Microsoft Corp. is the unquestioned leader in computer operating systems with Windows, but the growing field of robotics relies on diverse programming platforms.
The Redmond, WA-based software giant last year launched Microsoft Robotics Studio, eying robotics as a potential expanding market of the type personal computers once were.
Microsoft Co. Ltd., the company's Japanese unit, said it was forming a technological alliance with Tmsuk Co. to further develop programming software.
"Currently, many kinds of robots are made individually, based on different operating systems, and not all of the newly-developed technologies can be adapted to one another," said Shunichi Kajisa, the Japanese unit's chief technology officer.
"We aim to commonize robotics technology by recommending [that] researchers use our Microsoft Robotics Studio," he told a news conference.
Tmsuk President Yoichi Takamoto said: "We've developed various sorts of robots with different partners but, right now, we cannot adopt one technology used in robot A to robot B.
"If this Microsoft software comes to be used by many developers, then technological advances in robotics will dramatically accelerate," he said.
Tmsuk, a company originally focused on factory automation in the southwestern city of Kitakyushu, has developed a variety of robots for practical use, as well as experimental humanoids in cooperation with universities and other firms.
One example is a disaster-relief robot, which was put to use clearing rubble after a powerful earthquake hit central Japan in July.
© 2007 Agence France-Presse