Microsoft Makes Robot Friends

Microsoft wants to get into the robot business and has introduced standards for creating robotic applications.

The Redmond giant previewed the Windows-based development environment, Microsoft Robotics Studio, at a robotics conference Tuesday in Pittsburgh and showcased some applications that had already been developed with the software.

Robotics Studio allows robots to be controlled via web-based and Windows-based interfaces and includes 3D modeling features.

The robotics area could represent an area of growth for Microsoft, which increasingly has been aiming its software at a variety of industries, such as biotech, life sciences, and financial services, in recent years.

Microsoft has been in the midst of restructuring and while it is especially concentrating on web-based applications and search as crucial areas, it doesn’t want to overlook other areas that also represent opportunities for growth.

Microsoft shares rose $0.09 to $22.65 in recent trading.
Read more