Basics: The SmartSoft World

SmartSoft is an umbrella term for structures, tools and building blocks to build robotics systems: a systematic development methodology, best practices, implementations and software components.

For example:

• The SmartMDSD Toolchain: an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for robotics software development using model-driven software development.
• The SmartMARS MetaModel: It defines the structures behind the service-oriented and component-based approach.
• The SmartSoft Framework and implementation: two exchangeable reference implementations (current: ACE middleware, former: CORBA middleware) and execution containers for several platforms and operating systems.
• A repository with components for immediate reuse to compose new applications (sensor access, skills, task sequencing, knowledge representation, etc.)

Getting Started: For Beginners

Get Started with the SmartSoft World in a Virtual Machine (PDF Tutorial): we guide you through the first steps of using SmartSoft in a Virtual Machine:

Download the ready-to-go Virtual Machine (further information to use the Virtual Machine):

• The Virtual Machine is based on Ubuntu, includes the SmartMDSD Toolchain, SmartSoft reference implementation, software components and examples. Use Virtual Box to import the VM appliance.
• What is SmartSoft? See this set of slides.
• Why use SmartSoft? Read about the benefits and the User Study
• Watch the video Tutorials to use the SmartMDSD Toolchain
• Visit the YouTube Channel for latest videos and demonstrations

I want to use it all: For Full Fledged User

In order to use all the available components and even develop new components, we strongly recommend to install our software:

• Install the SmartMDSD Toolchain to develop own components, to compose components to applications and to deploy them.
• Read the toolchain user manual and watch the screencasts
• Browse component store to see what components are available for immediate reuse
• For Robotino Owners: use SmartSoft with the FESTO Robotino Robot Platform (SmartSoft is officially supported by FESTO Robotino): SmartSoft@OpenRobotino, Robotino Service Portal

I want to learn more: Concepts, internals and foundations for Experts

• Read the User Study for experiences with and opinions about SmartSoft and the SmartMDSD Toolchain.
• Browse the Technical Reports and the Publications, Talks/Slides, Student Work, etc.
• Use SmartSoft with ROS: ROS Gateway (currently not being maintained)
• Use SmartSoft with the MORSE Simulator (currently not being maintained)
• Learn about robotic behavior
• Use SmartSoft and Gazebo to run the PAL robotics Tiago platform in simulation