THE CRUNCH
Airbus has repurposed Valve's Steam Deck handheld PC to control a prototype Mars rover during testing in the UK. The device runs custom software and uses its thumbsticks, triggers and buttons to steer the ExoMars rover, which is being developed to land on Mars in 2030. The setup was filmed by YouTube personality Tom Scott during a visit to Airbus' facility in Stevenage.
The ExoMars rover, officially named Rosalind Franklin, is designed to be autonomous once on Mars, but engineers need a way to control it during Earth-based testing. Airbus chose the Steam Deck because it is a fully functional handheld PC with Linux, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, offering more flexibility than traditional game controllers. The rover is part of a project to design the landing platform for the 2030 mission, described as the culmination of more than 20 years of work.
While the Steam Deck is being used for development now, it is unlikely to be the controller for the rover when it reaches Mars. The device is primarily a tool for engineers to test the rover's capabilities in a Mars-like environment. This use of consumer hardware highlights how versatile portable PCs are becoming for professional applications beyond gaming.
Why It Matters: This story shows how consumer hardware can be adapted for serious industrial tasks, reducing the need for specialised equipment. It also demonstrates the practical value of Valve's handheld PC, which is often criticised for its gaming performance, in real-world engineering scenarios.