Microsoft Robotics Studio (MSRS) makes it possible to provide PC base station support for your robots.
Some PC base station advantages include web monitoring and control, very large datalogging capacity,
and the ability to code complex algorithms for your robot with Microsoft programming languages such as
Visual C# and VB.Net. These examples are just the tip of the iceberg. To find out more, check out the
Microsoft Robotics Studio Press Release.
Kit Contents:
Microsoft Robotics Studio can communicate with and control lots of different robots, including the
Parallax Boe-Bot Robot. Instead of relying on a serial cable or tether, this kit includes an eb500
Bluetooth module so that the Boe-Bot robot can communicate wirelessly with a PC running MSRS.
*
Boe-Bot Robot Kit - USB
* eb500 Bluetooth Module
Note: Your PC will also need Bluetooth wireless. If it's not built-in, you can get an inexpensive USB Bluetooth
module such as the Targus USB Bluetooth 2.0 Adaptor with EDR.
Software:
Below is a list of the (free) software and source code you'll need. See the Downloads and Resources section
for links to the software packages.
* Free - Basic Stamp Editor
* Free - Bluetooth Boe-Bot Example Code
* Free - Microsoft Robotics Studio (1.5)
* One of the following Microsoft software development packages:
o Free - Microsoft Visual C# Express Edition
o Free - Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 Software Development kit (SDK) (x86)
o Purchase from Microsoft - Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Standard, Professional or Team Editions
Applications:
With this kit and the software, you can make the Boe-Bot operate in PC remote controlled, semiautonomous,
or fully autonomous modes. By following the instructions in Bluetooth Boe-Bot Kit for Microsoft Robotics Studio
(Downloadable PDF), you can control the Boe-Bot in PC remote mode with a Simple Dashboard service (GUI)
and in semiautonomous mode with a C# program that dictates the Boe-Bot's navigation based on its sensor
reports. (For fully autonomous navigation, try the Robotics with the Boe-Bot text that comes with the kit.)
After you try the PDF kit documentation, Microsoft Robotics Studio also provides tutorials that demonstrate how
to "leverage" BASICStamp2 services to control the Boe-Bot robot's servos based on input from its IR (bump)
sensors, control drive motors through a simple button GUI, and more. Completed tutorial source code examples
are included, and additional services are planned for subsequent releases.
Downloads and Resources:
Bluetooth Boe-Bot Kit for Microsoft Robotics Studio v1.5
Bluetooth Boe-Bot Example Code for MSRS v1.2
eb500-SER C Notice
Robot Magazine Article
More about the Boe-Bot Kit for Microsoft Robotics Studio
Microsoft Robotics Studio
Microsoft Visual C# Express Edition
Microsoft Press Release
Microsoft Robotics Studio Downloads
Microsoft Visual Studio 2005
Robotics Studio Newsgroup