The first NXT-related session of the day featured a presentation by Geoff Gray on Microsoft Robotics Studio. Geoff was fortunate enough to not only work with Microsoft to develop Robotics Studio, but also with LEGO as a Mindstorms Developer Program participant. Knowing early on that both projects were in the works, he commented on the interesting challenge of avoiding the acknowledgment of the other’s existence due to concurrent nondisclosure agreements.

Equipped with a laptop, a beta of Windows Vista, and the latest CTP of Robotics Studio, Geoff gave us an overview on each of the component files provided with the installation. He explained how Robotics Studio essentially allows a developer to build services and expose them through a web interface. With Fantom handling the low-level commands to the intelligent brick, the high-level programming becomes much more simplified.

Geoff was unable to perform a drive-by-wire demonstration with his robot (probably due to the inability to access the manifest without internet connectivity), but he will certainly let us know later this weekend if he gets it to work. Stay tuned.

The final release of Microsoft Robotics Studio, including the simulation package, is slated for sometime in October. It looks like it will remain as a free download.