*Item contains a CdS cell photoresistor. The RoHS exemption request status for CdS cells is currently unclear; there are no RoHS-compliant exact replacement devices available.
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.
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:
- Free - Microsoft Visual C# Express Edition
- Free - Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 Software Development kit (SDK) (x86)
- 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 (.pdf)
Bluetooth Boe-Bot Example Code for MSRS v1.2 (.zip)
eb500-SER C Notice (.pdf)
Robot Magazine Article (.pdf)
More about the Boe-Bot Kit for Microsoft Robotics Studio
Microsoft Visual C# Express Edition (Off Site)
Microsoft Press Release (Off Site)
Microsoft Robotics Studio Downloads (Off Site)
Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 (Off Site)
Robotics Studio Newsgroup (Off Site)