Robo Champs, or Having Fun With Simulated Robots

Robots are like puppy dogs and other people's babies--how can you not like them? Of course, if the robot is something out of Robot Wars with chainsaw-like appendages--well, you might be just glad that it is someone else's baby.

But that kind of robot isn't what Microsoft has in mind with Robo Champs. No, Microsoft has a kinder, gentler robot in mind. One that rescues kittens from trees and saves lives when earthquakes occur. And how can you not like robots like that?

Robo Champs is a league in which you build simulated robots that operate in simulated environments and face a variety of challenges. The "league" part is that you compete with other simulated robots to earn points (chopping off appendages probably deducts points). The competitions range from navigating mazes or collecting data on Mars to driving cars in urban settings or rescuing those in danger when natural disasters occur.

All you need is the software--Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio 2008--which is freely available for non-commercial use. (Okay you'll also need stuff like Visual Studio 2008/Express, as well as other development tools.) Once you have the software set up, you pick an avatar and start coding.

"Simulation" is the key point here. One of the biggest barriers to robot development historically is (expensive) hardware, along with soldering irons, wirewraps, and gears. With Robo Champs, you don't have to deal with all that because you're "simulating" the robot. Then at the end of the formal competition phase, the top four point-getters in the league will be invited to PDC 2008 where they'll download their simulations into real robots and compete for real in championship rounds.

To get a feel for what's what, take a look at this short YouTube video or go to the official site. If you're into robots, you're in for some fun. And if you're not into robots--well, it's still fun.

-- Jonathan Erickson
jerickson@ddj.com

Posted by Jon Erickson at 06:51 PM  Permalink