Microsoft Robotics Studio October 2006 CTP

The statement is not exaggerated. With Robotics Studio, Microsoft aims to deliver a software platform addressing the robotics community, delivering compatibility with a wide range of hardware, technologies and tools. And in fact, as Microsoft own description of the product states, Robotics Studio is a Windows-based environment. Permitting the development of an extensive variety of robotics applications, the Microsoft Robotics Studio October 2006 Community Technical Preview installation package delivers not only the Windows-based software platform but also samples and tutorials.

According to Microsoft's description, "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."

Tandy Trower, General Manager, Microsoft Robotics Group revealed that, just one month following the last update to the series of technical previews, including a number of improvements and the transfer to the new XNA framework. In addition to the new simulation support, enhancements also comprise improved robot support and visual programming language. Device services and CCR and DSS Runtime were optimized, as well as the documentations and references. The setup and installation of gadgets was also enhanced via an automated ActiveX object that controls the code access permissions for running gadgets within IE.