ROSConJP recap, space robotics, and new ROS 2 AUV highlight busy week
Japan's ROSCon draws crowds, NASA Ames rover runs ROS 2 Jazzy
The open-source robotics community is buzzing after a successful ROSConJP, with Japanese colleagues celebrating another well-attended event. Photos and videos highlight a JAXA tour for attendees, while former Open Robotics members visited the Intelligent Robotics Group at NASA Ames, where a test-bed rover runs ROS 2 Jazzy. Space robotics was the week's hottest theme: Picknik held a webinar with Rocket Lab, and the NASA Fly Foundation Robotics Mission is still accepting applications—with rumors of a larger space robotics competition for 2027.
Two notable open-source releases stand out. OpenMantaClaus is a low-cost, ROS 2-based autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) designed for the Singapore AUV Challenge, making underwater robotics more accessible. Meanwhile, Robot System Quest, debuted at ROSConJP, offers games and lessons to teach ROS 2 concepts through play. The community calendar is packed: ROS By-The-Bay at InOrbit, Foxglove's Actuate conference, a Scenic workshop at UC Santa Cruz, and Trossen Robotics' ROS Industry Night in San Francisco. Regular tickets for Global ROSCon 2026 in Toronto expire August 24th.
- Space robotics surged: JAXA tour at ROSConJP, NASA Ames site visit with ROS 2 Jazzy rover, and Picknik-Rocket Lab webinar
- OpenMantaClaus, a low-cost open-source ROS 2 AUV, launched for underwater competitions like SAUVC
- Global ROSCon 2026 in Toronto: regular ticket deadline August 24th; six regional ROSCon events announced across UK, Singapore, Spain, Italy, Belgium, and Turkey
Why It Matters
ROS 2 is expanding into space, underwater, and education—lowering barriers for robotics developers worldwide.