Operating System
An
Operating System (OS) is a piece of software that manages the different types of hardware in the system. The operating system can form the bridge between the hardware and an application, so the application might only need to interact with the operating system rather than the specific configuration of hardware unique to each computer. The operating system also manages the use of each hardware component and the overall operation of the computer system.
More simplistic robotic systems that utilize microcontrollers don't contain operating systems – since the programs that run on them are fairly basic. That being said however, more complex robotic systems that incorporate substantial computing power, usually have an operating system to manage the hardware. The turtlebot that uses an auxiliary computer with an OS to perform the more complex calculations for movement and decision making. To learn more about Operating Systems, take a look at the links below:
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