Valve Steam Deck Used to Control Mars Rover

The Steam Deck is being used to test a prototype of the ExoMars rover, which is currently in development for future missions to Mars.

This unusual application of Valve’s handheld console was showcased by content creator Tom Scott during a visit to Airbus facilities in the United Kingdom. At the site, the rover prototype is being tested on a proving ground that simulates the surface of the Red Planet.

The future rover will need to perform a significant portion of its tasks autonomously because the vast distance between Earth and Mars makes real-time control impossible. During the development phase, engineers must control the vehicle locally.

Scott initially demonstrated controlling the prototype using a standard laptop before being handed a Steam Deck running specialized software. The device was operated primarily through its built-in buttons and analog sticks. Specific details of the software have not been disclosed.

This is not the first time the Steam Deck has been used outside of gaming. Valve’s device was previously employed to control droids in the Galaxy’s Edge zone at Disney parks. The ability to install custom software is made possible by the hardware’s open architecture and Linux operating system.