Programming languages

Roboticists build machines using various mechanical parts and equip it with sensors to perceive its environment. To turn it into a functioning robot, it must be programmed so that the inputs from the sensors can be interpreted and the actions of the robot controlled.

Some mechanical components and controllers have proprietary programming languages that can be used with it, e.g. NXT for LEGO Mindstorm and Robo Pro for Fischertechnik, but there are also a range of standard languages for robotics.

In the early stages of learning how to programme, it is easier to use a visual programming language that uses blocks and arrows that describe how instructions follow one another. Robo Pro, NXT and Microsoft Robotics Studio are examples of visual programming languages we use. We believe these languages are the ideal starting block for robotics.

More advanced programmers, both for robots and other application, do not want to be restricted by the diagrams and flowcharts of a visual programming language. They prefer to program do it with a list of instructions written in a way the computer can understand called syntax. Programming languages such as Visual C, Java and Python are popular examples for robotics.

RoboPro for Fischertechnik

 RoboPro

NXT programmer for Lego Mindstorm
Robot-C for Lego and VEX
Microsoft Robotics Studio for Fischertechnik, VEX, Lego and others

Mircrosoft Robotics Studios

Python

Python

Visual Basic

Visual C