Creating Linear motion for your NXT projects

Creating Linear motion for your NXT projects - Part 2

Following on from yesterday's piece about linear motion in robots.....

Today we will continue with a third and elegant way to achieve linear motion: Using the linear actuators.

1. What is a LEGO Linear actuator?

Linear actuator (LA) is a brand new piece of hardware just released by LEGO, that is used to turn rotational motion of a motor into linear motion similar to a piston. It is just longer than an AA battery when it is not extended and it sort of looks like this:

2. How do I use it?
Using a LA with a NXT kit is pretty intuitive. Just plug in an axle of a NXT motor (or a Power Function (PF) motor using the NXT adapter cable) to a LA. Write a simple program in NXT-G to drive the motor. I will post an example program in NXTLog ASAP. Programming does not need to be very precise as to the number of rotations - I did it long enough to do about 28 rotations to extend the LA fully - and it works fine. If you put too many rotations, the internal clutch handle it pretty well as you can see in the video below.

Here is something I knocked up within minutes of opening the box with a LA using a PF motor and a couple of gears and a NXT. I also used the bracket that came with the LA to make the connection easier.

3. Examples of LA's in action.

To demonstrate how cool the new LA is, I created a model that uses both the LA and the old pneumatic pump (that shipped with last year's LEGO TECHNIC Mobile Crane) and created a fully working fire extinguisher.

Warning: The use of pneumatic pump with water is not recommended. Also be cautious when working with fire and water.

4. Where can I get my LA?

You can not currently buy this item on its own. It currently ships with two models that came out this month and it is now shipping - so you should be able to order it.

Here are the two models that has a LA: 8294 (telescopic Extender), 8295 (Excavator).

What is inside a Linear Actuator?

I could not bring myself to break a brand new LA apart. However, I did find an excellent post by Conchas in the TechnicBRICKs blog a few days ago that did just that. It is well written and definitely worth a read if you want to know more !!

BlueToothKiwi

Celebrating MINDSTORMS with a Remix - Part 2

The ROBOTMAK3RS continued their celebration of the 25th Anniversary of MINDSTORMS through these summer and fall remix projects. Each ROBOTMAK3R was tasked with selecting one LEGO set of their choice and combining it with a MINDSTORMS set. Below are the five amazing models they came up with. Remote controlled material handle r by Jozua van Ravenhorst (aka Mr Jo) This remix combines the LEGO Technic Material Handler (42144) with MINDSTORMS EV3 (31313) It uses the power of pneumatic cylinders to move objects around. By using a bluetooth remote control, very precise movements can be made with this model. Touch sensors in the base chassis prevent the turret twisting the cables that go through the turntable to much. The program has several protections to prevent over pressurizing the system for each of the 3 individual pumps and valves that control the 2 booms and claws. The real version of this machine is mostly used in waste material sites to bring the material to machines that sort and

MINDSTORMS Retires!

2023 is the 25th Anniversary of the MINDSTORMS brand. For 25 years, MINDSTORMS has educated and inspired a generation of robot builders, both children and adults. Unfortunately, the LEGO Group decided to end the line on December 2022. Many ROBOTMAK3RS have been passionately involved with the development of MINDSTORMS through the MUP and MCP programs. Even with the newest Robot Inventor line, several ROBOTMAK3RS were invited to submit additional bonus models that were included in the official app. Regardless of the retirement of a major LEGO robotics product line, ROBOTMAK3RS continue to MAKE-SHARE-INSPIRE using all LEGO robotics platforms available to us. Here is the official statement from LEGO. Since its launch in September 1998, LEGO MINDSTORMS has been one of the core ‘Build & Code’ experiences in the company’s portfolio, carrying with it significant brand equity and becoming a stand-out experience for the early days of consumer robotics and leading to current Build & Code

Celebrating 25 Years of MINDSTORMS

In celebration of the 25th Anniversary of MINDSTORMS, we take a trip through history. Please also visit ROBOTMAK3RS Community every week as we highlight different projects all through 2023 in celebration of the anniversary. Some of the early history is based on the content shared by Coder Shah in our MINDSTORMS EV3 Community Group . Some of the text and links may have been edited from his original posts for consistency and clarity. 1984 - Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen watched a TV program called "Talking Turtle," where MIT professor Seymour Papert demonstrated how children could control robot "turtles" using LOGO, a programming language he developed. 1988 - The collaboration between MIT and LEGO resulted in LEGO TC Logo in 1988, which allowed students to control LEGO models using computer commands. The video shows Papert demonstrating TC Logo. 1990 - LEGO TC Logo was hampered since the robots you built had to be tethered to a personal computer. LEGO and MIT

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