Microsoft Robotics Blog : FAQ

Interested in contributing to Microsoft Robotics Studio’s design?

JosephFernando — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 20:54:00 GMT

Well then, we may have an opportunity for you! We are looking for highly creative, innovative, and energetic contributors in the areas of human-robot-interaction and program management. Specific opportunities are now advertized through our careers website under the job posting codes:

214443 – Human-Robot-Interaction / User Interface Designer

You will be responsible for designing the human-robot interaction experiences involving a wide range of techniques including context aware engagements, multi-mode UIs and remote access that address robotics scenarios ranging from tele-presence, home assistance, industrial automation, healthcare, education, etc.

219496 – Program manager

You will be responsible for defining user application experiences for tele-presence, home assistance, industrial automation, healthcare, education, and many more scenarios that leverage technologies such as vision, speech, sound, localization, navigation, …

If you are interested, please submit your resume through our Microsoft® Careers home page.

Thanks

Joseph Fernando

Request For Proposals: Human-Robot Interaction 2007-2008: “Robots Among Us”

JosephFernando — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 03:24:00 GMT

If you are an academic or non-profit robotics researcher, then you may be interested in the following news announced last week.

Our colleagues in Microsoft Research (External Research & Programs department) launched a new worldwide robotics research Request For Proposals (RFP) for such researchers. For full details, guidelines, eligibility and submission instructions, please visit:

http://research.microsoft.com/ur/us/fundingopps/rfps/HRI_RFP.aspx

As noted in the RFP usage of MSRS is encouraged as it eases the sharing of the resulting software with the whole academic community and beyond.

SUMMARY

HRI is a large field with many active research projects in universities and other labs around the world. But much of the research to date has been focused on the robot and human somewhat in isolation from the broader computing environment around them. Our intention in this RFP is to focus attention on the general paradigm shift from “robots as tools” to “social robots”, and consider HRI in the context of the existence of a plethora of other computing devices deployed in the modern human environment, including PCs, Smartphones and the World-Wide Web.

The specific details and objectives of the RFP are detailed in the document linked above.

AWARDS

The total amount available under the RFP is US$500,000. Microsoft Research anticipates making approximately 7-10 awards averaging US$50,000, with a maximum of US$70,000 for any single award. Awards are for 1 year.

DEADLINE

Thursday, December 13, 2007, 12:00 Noon PST (PST is -8 UTC/GMT)

QUESTIONS

Please see the full RFP at:

http://research.microsoft.com/ur/us/fundingopps/rfps/HRI_RFP.aspx

thanks

Joseph Fernando

Performance considerations when using enumerable types

JosephFernando — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 04:50:00 GMT

We’ve observed a high CPU utilization when using enumerable datatypes with binary serialization/intranode interaction. Performance degradation is most noticeable when a List (or Array) contains many items and/or the frequency of use is very high. The root cause for this is in the conversion of each item in the list to XML prior to binary serialization in our proxies. This regression will be fixed with the next update.

For now you can use the following workaround.

1. Identify each class which is itself a member of a list or array.
2. In the definition for this class, inherit from Microsoft.Dss.Core.IDssSerializable, and implement stubs for the members as shown below.

using Microsoft.Dss.Core;
...

[DataContract()]
public class MySensorState
{
[DataMember]
public List<MyListElement> MyLists;
}

[DataContract]
public class MyListElement: IDssSerializable
{
…

#region IDssSerializable Members

object IDssSerializable.Clone()
{
throw new Exception("The method or operation is not implemented.");
}

void IDssSerializable.CopyTo(IDssSerializable target)
{
throw new Exception("The method or operation is not implemented.");
}

object IDssSerializable.Deserialize(System.IO.BinaryReader reader)
{
throw new Exception("The method or operation is not implemented.");
}

void IDssSerializable.Serialize(System.IO.BinaryWriter writer)
{
throw new Exception("The method or operation is not implemented.");
}
#endregion

}

Microsoft Robotics Studio (MSRS) September 2006 Community Technical Preview is now available

JosephFernando — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 11:00:00 GMT

Microsoft Robotics team has now released its third Community Technical Preview (CTP).

Here’s what’s new: http://msdn.microsoft.com/robotics/getstarted/ctp3/default.aspx

You can download release from: http://msdn.microsoft.com/robotics/downloads/default.aspx

Joseph

Microsoft announces the creation of the Institute for Personal Robots in Education (IPRE)

JosephFernando — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 13:38:00 GMT

This morning Microsoft Corporation announced the creation of the Institute for Personal Robots in Education (IPRE). The institute is designed to reinvigorate computer science curriculum by delivering robotics technology tailored for teaching purposes, scientifically evaluated for its effectiveness in live teaching situations. The resulting materials will be made available widely to the academic community.

Here’s the link for the press release:

www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/jul06/07-12PersonalRobotsEducationPR.mspx

Q&A:

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/jul06/07-12robotics.mspx

And the link for the IPRE home page

http://www.roboteducation.org/

-Joseph

Robobusiness Presentation slides

JosephFernando — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 11:05:00 GMT

Over the last week, I’ve had numerous requests for the presentation slides that were used by Microsoft Robotics Group at Robobusiness. Given below are links for both MSRS Announcement and Technical Introduction

MSRS Announcement:

http://download.microsoft.com/download/F/9/F/F9FF00E9-ADE5-4E1F-877A-994ADC06C8EA/RoboBusiness 2006 TandyTrower.mht

Technical Introduction:

http://download.microsoft.com/download/F/9/F/F9FF00E9-ADE5-4E1F-877A-994ADC06C8EA/MSRS A Technical Introduction.mht

-Joseph