Compatible with Microsoft Windows 7 operating system, Robotics Developer Studio is a free tool that can be downloaded from the Microsoft Robotics website with a full support for the C# programming language.

Not just the large variety of hardware components and platforms is the power of the software, RDS is also based on components like CCR (Concurrency and Coordination Runtime), DSS (Decentralized Software Services), VPL (Visual Programming Language), and VSE (Visual Simulation Environment). An overview of RDS components and how Robotics Developer Studio can be installed was the theme of another article.

CCR is a concurrent library developed to ensure the manage of asynchronous parallel tasks. This type of management includes messages and real-time operation for what it received from the sensors. DSS manage the services, more than that, all services can be managed in parallel, which is required for a good information of the whole systems from a robot.

The VPL component is used in graphical simulation of component part of the robot, while the VSE component is used as a visual representation for all component parts of the robot simulated.

RDS has a wide library with robotic components from sensors to actuators. An important feature of the software is the possibility to write custom services with specifications based on your own project.

In the following I made an overview with tutorials that can help you to start using the RDS software for simulation and control your robot.

• VPL Tutorials Overview – Simple Visual Programming Language tutorials for RDS;
• [link not available] Visual Programming Language – tutorial for introduction in Visual Programming Language (VPL);
• Programming and Simulating Robots with Microsoft Robotics Studio – example of how to use synchronous tasks to control a mobile manipulator;
• Hobby Programming – Creating your first robotic simulation using Microsoft Robotic Dev Studio and Visual Programming Language – simple and comprehensive tutorial for the first step in MRDS using Microsoft Visual Programming Language (MVPL) for a simple robot simulation;
• Samples and Tutorials – from simple to advanced tutorials, Microsoft share with us some examples how to use the RDS tool to simulate robots and enters in the biggest team around the world that uses the RDS;
• Technology Samples Overview – simple tutorials how to use speach and vision technologies;
• Implementation of simple workflow and adapter sample using Microsoft CCR/DSS toolkit – tutorial how to use the CCR and DSS components;
• Using Kinect with Robotics Developer Studio – comprehensive file to find how Kinect technology can be controlled with RDS;
• Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio Video Tutorials – list with video tutorials how to use Robotics Developer Studio;
• Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio – Introduction – from installing and how to use the components of the tool;
• Using MRDS/MSRS to create simulated hardware entities – tutorial with steps how to use hardware differential drive on a simulated bot;
• Tutorial for ExplorerSim – tutorial to learn how ExplorerSim application can be used in simulation;
• Microsoft Visual Simulation Environment – tutorials with steps for running a simulation;
• Concurrency and Coordination Runtime – comprehensive tutorial from Microsoft with all CCR component features and how to use it;
• Using the Concurrency and Coordination Runtime – tutorial with programming code for using the CCR component;
• Concurrency and Coordination Runtime – file about CCR component and examples how to use it;
• Home Automation with Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio 2008 – even is a tutorial about how to automate a house, this is a good resource to learn how DSS component can be used;