Proton: A Lightweight Communication Protocol for Embedded Robotics Systems

According to Clearpath Robotics:

Background

Modern robots often contain numerous custom embedded boards for tasks like drive control and thermal management. While powerful frameworks like ROS 2 and DDS work well for main computers, they are often too complex and resource-heavy for simple microcontrollers. Many developers resort to building custom DIY protocols, which are hard to reuse across different projects.

The Proton Solution

Proton was designed as a transport-independent, lightweight protocol that works across Ethernet and serial connections without needing an RTOS or dynamic memory allocation. By utilizing a shared-state signal registry, applications can instantly query the latest sensor readings or motor states without parsing endless message streams. It also includes a ROS 2 bridge, automatically mapping Proton data structures to standard ROS topics.

Performance and Impact

In benchmark tests against alternatives like micro-ROS and Zenoh Pico using an ESP32 board, Proton achieved drastic resource reductions, including a significantly smaller library size and zero dynamic memory allocation. This approach champions a broader philosophy: instead of forcing robotics software onto every tiny component, developers should build robust integration layers that allow simple hardware to communicate easily with the rest of the system.