fitting tool for such a sophisticated mission.
As Airbus engineers in Stevenage, UK, continue to design the mechanical, thermal, and propulsion systems for the rover's landing platform, which is scheduled to land on Mars in 2030, the Steam Deck's role in this project remains a testament to the device's versatility and potential future uses.
Written by urgent.news from Tom's Hardware's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
