LEGO - Big Robot On Campus (BROC) - Microsoft HQ Redmond, Washington

July 24th, 2006

Well, the visit was very fun for everyone and well received by the 200+ attending. The 
visit was mainly a "show and tell" type introduction and discussion involving Microsoft 
Robotics Studio creators and 3 MindStorms Development Program (MDP) members, Steven 
Hassenplug, David Schilling, and myself.  We had numerous NXT robots to demo and discuss.  
One very impressive robot named WiMo by Brian Cross (s/w developer in Microsoft's Windows 
Mobile division) was controlled by PC via Bluetooth with an onboard Windows Mobile cell 
phone with video and speech capabilities.  The Microsoft team also had a swarm of NXT 
robots wirelessly connected to a PC and controlled with a joystick.

Several news reporters attended from C/Net, Washington Post, Seattle Tribune, and an 
Associated Press agent, among others.  Some reports were more through than others but 
together they covered it pretty well.  Please Note: I am not a "LEGO Master Builder" 
by the true definition.  I am just coined as one at events like this.  Also Note: Steve 
Hassenplug does sleep and does not have a group of clones to do his bidding.  At least, 
that is his story and he is sticking to it.

I can tell you that the Microsoft Robotic Studio is very nice.  This should open the door 
for some awesome programming creations.  Not just for LEGO MindStorms Robots, but for 
every other programmable robot type from consumer to industrial.

Keep your eyes open for some up-coming articles in Wired and Robot magazines.


Christopher R. Smith
Littlehorn
Official MindStorms Forum Host
jodokast (at) earthlink.net


Links to the story:

C/Net News:
http://news.com.com/Lego+robots+march+on+Microsoft/2100-11394_3-6097971.html

The Examiner:
http://www.examiner.com/a-194796~REVIEW__Lego_Kit_to_Build_Better__Bots.html

Yahoo! News:
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/060726/480/460421160bcd4371a730d978a751f7ab


Links to Microsoft Robotic Studio:

Channel9 Video Interview:
http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=206574

MSRS Homepage:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/robotics/