Software application development
This blog is intended to provoke discussion and exchange between like minded software application developers, engineers, architects, project managers - and keen hobbyists too.
Wednesday 16 April 2008, 7:23 PM
Robots and embedded software for personalised crumpet toasties
I used to talk to a couple of the Microsoft guys here in the UK about some of their home-based hobbyist embedded software projects and, typically, they don’t spend too much time trying to build remote-controlled vacuum cleaners or re-engineer their toaster to burn their favourite football team’s name onto their crumpets. By and large, they build robots.
While companies like Microsoft Embedded and VIA’s Embedded Platform Division are keen to talk about the so-called ‘evolution’ of embedded devices and their increasing integration into networked and service-based applications. By and large, hobbyist developers in this space appear to want to build robots.
We know that embedded has graduated to high-level x86 design status and that real-world practical embedded systems can be customised with systems like Via’s ARTiGO to feature wireless and network connectivity, GPS and also web server connectivity. We also know that vendors in this space are targeting both the academic and hobbyist community to try and foster interest in this area. But we also know that guys like to build robots.
Ah well, domo arigato Mr Roboto.


