Operating systems for robots

Main article: Robots

Chronicle

2025

World's first open source OS for humanoid robots released

The American technology startup OpenMind introduced the OM1 operating system - the world's first open source software platform for humanoid and servicing robots, which ensures the interaction of various robotic devices regardless of manufacturer or hardware features. The system integrates artificial intelligence, perception models, memory and natural language communication tools, positioned as an analogue of Android for mobile devices, but specially adapted for the robotic industry. This was announced by the company on August 4, 2025. Read more here.

Russia has developed the CognitiveOS operating system to control any robot with regular speech

Russian specialists from Skoltech have created the CognitiveOS operating system, which allows you to control robots using ordinary human speech. The new development enables the exchange of information between robotic devices in natural language and makes it easier for a human operator to set tasks. The system can be installed on robotic devices of almost any type and combine several machines into one command. This became known in mid-July 2025. Read more here.

2024: Global Robot OS Market Size Exceeded $630 Million for the Year

In 2024, spending in the global robot operating systems market reached $630.2 million. Almost a third of this amount fell on the United States. Such data are presented in a study by Research and Markets, the results of which TAdviser got acquainted with in early December 2025.

Robot OSs perform resource management, hardware interoperability, and provide tools for developing specialized applications. Robotics software platforms can have a modular architecture, allowing complex systems to be built from reusable components. At the same time, there are ready-made libraries for solving specific problems, such as computer vision, 3D processing and kinematics control. One of the most popular systems is ROS the Robot Operating System, an open framework for creating ON for robots: it provides a set of tools to simplify the development of complex robotic systems.

The market, as noted in the review, is showing steady positive dynamics. Growth is facilitated by the introduction of collaborative and mobile robots in various industries, the development of automation in logistics and warehousing, as well as increased investment in intelligent production systems related to the Industry 4.0 concept (fourth industrial revolution). Against this background, there is a growing need for specialized software platforms that can provide seamless integration of the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence and big data for real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance and improvement of production processes.

Another driver of the sector is the surge in e-commerce. The rapid development of marketplaces and online stores has led to an increase in demand for sophisticated robotics for order processing and warehouse operations. In addition, automation tools are rapidly developing in various fields of industry. According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), released in September 2024, the fleet of industrial robots in the world reached 4.28 million units, an increase of about 10% over the year. At the same time, the annual volume of new installations exceeded half a million units.

Technological advances have a positive impact on the industry. Developers are introducing artificial intelligence-based machine vision tools, advanced sensors, etc. This stimulates the development of operating systems for robots.

The RaaS model (robotics as a service) is increasing in popularity, in which companies offer customers to use subscription robots instead of buying them. This allows businesses to reduce the initial cost of purchasing robotic systems and receive a full range of services, including maintenance, support and upgrades.

In terms of revenue share in 2024, the United States was in the lead with 30.5%, or $192 million: in this region there is an active introduction of robots in the automotive and logistics sectors. Globally, the major industry players are:

• ABB;
• Fanuc;
• Kuka AG;
• Microsoft;
• Yaskawa Electric;
• iRobot;
• Clearpath Robotics;
• Locus Robotics;
• Universal Robots (UR);
• Staubli Robotics;
• Acceleration Robotics;
• Neobotix;
• Denso;
• Kawasaki Heavy Industries;
• Omron;
• Seiko Epson;
• Apex.AI;
• Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR);
• Husarion sp. z o.o.;
• Acceed GmbH;
• Wandelbots.

Analysts at Research and Markets predict that in the future, the CAGR in the global robot operating systems market will be 13.3%. Thus, by 2034, costs could rise to $2.2 billion.^[1]

2022: Operating System Announcement

At the end of May 2022, iRobot introduced an operating system for its Genius Home Intelligence intelligent platform - iRobot OS. The operating system includes improved pet features, voice commands, and object detection features.

2018: Microsoft announces Windows for robots

In early October 2018, Microsoft announced an operating system for robots. We are talking about the version of Robot Operating System (ROS) for Windows, which was presented at the conference in Madrid. Read more here.

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