Even though the field of robotics has been around for more than 50 years, it has only recently become more mainstream. Articles are now routinely featured in large online and print publications, such as MSNBC.com, CNET News.com, Forbes.com, Wired Magazine, and the New York Times. Most of these articles predict that robots are poised to enter the consumer marketplace in force. Take this quote from an article that appeared recently in the Christian Science Monitor:
Within a decade, observers say, the average American household will include one or two simple robots. And though they may not look like the ones imagined in science fiction, these robots – some available now – will play pervasive roles in the lives of regular consumers, says Lee Gutkind, author of Almost Human: Making Robots Think.
For many years, robotics has been the exclusive domain of prestigious universities and industrial manufacturers. But now, more people are realizing that robotics offer tremendous advantages toward enhancing the quality of human life. In addition to companion robots, there are robotic dogs for the blind, household cleaning robots, and even robots that help children with learning difficulties such as autism.
In an effort to make the field of robotics accessible to a larger group of developers, Microsoft has released Microsoft Robotics Studio (MSRS). MSRS is based on the popular .NET Framework. It offers developers a standard and consistent way to develop applications for an almost limitless variety of robotic platforms. Currently, version 1.5 of MSRS is available for download from the MSRS Web site (http://www.microsoft.com/robotics).
MSRS, along with four affordable and easy-to-work-with robots, will be featured in this book. The robots used in this book include the following:
Boe-Bot by Parallax. This three-wheeled robot is small, but it offers valuable experience for those new to electronic kits. In addition to the Boe-Bot kit, readers wanting to use this robot will need to purchase the eb500 Bluetooth module. The configuration steps required make the Boe-Bot the most time-consuming robot to assemble and configure.
Create by iRobot. This pre-assembled robot was built with developers in mind. It is based on the highly popular Roomba vacuum, but this model does not vacuum floors. Instead, you have the convenience of a pre-assembled and sturdy robot. Additionally, the payload capacity and expandability of this robot allows it to be used for several useful purposes.
Mindstorms NXT by LEGO. This surprisingly sturdy and useful robot is small, expandable, and easy to work with. The robot comes with five sensors, which can be easily attached to the base. Even though the robot is made with small LEGO bricks, this is not to be confused with a child’s toy.
ARobot by Arrick Robotics. This three-wheeled robot features a large metal chassis, which makes it easy to expand. The robot was included as a means of demonstrating how new hardware can be supported (this is done in Chapter 7). In Chapter 8, the ARobot is expanded to include an onboard laptop, which allows it to capture images using a USB Web camera.
One of the things that make this book particularly special is that all the chapters were reviewed by members of the MSRS product group team. The reviews were meant to ensure content accuracy, and, thus, I feel confident that the material covered is beneficial to the reader.