# ROS - Robot Operating System

## About this Install Guide

| Reading time:         | 30 min        |
|-----------------------|---------------|
| Last updated:         | 22 Jun 2026   |
| Author:               | Odin Shen, Arm [GitHub](https://github.com/odincodeshen) [LinkedIn](https://linkedin.com/in/odin-shen-lmshen) |
| Official docs:        | [View](https://www.ros.org/blog/getting-started/) |

This guide shows you how to install and use the tool with the most common configuration. For advanced options and complete reference information, see the official documentation. Some install guides also include optional next steps to help you explore related workflows or integrations.

The Robot Operating System ([ROS](https://www.ros.org/)) is a set of software libraries and tools for building robot applications. ROS 2 is the latest version, designed to enhance security, improve distributed system communication, and support real-time performance, addressing some of the limitations of ROS 1.

## What do I need before installing ROS 2?

ROS 2 is available for Ubuntu Linux 22.04, 24.04, and Windows.

This article provides a quick solution to install ROS 2 for Ubuntu on Arm. You can use Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or Ubuntu 24.04 LTS.

Confirm you are using an Arm machine by running:

```bash
uname -m
```

The output should be:

```
__output__ aarch64
```

If you see a different result, you are not using an Arm computer running 64-bit Linux.

## What are the ROS 2 dependencies?

First, install the general dependencies:

```bash
sudo apt update
sudo apt install curl software-properties-common build-essential -y
```

## How do I Install ROS 2 for Ubuntu on Arm?

You can install ROS 2 using the APT package manager.

The Ubuntu package lists do not include ROS 2, so you need to add the repository.

```bash
sudo curl -sSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ros/rosdistro/master/ros.key -o /usr/share/keyrings/ros-archive-keyring.gpg
echo "deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture) signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/ros-archive-keyring.gpg] http://packages.ros.org/ros2/ubuntu $(lsb_release -cs) main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ros2.list > /dev/null
sudo apt update
```

Install the ROS 2 dependencies:

```bash
sudo apt install -y \
        python3-pip \
        python3-rosdep \
        python3-colcon-common-extensions
```

There are two LTS releases of ROS 2, Jazzy Jalisco and Humble Hawksbill, which you can install based on your Ubuntu version.

- For Ubuntu Linux 24.04, you should install Jazzy Jalisco.
- For Ubuntu Linux 22.04, you should install Humble Hawksbill.

## How can I install ROS 2?

Install ROS 2 based on your Ubuntu version:

```bash
# Install ROS2 packages
sudo apt install -y ros-jazzy-desktop
# Initialize rosdep
sudo rosdep init
rosdep update
```

```bash
# Install ROS2 packages
sudo apt install -y ros-humble-desktop
# Initialize rosdep
sudo rosdep init
rosdep update
```

## How do I configure the environment?

Add ROS 2 setup to your shell startup script:

```bash
echo "source /opt/ros/jazzy/setup.bash" >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc
```

```bash
echo "source /opt/ros/humble/setup.bash" >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc
```

Confirm ROS 2 is installed by using printenv:

```bash
printenv ROS_DISTRO
```

The output should print either `jazzy` or `humble`, depending on your Ubuntu version.

## How can I test the ROS 2 installation?

In one terminal run a `talker`:

```bash
ros2 run demo_nodes_cpp talker
```

The output is similar to the messages shown below, indicating that ROS 2 is publishing the “hello world” string along with a sequence number.

```
__output__ [INFO] [1741389626.338343545] [talker]: Publishing: 'Hello World: 1'
__output__ [INFO] [1741389627.338329328] [talker]: Publishing: 'Hello World: 2'
__output__ [INFO] [1741389628.338317118] [talker]: Publishing: 'Hello World: 3'
__output__ [INFO] [1741389629.338322551] [talker]: Publishing: 'Hello World: 4'
__output__ [INFO] [1741389630.338318200] [talker]: Publishing: 'Hello World: 5'
__output__ [INFO] [1741389631.338334884] [talker]: Publishing: 'Hello World: 6'
__output__ [INFO] [1741389629.338322551] [talker]: Publishing: 'Hello World: 7'
__output__ [INFO] [1741389630.338318200] [talker]: Publishing: 'Hello World: 8'
__output__ [INFO] [1741389631.338334884] [talker]: Publishing: 'Hello World: 9'
__output__ ...
```

Then, open another terminal and run the `listener`:

```bash
ros2 run demo_nodes_cpp listener
```

If you see “I heard [Hello World: ]” in the second terminal as shown below, it means ROS 2 has been successfully installed.

```
__output__ [INFO] [1741389927.137762134] [listener]: I heard: [Hello World: 1]
__output__ [INFO] [1741389928.125120177] [listener]: I heard: [Hello World: 2]
__output__ [INFO] [1741389929.125042010] [listener]: I heard: [Hello World: 3]
__output__ [INFO] [1741389930.125046472] [listener]: I heard: [Hello World: 4]
__output__ [INFO] [1741389931.125055785] [listener]: I heard: [Hello World: 5]
__output__ [INFO] [1741389932.125434760] [listener]: I heard: [Hello World: 6]
__output__ [INFO] [1741389933.125044887] [listener]: I heard: [Hello World: 7]
__output__ [INFO] [1741389934.125124370] [listener]: I heard: [Hello World: 8]
__output__ [INFO] [1741389935.125036222] [listener]: I heard: [Hello World: 9]
__output__ ...
```

You are now ready to use ROS 2.

## Where can I learn more about ROS 2?

- Explore the [ROS 2 Tutorials](https://docs.ros.org/en/jazzy/Tutorials.html)
- Learn about [ROS 2 Command Line Tools](https://docs.ros.org/en/jazzy/Concepts/About-Command-Line-Tools.html)