Cogmation Robotics News and Updates

robotSuite Version 1.5 Feature List

admin — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:06:28 +0000

robotFoundry 1.2

Changed Architectures to Behaviours

Allow nesting of behaviours. Complex state based robots algorithms can now be developed

I/O output devices can now have multiple IO container modules connected to a single device. This now allows nested behaviours to connect to a I/O output device and based on activation control the IO device. Note: with this new flexibility comes the chance of data contention or multiple behaviours controlling the same I/O device at the same time. Warnings are given if an I/O device has multiple connections to it.

Behaviours can be manually activated based on a state or condition or can be configured to run all the time.

Major UI usability fixes.

Removed thread view for IO devices

Removed thread view for Behaviours. Module execution can be visualized in the new execution view with module exeuction overlaid on each module.

Allow Generation and Transfer from a Toolbar.

Variable modules simplified and now only hold one variable at a time.

Multiplexor modules renamed to 4 to 1 Decision and 2 to 1 Decision.

new algorithms

PID Controller

Clock

Timed Pulse

Random Number Generator

New low level behaviours tool box

Face detection, Hough Transform and KLT feature tracker Modules, now have data outputs to allow further processing of the image data.

Enhanced scripting module

Ability to add classes functions and variables

Ability to include standard .Net libraries, custom .Net dlls and native libraries

Player Robot Interface

Ability to control player robots via OSX ( connects to player robot) remotely

Ability to control player robots remotely and locally on Linux

Windows users can generate and control local Linux Player robots

Linux Runtime

Code can be developed to run on Linux based robots

User created robots can now be exported to a User Robots Templates directory and can be used in other projects

User created Behaviours can now be exported to a User Behaviours Templates directory and can be used in other projects

User created scripting modules can be exported to a User Moudules Toolbox and used in other Behaviours and projects

Added a Game Robot template to allow users to develop AI for the AI Apocalypse game.

Added a Simulation Robot Template for the Opportunity Mars Rover. User can program a simulated Mars rover and let it interact with Simulated Mars terrain in robotSim.

robotSim 1.2

Addition of new levels:

- RoboCup soccer field

- Sumo platform

- Head to head maze

- Mars landscape

Addition of Opportunity Mars rover

Significant performance improvements

Ability to adjust sensor sensitivity/performance

Adjustable environment settings

Free-view camera

GUI enhancements

robotSuite Software Update

admin — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 21:22:41 +0000

The following changes and improvements have been made to robotSuite:

robotFoundry Version 1.1.1

-Preliminary Vista Support

-Embedded video tutorials in documentation

-Double click on robot in project view displays robot’s contents (architectures)

-Double click on Architecture in robot view displays Architectures contents

-Allow adding architectures from templates on to RobotView via Drag and Drop

-Allow adding robots from templates on to ProjectView via Drag and Drop

-Clear I/O now updates properties

-Renaming modules updates tooltips

-Physical IO link now displayed on IOmodules

-Generation now handles multiple architectures

-Allow deleting links between architectures

-Multiple Architectures and robots of same name automatically renamed

-Will not open multiple projects of the same name, throws an error message instead

-Control+click interpreted as right mouse click

-Double clicking on unset IO displays Set IO Dialog

-Fixed bug that caused crashes when generating script modules that were empty or linked to non-existent files

-Fixed bug where VB scripting may have crashed robotFoundry

-Fixed bug where activation on splash screen caused application crash

robotSim Version 1.1.5

- Fixed packbot laser scanner to provide accurate data

- Allow VB scripts to run in simulation

Robotics Software Approaches Development from a Different Angle

admin — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:04:08 +0000

Cogmation robotSuiteTMmakes Robot Code Creation
Accessible to a Wider Audience

Winnipeg, MB, Canada March 27, 2008 — Cogmation Robotics announced the commercial release of robotSuite, a group of integrated applications designed to make robotic software creation easier. Disappointed with the current state of software development in the robotics field, robotSuitegrew out of a desire to take the rocket science out of robotics and bring real world applications to non technical consumers, gamers, as well as serious developers.

“I find existing software packages difficult to use and time-consuming to configure,” says Product Development Manager Sara Epp. “I can’t imagine how frustrating and restricting this must be for someone at the hobbyist level.” Drawing comparisons to the early days of personal computers, the company is striving to remove the bulk of tedious low level device setup, and enable users to focus on more creative and interesting high-level approaches.

“I would think a user would rather spend a couple of hours perfecting a complex wall-follower application and test it out in a maze, than spend that time writing hundreds of lines of code just to get the robot to move forward,” says Shawn Schaerer, Director of Research and Development.

Comprised of seamlessly integrated applications, robotSuite allows code to be quickly created in an intuitive environment, tested in a simulated environment, and then executed on a physical robot. robotFoundryTM is a graphical coding environment using flow-based programming, allowing the creation of functional robot code in minutes. The graphical IDE is complemented by a 3D simulator, robotSimTM, which takes advantage of Ageia PhysXTM to provide not only aesthetically appealing graphics, but realistic physics simulation as well.

Currently several consumer level robots are included in the package, including the enthusiast-favourite iRobot® Create®. “This just may be the holy grail of the robotics industry,” says Systronix® CEO Bruce Boyes, who recently finalized agreements to incorporate education-oriented TrackBotTM into the suite. Negotiations are currently underway with other hardware manufacturers, and the company is forecasting a rapid expansion of supported devices. More information and product downloads can be found on the company’s website, www.cogmation.com.