LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT

Xander Soldaat

BotBench.com

Topics

What is Mindstorms? How can you build with it? What can you build with it? Programming the NXT What’s inside the brick? Sensing the world

Topics

My activities Why do I do it? Books Communities Questions

What is Mindstorms?

How can you build with it?

• NXT brick• Motors• Sensors• Lego (Technic)

parts

• Parts in other Technic sets• Parts available online through webshops

What can you build with it?

What can you build with it?

What can you build with it?

LEGO WORLD

2009

What can you build with it?

LEGO WORLD

2010

What can you build with it?

LEGO WORLD

2011

Programming the NXT

NXT-GGraphical programming using blocks and

linesComes with the set when you buy itEasy to get started with itVery suitable for children

Programming the NXT ROBOTC

C-like environment100x faster than

NXT-GDebuggerMore difficult to learnNot free

Programming the NXT

NXC/BrixCCC-like programming language/IDECan use standard LEGO firmware

or enhanced firmwareFree (MPL)

Lejos Java on your brick! Very complete API, really great classes Free (MPL)

What’s inside the brick?

1. Bluetooth module

2. AT91SAM7s256 @ 48 MHz

3. Atmega8 @ 8MHz

• 3 x Motor ports• 4 x Sensor ports• 1 x USB

Sensing the world

Sensing the world

Sense: colour, light, sound, pressureflex, touch, shapes, distancerotation, acceleration, temperatureposition, altitude, velocity

Control: servos, motors, lights, relays

Communicate: USB, XBee, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RS485, IR

Sensing the world

LEGO: <10 sensors Mindsensors: > 20 sensors HiTechnic: >15 sensors Dexter Industries: 8 sensors MicroInfinity, Codatex, Vernier, POB

My activities

Software tester for Robotics Academy (Carnegie Mellon University)

Part of the LEGO MCP4 Hardware tester for all major sensor

companies. Develop and maintain a ROBOTC driver

suite, 50+ devices supported, 4500+ downloads

My activities

Co-owner Mindboards community Maintainer of BotBench.com (300-500

visitors/day) Contributor on official ROBOTC site Give workshops and presentations (like

this one) Attend big LEGO events (LEGO World)

Why do I do it?

It’s nice to help people Keeps you mentally fit Recognition within the Mindstorms

community “Thank you” emails from FTC teams,

professors, teachers and users.

Most of all, because it’s FUN!

Books

Countless books availableFor beginnersFor advanced programmers

Many different core subjectsBuildingProgrammingElectronics; “hacking”Themed books

Some examples

Just a few of the 65 results in Amazon.com

Communities

Massive online LEGO communitiesLego User Groups (LUGs)(Belug, LowLug)

Mindstorms communities and blogsNXT StepMindboardsBotBench.comMany other personal websites

Additional URLs

HiTechnic: hitechnic.com Mindsensors: mindsensors.com Dexter Industries: dexterindustries.com ROBOTC: robotc.net NXC: bricxcc.sourceforge.net Lejos: lejos.sourceforge.net

Additional URLs

Laurens Valk’s websites:laurensvalk.com (personal)discovery.laurensvalk.com (book site)

Mindboards: sourceforge.net/apps/phpbb/mindboards

The NXT Step: thenxtstep.blogspot.com Mindstorms site: mindstorms.lego.com De Bouwsteen: debouwsteen.eu LowLug: lowlug.nl

Questions?

http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/251311

Xander Soldaat

BotBench.com