Microsoft Unleashes Its Robots

By Michael Cohn

Microsoft released its Robotics Studio development software Wednesday, upping the ante in the coming robot wars, at least among inventors and manufacturers.
The Redmond software giant is aiming to create a common development environment that will allow developers to create robotic applications for different types of hardware more easily.
The software can be used by a variety of robot types, including surveillance robots that can defuse roadside bombs as well as robotic arms that can perform surgery (and maybe sign health insurance forms too).
The software is not just aimed at mad scientists. Among the companies that will use the technology are iRobot, creators of the Roomba vacuum cleaner.
“Microsoft will help us extend the reach of the iRobot Roomba Open Interface to a broader community of developers,” iRobot Chairperson Helen Greiner said in a statement.

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