How to convert 3DS
to Collada?

3DS is one of the file formats used by the Autodesk 3D modeling, animation and rendering software. It once was native for the old Autodesk 3D Studio DOS and eventually has grown to become a de facto industry standard for transferring models between 3D programs, or for storing models for 3D resource catalogs.

3DS is aimed at providing an import/export format, retaining only essential geometry, texture and lighting data.

Collada (COLLAborative Design Activity) is an interchange format for interactive 3D applications. Originally developed by Sony Computer Industry, now it is managed by the Khronos Group, a member-funded industry consortium, which now shares the copyright with Sony, Recently Collada has been well adopted by ISO as a publicly available specification, ISO/PAS 17506.

It is an XML-based schema that allows data exchange among 3D Digital Content Creation tools, such as SketchUp, Maya, 3ds Max, and Rhino. COLLADA files have the *.dae file extension, which stands for digital asset exchange.