ISS using Linux for key functions, humanoid space robot | WIRED UK

by Hallie Siegel

13 May 2013

share this:

The International Space Station is switching from Windows to Linux for functions which require increased in-house control, including the control of the R2 humanoid robot.

Designed to take over some of the astronaut’s responsibilities, R2 will be the first humanoid robot in space. Running on Linux, the robot can be manipulated by onboard astronauts with ground controllers commanding it into position and performing operations.

Read more: WIRED UK, Linux Press Release

tags: ISS

Hallie Siegel robotics editor-at-large

Robot Talk Episode 123 – Standardising robot programming, with Nick Thompson

Robot Talk 30 May 2025

In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Nick Thompson from BOW about software that makes robots easier to program.

Congratulations to the #AAMAS2025 best paper, best demo, and distinguished dissertation award winners

AIhub 29 May 2025

Find out who won the awards presented at the International Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems last week.

Congratulations to the #ICRA2025 best paper award winners

AIhub 27 May 2025

The winners and finalists in the different categories have been announced.

#ICRA2025 social media round-up

AIhub 23 May 2025

Find out what the participants got up to at the International Conference on Robotics & Automation.

Robot Talk Episode 122 – Bio-inspired flying robots, with Jane Pauline Ramos Ramirez

Robot Talk 23 May 2025

In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Jane Pauline Ramos Ramirez from Delft University of Technology about drones that can move on land and in the air.

Robot Talk Episode 121 – Adaptable robots for the home, with Lerrel Pinto

Robot Talk 16 May 2025

In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Lerrel Pinto from New York University about using machine learning to train robots to adapt to new environments.

What’s coming up at #ICRA2025?

AIhub 16 May 2025

Find out what's in store at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics & Automation, which will take place from 19-23 May.

Robot see, robot do: System learns after watching how-tos

Cornell University 14 May 2025

Researchers have developed a new robotic framework that allows robots to learn tasks by watching a how-to video