NXT-G Programming Guide, 2nd Edition

Just a quick note - Apress is releasing a 2nd edition of my NXT-G Programming Guide in July. It covers both NXT-G 1.0 and 2.0, but it's been specifically updated to include the following:

* More sample programs - I've added 25 more sample programs (in the form of Exercises) at the end of most chapters. Each Exercise also has a solution at the end of its respective chapter if you get stuck.

* Coverage of 2.0 Tools - the 2.0 version of the software has some new tools (Image Editor, for example) - I've updated the book to cover the new tools as well.

* Fixed errors - there may be new errors, but I think I got the old ones fixed - and made some updates to some explanations that readers have asked me to go deeper into...

All in all, about 100+ new pages to the book... I don't have a final pagecount yet, but I'll try and post that once I know it... the book is in PDF review right now before heading to the printer.

And for those of you wondering if there will be any more NXT books like Mayan Adventure or King's Treasure - all I can say is Yes... more details will be coming. In the meantime, I've been doing some straight fiction writing (check out jamesfloydkelly.wordpress.com for details) as well as some tech books on non-NXT topics (here and here), so be patient with me - I've got a lot of projects going at once, but more NXT projects are planned.

Celebrating MINDSTORMS with a Remix - Part 3

The ROBOTMAK3RS continued their celebration of the 25th Anniversary of MINDSTORMS through these Fall and Winter 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. Braill3 by Jerry Nicholls Braill3 is an EV3-based LEGO Braille bricks reader. This robot uses its fingertip, made from three touch switches, to read messages written using the LEGO Braille bricks and will speak out what it detected. If it sees a simple maths problem it will attempt to solve it and give the answer as well. To learn more about the process of creating this machine, read Jerry's blog . Braill3 can be viewed here . Set Review: The Braille Bricks set is well thought out. The ratios of the letters is suitable for general use and the addition of some punctuation and arithmetic operators is excellent. There is a card showing what bricks there are and their quantities, but no form of sort...

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...

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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