We are currently working on a RobotBASIC Robot Operating System (RROS).
The full RROS will manage almost any type of sensor allowing hobbyists without an electronics background to build and program sophisticated robots. The RROS will probably be distributed Open-Source to allow expansion and customization. We will even allow users to share their modifications through our web page. The LIGHT version is requiring sensitive coding that will not be appropriate for modification, so it will probably be distributed as a pre-programmed IC to which users can connect any of the supported sensors and motor options. Many motors and sensors can be directly connected without any support circuitry. We are even considering a robot kit based on the LIGHT version, that will make it easy to build a RobotBASIC compatible robot. If you are interested in any of these products, please let us know. Below is a summary of the work that is taking place.
The idea of a RobotBASIC Robot Operating System (RROS) is simple. Imagine a controller that can be connected to a PC running RobotBASIC (either through a wireless link, or wired if a netbook computer is embedded in the robot itself). Hobbyists will be able to connect a wide variety of motors and sensors from different manufactures (Parallax, Pololu, Lynxmotion, etc) to the controller and RobotBASIC will be able to control the motors and read the sensory data using the SAME programs used to control the simulated robot. No low-level programming will be required.
Hobbyists will be able to build anything from a small to a large man-sized robot using this controller. They will need minimal knowledge of electroinics because the controller will handle all the interfacing tasks (both hardware and software). You simply choose the motors needed based on your robot's size and weight, and the sensors needed for your application and environment. You will be able to choose anything from simple bumper switches to to a GPS navigation system. Additional sensors can monitor beacons, measure distances to objects, and detect objects around your robot using either IR or ultrasonic. Connect your choices to the controller and build your own base or use something already commercially available. Just mount the sensors appropriately and you are ready to go because the RROS will transparently map all data to the RobotBASIC functions used for the simulation. You can fully develop algorithms using the simulator, then immediately let those SAME programs control a real robot. We believe this is the way robotic behaviors should be developed and has been our goal since the beginning.
Using the RROS, hobbyists will finally be able to spend their time developing intelligent algorithms instead of designing hardware and debugging firmware. This is a similar situation to the early 1970's when it took so much time and knowledge to build a computer that hobbyists seldom created significant applications. When Apple and Radio Shack (among others) finally produced ready to use computers the emphasis moved to programming (where it belonged). Once that happened, the writing of application software took off, building the huge industry we enjoy and benefit from today.
Our goal is to make it easy for nearly anyone to build a robot that can be totally controlled from the RobotBASIC environment. Visit the HARDWARE tab at www.RobotBASIC.com to see a few pictures of some of the prototypes now under development.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://community.robotshop.com/robots/show/robot-operating-system