SQL Server was unable to communicate with the LaunchPad service
I had the same issue and I solved it by installing the Service Pack on top of the media installed R.

I think it is a related to install an old version of LaunchPad on an already updated SQL Server.

As per this Q&amp;A

SQL Server LaunchPad &quot;The service did not respond in a timely fashion&quot; + No Log in ExtensibilityLog

My timeline.


My sql install was a semi-updated SP1.
My media was a stock SP1.
I installed R, wouldn't work (Restarted, same)
LaunchPad wouldn't start (Restarted, same)
Made sure the SQL user account was part of the R group
LauchPad would start but R wouldn't work. (Restarted, same)
Updated to SP2 (Restarted)
R worked.
Updated to SP2 CU4 (Restarted)
R worked.


My testing script

    EXEC sp_execute_external_script
                      @language =N'R',
                      @script=N'OutputDataSet&lt;-InputDataSet',
                      @input_data_1 =N'SELECT 1 AS hello'
                      WITH RESULT SETS (([Hello World] INT));
                        GO