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ServoBox

ServoBox gives you Ubuntu 22.04 PREEMPT_RT environments for robotics without forcing your whole workstation onto an RT kernel. Use it to spin up local RT VMs with automatic CPU pinning and IRQ isolation, or target existing RT machines over SSH in 0.3.0.

Fastest Path

If you are new to ServoBox, follow this path:

  1. Install ServoBox
  2. Configure your host for RT isolation
  3. Create your first VM
  4. Verify latency and RT configuration
  5. Install a stack or package

Quick Start

Prerequisites

  • Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04 on the host
  • 6 CPU cores minimum, 8+ recommended
  • 8 GB RAM minimum, 16+ GB recommended
  • Hardware virtualization enabled

1. Install

sudo wget -O /usr/share/keyrings/servobox-archive-keyring.gpg https://www.servobox.dev/apt-repo/servobox-archive-keyring.gpg
echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/servobox-archive-keyring.gpg] https://www.servobox.dev/apt-repo/ stable main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/servobox.list
sudo apt update
sudo apt install servobox

2. Configure the host once

Host-side CPU isolation is required if you want deterministic VM latency. Follow the exact steps in Installation.

3. Create, start, and verify

servobox init
servobox start
servobox rt-verify
servobox test --duration 30 --stress-ng

4. Install and run a stack

servobox pkg-install --list
servobox pkg-install deoxys-control
servobox run deoxys-control

What ServoBox Helps With

  • Running real-time control loops inside isolated Ubuntu RT environments
  • Keeping the host available for perception, planning, development, and GPU workloads
  • Installing common robotics stacks with servobox pkg-install
  • Verifying RT behavior with servobox rt-verify and servobox test
  • Working against remote RT targets such as Jetson or NUC systems via SSH

Where To Go Next

  • Installation

Host prerequisites, APT install, upgrades, and host RT setup.

Open installation guide

  • First Run

Create a VM, start it, verify RT behavior, and install your first stack.

Open first run guide

  • Commands

Full CLI reference for VM lifecycle, testing, networking, packages, and remote mode.

Open commands reference

  • Packages

Package install workflow, install modes, remote targets, and custom recipes.

Open package management

  • Troubleshooting

Common failures, checks, and recovery steps.

Open troubleshooting

  • RT Tuning

Detailed explanation of the RT optimizations and performance modes.

Open RT tuning reference

Why This Approach

ServoBox is built for robotics workstations where you want low-latency control without sacrificing the rest of the machine. The RT workload lives in the VM or remote target, while the host stays usable for development, vision, planning, and debugging.