Valve’s portable Steam Deck gaming console has found an unexpected application in the field of advanced technology. Aerospace giant Airbus has involved the console in the development and testing of a prototype for the new ExoMars mission rover.
The unusual pairing of a space rover and a gaming device was demonstrated at an Airbus facility in the United Kingdom during filming by popular YouTube creator Tom Scott. Using the Steam Deck’s sticks, triggers, and physical buttons, the presenter was able to personally control the test platform on a special proving ground designed to simulate Martian terrain.
Why the Steam Deck?
At first glance, the decision to entrust rover control to a gaming console may seem unusual, but from a technical perspective it is entirely justified. The Steam Deck is a full-fledged portable computer running SteamOS — an Arch Linux-based distribution — or Windows. It is equipped with a touchscreen display, physical controls, as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless modules.
Traditional gamepads, such as the Sony DualSense or Xbox Controller, are only peripheral input devices. They cannot independently run complex specialized software. The Steam Deck, by contrast, allows engineers to run any custom software directly on the device, turning it into a compact and versatile remote-control unit.
The Path to the Red Planet
Airbus specialists in Stevenage, United Kingdom, are currently working on the mechanical, thermal, and propulsion systems for the landing platform. The final version of the rover will receive the official name Rosalind Franklin.
The rover is scheduled to be sent to Mars in 2030. On the Red Planet itself, the spacecraft will operate fully autonomously, making decisions without constant operator involvement. However, during ground testing, engineers need a reliable tool for manual control.
As Kata Escott, Managing Director of Airbus Defence and Space UK, noted, successfully delivering Rosalind Franklin to Mars will be the culmination of more than 20 years of intensive work. And although the Steam Deck will most likely not travel into space, the gaming console has already secured its place in the history of interplanetary mission development.
Earlier, we reported on how the Antonov An-225 Mriya appeared in Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Based on materials from techspot.com
