Airbus Scientists Are Using the Steam Deck to Test Mars Rovers
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Airbus engineers were spotted using a Steam Deck to test prototype Mars rovers in a simulated environment, showcasing the versatility of Valve's open hardware ecosystem.
When you hand over your favorite portable gaming rig to aerospace engineers, you expect them to play a quick round on break. Instead, scientists at Airbus in the UK are using Valve's handheld to actually test the ExoMars Rover in a simulated Martian environment. As featured in a recent video by creator Tom Scott, the Steam Deck was hooked up to a custom program allowing for real-time local control of the prototype hardware via its built-in thumbsticks and buttons. Because of the vast distance to Mars, the final rover will rely heavily on autonomous navigation, but ground testing requires flexible physical controls.
This is far from the first time the open architecture of Valve's hardware has found a second life outside traditional gaming. Disney parks operators previously made headlines for using the Steam Deck to pilot animatronic droids, proving that Linux-based portable PCs appeal just as much to roboticists as they do to players knocking out daily quests on the couch. Because Valve refuses to lock down its software ecosystem, engineers and developers can treat these devices as general-purpose computers capable of running specialized telemetry and control software without jumping through proprietary hoops.
While this openness means you are paying for hardware versatility that funds manufacturing costs differently than a locked-down console, it highlights a massive win for open computing. As Valve continues to expand its hardware family with new form factors and VR tech, watching creators, scientists, and tinkerers push these devices past their intended gaming boundaries remains one of the most exciting trends in tech. If a portable handheld can handle Martian terrain testing today, the possibilities for future open headsets and living room machines are wide open.
Tags: Steam Deck, PC Gaming, Tech News, Valve
Original article: IGN South Africa