Microsoft Robotics Studio
johnsrobotics
Posts: 26
I see a boe-bot in that picture!
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/274562_msftrobotics20.html
Post Edited (johnsrobotics) : 6/20/2006 3:40:22 PM GMT
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/274562_msftrobotics20.html
Post Edited (johnsrobotics) : 6/20/2006 3:40:22 PM GMT
Comments
Where do WE want to go today?
Imagine, a Boe with a Blue-screen?
The poor thing doesn't even HAVE a screen, but still...
This is THE most ridiculous product they've devised since M$ Bob...
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Don't visit my new website...
oooh, I dunno gadgetman.. Bob was pretty cool... <sarcasm off>
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
stand back! I have a slide rule and I know how to use it!
My bet is that they'll be launching a M$ Robot Controller, soon, and it will have 16MB RAM, USB, SD/MMC/CF/MemoryStick connectors, 16 outputs, 8 inputs(out of which one is a dedicated analog input, two others - together with a pair of outputs - are reserved for Serial, even if it is programmed via USB), uses either an ARM-based processor, or possibly a Cell(whatever they get cheapest/pr. MIPS) running at at least 500MHz, but probably over 1GHz, and has a battery which lasts about an hour before needing a recharge...
That is, if you don't spring for the WIFI model, which has a slightly shorter battery life of 15 minutes...
The worst, though, is that some 'smart' guy in the school administration will sign a deal with them to replace the BOE...
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Don't visit my new website...
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
OS-X: because making Unix user-friendly was easier than debugging Windows
links:
My band's website
Our album on the iTunes Music Store
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Mike
·
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Mike
·
You will hear them talk about the CCR which if you don't follow MS will have you scratching your head. It is a framework to run distributed applications asyncronously. It doesn't have to include hardware at all, but it can which is why they added it to the Robot Suite since you are doing a lot of asynconous stuff in robotics like running motors and reading sensors at the same time.
It really makes sense that MS would get into robotics, they make software for hardware, and they are spanning out from the box computers to PDAs, phones and other devices. Heack, the Target Indy car team uses MS software to run their sensors on their cars.
Does anyone know if Parallax is partnering with MS on this because it looks like Lego is so I assume others are.
Post Edited (blindlizard) : 6/22/2006 3:15:53 AM GMT
Second, the pupose of Microsofts program is to offer a simple, powerful, easy-to-use, and generic IDE for programming robotics, along with a robotics simulator.
Check out the main site at: http://msdn.microsoft.com/robotics/
The first CTP can be downloaded at: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=66d1363e-36a4-46be-ad36-01bcfbfb4969&displaylang=en
Plus: :[noparse]:quote:[/noparse]: free for academic research and educational use. ::/quote::
Now stop with the incessent bashing of Microsoft. This is the second time·in the past couple days·that I have had to defend Microsoft after·needless bashing, and I AM GETTING SICK OF IT!!!!
Post Edited (johnsrobotics) : 6/25/2006 9:06:48 PM GMT
PAR
Personally, I think the whole embedded industry is soft and hoping that Microsoft will drag the consumers into programming AVRs and ARMs that are sitting in inventory without applications. A glut of hardware with a lack of creativity.
The only drawback with this approach is that it promotes 'bigger must be better' and 'a higher level language will make anyone an expert.' Neither is true. Everything falls back to firm comprehension of fundamentals [noparse][[/noparse]so I rely on Parallax's approach].
But when did a consumer ever take time to become an expert?
Both the AVRs and ARMs have inherent drawbacks due to their multifunction approach [noparse][[/noparse]just try running the Real Time Clock and the Serial Port at the same time].·Also, they are electrically less robust than the SXes or the Propeller. Big and unwieldly, like renting a ballroom for dinner for two.
Once again we see that Parallax's success bring emmulation. Microsoft cannot present their own 'icon' of the industry, so front and center is a humble BOEbot.
Since the news releases are reaching Taiwan's dailies, I think we all have to accept the fact that Microsoft will try to make a substantial niche for themselves. Of course, they don't have the Propeller and Spin. So more shall be revealed. The competition will alway improve the choices available to the customer.
BTW, I needed to a very repetative chore in Excel recently, so I tried to program a macro to do so [noparse][[/noparse]this is something that was very easy for me in Lotus]. The outcome was a disaster and I had to make a few hundred entries manually. Much of this is due to the lack of human dialogue in the product development and support. I don't know how to get a simple answer from them.· Has anyone tried to get a simple answer from Microsoft lately? When contacting M$, I refer to myself as 'Roadkill on the Internet Superhighway'. WYSIWYG.
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
"If you want more fiber, eat the package.· Not enough?· Eat the manual."········
Post Edited (Kramer) : 6/22/2006 8:22:43 AM GMT
·I have to agree with you on Lotus. I am a very big fan of Lotus Approach Database. Microsoft Access to me(in my opinion) is just an overgrown spread sheet. I will never use anything else but Approach. I think Microsoft should look at other software and what works best and build on that. On the other hand I have grown to like Microsoft Word.
Just my 2 cents worth!
Kevin
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Education And Experience Teaches Knowledge Not Arrogance ! (Unknown)
The Only Stupid Question Is The One Not Asked ! (Unknown, of coarse this is something that i would say)
Do Not Burn The Bridge That Has Brought You Forth You May·Need To Journey Back ! (Chinese)
1. Multi-user is theoretical... Sooner or later it WILL corrupt the database...
2. More than two or three tables in a database seems to set 'SLOWDOWN = 1' somewhere in the system. By 5 or 6 it grinds so badly that you measure the speed with a calendar...
3. Update to a new version of Access and you need to update the application because the VB isn't as backwards compatible as it could have been... It hasn't always been compatible with different language versions, either... (It may be now. but as we make bl**dy certain that everyone uses the exact same version...)
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Don't visit my new website...
Comparing Lotus to Access is like comparing RC cars to Mustangs. Access is not ment to be enterprise level, that is what SQL Server is for. If you need something better than Access for smaller applications, then SQL Express is there.
Lets just say that low-end apps can still be made with Access( or even Excel) and VB as the base, but all new multi-user database systems must now be made with Oracle...
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Don't visit my new website...
SQL Server 2000 (and 2005) can outpace Oracle in numerious ways.
I am the Director of Information and Technology at my office, as well as the SYSADM, SYSOP and Tech Support and help desk.
We run two SQL servers here (one is Live, the other is still in test). Early on, when testing Oracle, the biggest advantage or Oracle was it's setup. Still is.
With the correct version of M$ SQL and it's operating system, it outpreforms Oracle on a number of aspects.
But, just to be fair, Oracle is much less expensive, requires less expensive host operating system and hardware.
VB is backwards compatable, the Access DB's aren't, and how the programmers access the data within their code.· We use access here as a "front end" to some of our SQL data, and it's never been an issue.· I'v been programming VB and databases sence VBDOS and WIN 3.11 ontop of DOS 6.11 and can well attest to what you are saying; there are indeed many issues with ACCESS.
With SQL,· It's not a "Try" type deal.· It's more like "Yes we are going to get through the pain and do it" type setting.· But, once SQL is setup and running, and you use the correct metods for accessing your data, it's clearly a non issue.
This is how it is here at my office.· Anyway, all this said as "IMHO".·
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Just tossing my two bits worth into the bit bucket
KK
Post Edited (Kaos Kidd) : 6/29/2006 5:46:14 PM GMT