ROS 1, or Robot Operating System 1, is an open-source framework designed to help developers create robot software. It provides tools and libraries that simplify the process of building complex robotic systems, allowing for better communication between different components and easier integration of various functionalities. ROS 1 supports a wide range of programming languages, primarily Python and C++, and is widely used in both academic research and industry. It features a modular architecture, enabling developers to reuse code and share packages, which accelerates the development of robotic applications across various platforms and devices.