Microsoft Releases
Preview of New Version
of its Robotics Platform
Software development platform aims
to continue making programming
robots easier and more affordable
for hobbyists and professionals alike.
At the recent RoboBusiness
Conference and Exposition in
Pittsburgh, PA, Microsoft released the
first community technology preview
(CTP) of Microsoft Robotics Developer
Studio 2008, the new version of its
robotics programming platform.
Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio
2008 contains improvements in its
runtime performance, distributed
computational capabilities, and tools.
Scheduled for release later this
year, the first preview of the product is
now available for evaluation and testing
by developers, customers, and partners.
Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio
2008 is a Windows-based environment
that can be used by academic,
hobbyist, and commercial developers
for the creation of a variety of robotic
programs and testing scenarios.
“We launched Microsoft Robotics
Studio in 2006 in response to the
robotics community’s request for a
mature platform and toolset that would
provide for stability and portability,
allowing more people to participate and
contribute,” said Tandy Trower, general
manager of the Microsoft Robotics
Group. “Microsoft Robotics Developer
Studio 2008 demonstrates Microsoft’s
continued commitment to help catalyze
the emerging new markets for robotics
by delivering even better performance
and enhanced tools.” Microsoft
Robotics Developer Studio 2008
includes the following new elements:
• Increased runtime performance.
Performance improvements of 150
percent to 300 percent in message
throughput between services within a
node and between DSS nodes. Services
now load 200 percent faster.
• Improved distributed computational
capabilities. Support for distributed
language integrated queries (LINQ),
which reduce network utilization and
simplify service authoring. LINQ support
enables advanced filtering and inline
processing of sensor data at the source.
56 SERVO 06.2008
• Improvements to tools. The ability to
visually define computational domains
within the Microsoft Visual Programming
Language (VPL) tool, providing for easier
accessibility to managing distributed
execution. The Visual Simulation
Environment (VSE) tool adds the ability
to record and play back simulations,
which allows for easier sharing of
running simulation experiences. In
addition, VSE adds a new floorplan
editor to simplify the definition of
complicated structures and interiors.
The latest version of the software
bears a new name to better reflect
its objective to support software
development for robots and to
better align with Microsoft’s other
development tools.
Previous versions of the software
gained widespread support throughout
the robotics industry, with more than
200,000 copies downloaded and more
than 50 companies pledging their
support by joining the Microsoft
Robotics Supporting Partner Program.
Aldebaran Robotics has joined the
Partner Program. Microsoft is working
with Aldebaran to bring services and
simulation capabilities for their Nao
robot to the Microsoft robotics platform.
Developers can take advantage of the
detailed simulation to validate motion
sequences, or test image recognition
algorithms. Aldebaran’s Nao robot is
designed to be an affordably priced,
humanoid robot with first-class
mechanical, electronic, and cognitive
features and up to 25 degrees of
freedom.
“A persistent challenge for the
robotics industry up till now has been
the limited choice within development
platforms that would allow developers
to easily create robotic applications,”
said Bruno Maisonnier, president and
founder of Aldebaran Robotics.
“Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio
2008 will contribute greatly to expand
the robotics industry and encourage
more developers to design new robot
applications. We are pleased to support
these efforts.”
Microsoft Robotics Studio and
Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio
2008 are available as a free download
for use in noncommercial applications.
Licensing details for commercial robot
developers are available at
www.microsoft.com/robotics.
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