This document introduces a training course on programming robotic systems using Arduino microcontroller boards and Visual Studio. It provides biographies of the instructors Chris Howd and Paul Pardi. It outlines the course topics which will cover creating robots using Arduino, sensors, shields and wireless control. It sets expectations that the course is aimed at developers and hobbyists interested in robotics. It previews the three robots that will be programmed in the course: a simple autonomous robot, a semi-aware security robot, and a remotely controlled spider robot.

1. Chris Howd | Developer Content Planner, MS
Paul Pardi | AppPlat Content Manager, MS

2. Meet Chris Howd
• Developer Content Planner, Microsoft
– Developer, Technologist, Learning Content Planner
– Responsible for customer facing client developer training: Windows
apps, Windows Phone apps, Xbox apps, Windows Desktop apps
• Over 30 years of industry experience
– US Department of Defense, Self Employed (R&D), Microsoft
– Mechanical Engineer designing and programming robotic and
automated systems before joining Microsoft in 2000.
– Developer, developer content planner, and robotics hobbyist.

3. Meet Paul Pardi | @paulpardi
• Content Development Lead, Microsoft
– Leads team of content developers focused on software development
technologies
– Over 20 years experience as software developer and trainer
• Software and content development professional
– Managed Windows Store merchandising team for Windows 8
– Managed team and wrote content for Internet Explorer
– Technical trainer, teacher, and book author
– Published Windows 8 app called Movie Notes

4. Course Topics
Programming Robotic Systems using Visual Studio
01 | Embedded Systems, Robotics, and this
MVA Training Series
05 | Integrating Advanced Sensors and
Shields
02 | Getting Started with Arduino 06 | Mapping Areas and Detecting Objects
03 | Creating Your First Arduino Robot
07 | Integrating Wireless Control and
Communication
04 | Controlling a Robotic Arm 08 | Looking Ahead

5. Setting Expectations
• Target Audience
– This Course: Developers and hobbyists who are interested
programming robots that use Arduino microcontroller boards.
– This Series: Developers and hobbyists interested programming
embedded systems.
• Suggested Prerequisites/Supporting Material
– Basic programming skills in C++, C#, or JavaScript
– Need to skill-up? Try these MVA Titles:
• C# Fundamentals for Absolute Beginners
• Programming in C# Jump Start
• Twenty C# Questions Explained

6. • Microsoft Virtual Academy
– Free online learning tailored for IT Pros and Developers
– Over 2M registered users
– Up-to-date, relevant training on a variety of Microsoft products
– Check it out: http://aka.ms/mva
Join the MVA Community!

7. 01 | Embedded Systems, Robotics, and
this MVA Training Series
Chris Howd | Developer Content Planner, MS
Paul Pardi | AppPlat Content Manager, MS

8. • Embedded, IoT, and Robotics?
• Microcontrollers and Other Hardware
• Examples of Microcontroller Boards
• Software Options
• Typical Code Sample
• The Robots Used in this Training
• Demo – Meet the Bots
Module Overview

9. Embedded, IoT, and Robotics?
• Microsoft’s history with embedded systems
• This MVA Course (introduction to programming robotic systems)
• Next steps for this training series?
– Internet of Things
– .NET Micro Framework Projects
– Windows Tablet Projects
– More robotics?

10. Microcontrollers and Other Hardware
• What are your hardware choices?
– Controller and microcontroller options
– Motors, sensors, and other hardware options
• Where can you buy hardware for your projects?
• How should you get started?

11. Examples of Microcontroller Boards

12. Software Options
• Operating Systems
• Programming languages
• Architectures
• Taking your first steps

13. Typical Code Sample
void loop()
{
if (robotInitialized == false) initializeRobot();
if (performDiagnosticsChecks == true)
{
if (armDiagnostics == true) testArmMovement();
if (wheelSpeedDiagnostics == true) testGearmotors();
if (sensorDiagnostics == true) testSensorPositioningAndReadings();
}
else if (intruderStopped == false)
{
// continue main program loop…
}
}

14. The Robots Used in this Training
• We will be exploring the development of 3 robots
– We will include brief hardware discussions
– We will spend most of our time focused on the code
• Robot #1: Simple Autonomous “MSBump-Bot”
• Robot #2: Semi-Aware “MSGuard-Bot”
• Robot #3: Wirelessly Controlled “MSSpider-Bot”

15. DEMO
Meet the Bots

16. Review
• This MVA course is the first in a planned series on embedded
systems
• Future courses in this series will focus on .NET Micro Framework
projects and projects involving Windows tablets.
• We plan to develop Internet of Things training that covers both
.NET Micro Framework and full .NET/WinRT apps.
• You can “vote” for more training on robotics

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