Microsoft Robotics Studio Tuesday, June 20 2006
About Microsoft Robotics Studio
The Microsoft Robotics Studio is a Windows-based development environment to easily create robotics applications across a wide variety of hardware.
The Microsoft Robotics Studio delivers three areas of software:
* A scalable, extensible runtime architecture that can span a wide variety of hardware and devices. The programming interface can be used to address robots using 8-bit or 16-bit processors as well as 32-bit systems with multi-core processors and devices from simple touch sensors to laser distance finding devices.
* A set of useful tools that make programming and debugging robot applications scenarios easier. These include a high quality visual simulation environment that uses the Ageia Technologies™ PhysX™ engine.
* A set of useful technology libraries services samples to help developers get started with writing robot applications.
Key features and benefits of the Microsoft Robotics Studio environment include:
End-to-End Robotics Development Platform. Microsoft Robotics Studio includes a visual programming tool, making it easy to create and debug robot applications. Robotics Studio enables developers to generate modular services for hardware and software, allowing users to interact with robots through Web-based or Windows-based interfaces. Developers can also simulate robotic applications using realistic 3D models; Microsoft has licensed the PhysX engine from AGEIA, a pioneer in hardware-accelerated physics, enabling real-world physics simulations with robot models. The PhysX simulations can also be accelerated using AGEIA hardware.
Lightweight services-oriented runtime. Microsoft Robotics Studio provides a lightweight services-oriented runtime. Using a .NET-based concurrency library, it makes asynchronous application development simple. The services, message-based architecture makes it simple to access the state of a robot’s sensors and actuators with a web browser, and its composable model enables building high-level functions using simple components and providing for reusability of code modules as well better reliability and replaceability.
Scalable and extensible platform. Microsoft Robotics Studio programming model can be applied for a variety of robot hardware platforms, enabling users to transfer their learning skills across platforms. Third-parties can also extend the functionality of the platform by providing additional libraries and services. Both remote (PC-based) and robot-based (autonomous) execution scenarios can be developed using a selection of programming languages, including those included in Microsoft Visual Studio and Microsoft Visual Studio Express languages (C# and VB.NET), as well as Jscript and Microsoft Iron Python as well as third-party languages that conform to its services-based architecture.
RoboBusiness Conference and Exposition
Microsoft has joined the RoboBusiness Conference and Exposition as a gold sponsor.
In addition, Microsoft will deliver a conference session outlining its perspective of the robotics market and will host a technical seminar for hobbyist, commercial and academic robotic developers. The RoboBusiness Conference and Exposition will be held at the Sheraton Station Square in Pittsburgh, PA on June 20-21, 2006. The event website is http://www.robobusiness2006.com.
According to Dan Kara, conference co-chairman and President of Robotics Trends, "We are delighted that Microsoft has joined the RoboBusiness event as a sponsor. The PC revolution was driven by Microsoft products and services, which dramatically reduced the cost and complexity of producing software. We are excited Microsoft has picked RoboBusiness 2006 to outline its perspective of the robotics market.”said Kara.
“Microsoft views robotics as an exciting new market poised for growth,” said Tandy Trower, general manager at Microsoft Corp. “As a premier business development event in intelligent systems and mobiles robotics, the RoboBusiness Conference and Exposition is a great venue for Microsoft to talk about the emerging robotics market.”
RoboBusiness 2006 : Session Descriptions & Bios
Session1
Tuesday June 20th 2-3pm
Microsoft & Robotics
This session will provide an overview of Microsoft's perspective on this rapidly growing market, and highlight its key initiatives to enable robotics development across a wide range of market segments and applications.
Speaker: Tandy Trower, General Manager, Microsoft
BIO: Tandy Trower has a 24 year history with new products and technology initiatives at Microsoft bringing to market new products as diverse as Microsoft Flight Simulator to Microsoft Windows. In addition, as a strong proponent of the importance of design in human-computer interaction he has contributed to the company's investment in improving its user interfaces, founding the company's first usability labs and product design roles. He continues to investigate and drive strategic new technology directions for the company and incubating new projects.
Session
Tuesday June 20th 2-4pm
Microsoft Robotics Initiative: A Technical Introduction This session, featuring presentations from Microsoft and early-adopter third-party companies, will provide a technical introduction to Microsoft's technologies and how they can be used to develop robotics applications. It is geared to both programmers and non-programmers who wish to gain insight into how Microsoft can make developing robotic applications easier.
Speaker: Joseph Fernando, Architect & Program Manager, Microsoft
BIO: Joseph Fernando is an Architect and Program Manager at Microsoft. Joseph has over 15 years experience in the computer industry in engineering, product development, and architecture. Previously, Joseph has driven initiatives to enhance software architecture, design and development practices at Microsoft. Further he has architected productivity tools, has served as a development manager in digital media division, and has led multiple teams in Visual Studio/Development division. He has helped ship over 15 products while at Microsoft Corporation. He earned his undergraduate degree from Knox College with a double major in Computer Science (Honors) and Physics; and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Oakland University. His graduate research was in the area of adaptive controls.
I hope that Microsoft Development Studio reduce the cost and complexity of producing Robotics software
Below are few useful links...
Microsoft Robotics Studio Downloads
http://msdn.microsoft.com/robotics/downloads/default.aspx
Microsoft Robotics Studio System Requirements
Supported Operating Systems: Windows Server 2003; Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2
Required Software: Installer 3.0. Windows Installer 3.1 or later is recommended.
IE 5.01 or later.
Disk Space Requirements: 10 MB (x86)
Microsoft has launched a new blog, Robotics Studio Blog.
Microsoft Robotics Studio CTP
To Apply to the Microsoft Robotics Studio SDK Program
-Log in with your Passport ID.
-Click the Available Connections link (left navigation).
-Find Microsoft Robotics Studio Beta (CTP) in the lower table. Click the Apply link.
