ROBOTMAK3RS Blog

Yesterday, I blogged about the 'LEGO approved' way of powering your PF motors from your NXT - either using the IR-Link or by using the two cables you can buy from LEGO as discussed in my last blog . Since then I have had a few comments from readers asking about how to create your own cable for PF motors to control it from a NXT. So here is instructions on how to create your own cable in 2 minutes. Please note that this method of driving the motor from NXT is not endorsed by LEGO and also exercise caution when working with knives and cutters. Step 1: Start with a NXT cable and a PF motor. Step 2: Cut the end off the PF motor and also one end of a NXT cable. Step 3: Use a sharp knife to extract the two central strands in the PF cable and the black and white strands in the NXT cable. You can cut off the remaining strands and discard as shown below. Step 4: Remove the insulation from the strands as shown below. This is best done using a wire stripper. Don't be tempted to us...

Have you ever wanted to create something cool with NXT - but the size and shape of the NXT motor made it impossible? Nearly all NXT projects use the standard NXT motors that ships with a Retail NXT kit. But that is not the only option: Following one of the comments by a reader on my post last week about using the linear actuator , I thought I will do a blog on using motors - especially non NXT motors with your NXT kit. The following list some ways of leveraging your motor collections and tells you how to control the various types of motors from your NXT brick: 1) Direct connection of a NXT motor to a NXT This is the most obvious - and it is the easiest to program - either using the motor block and move block that comes with NXT-G - or a quick sequenced programmed using the on brick editor. Given the NXT motor has a rotation sensor built in, this is the most flexible method - giving a variety of ways to program the motor action - including specifying the number of turns or number of deg...

LEGO Shop-at-Home has updated their products recently. Perhaps most interesting there are some new PF elements among them, as well as the existing PF motors but you can now buy them on a " piece by piece " basis. It seems there is also a "hybrid" PF cable , that appear to function as both a PF extenssion cable as well as a cross-over cable to the older 9V system. The grand Technic Bulldozer may not be available... but at least now all the PF parts are (they've also been added to LEGO Digital Designer for that matter. It appears I need to browse S@H more often... and after I already put in my last order, too. Oh well, perhaps I need another order... For folks wanting new sensors, there's a lot of offerings at S@H as well: the standard four (US, light, sound, & touch), but also the Acceleration, IRSeeker, IRLink, Gyro, Color, & Compass sensor. -- Brian Davis

A new version of LEGO Digital Designer (Version 2.3) just been released. I just been playing with it - for me the most coolest addition is the PF Elements !!! A quick look at the boxes included shows some new additions - the most notable ones are the LEGO Creator 4957 Ferris Wheel and the cool 4958 Monster Dino. Thanks LEGO for listening. Now we can include PF motors in our NXT robotic models. It is a shame they still dont have the IR-Lnk though - you have to use a light sensor as a place holder until the IR-Link makes it to the pallette! Why not try it and see if you like it? Download it from here Tim

In the last few weeks we have seen LEGO® introducing new kits with the Power Function elements. Right now the PF elements ship with the LEGO® Creator Dinosaur, LEGO® creator Ferris Wheel and of course the incredible LEGO® TECHNIC Bulldozer 8275 that has just hit the market a few weeks ago. The Bulldozer comes with four PF motors in total, two receivers, and one transmitter. I been playing with the new PF motors. They are absolutely fantastic - it is easy to attach to the beams, and have incredible torque. They are smaller than the NXT motors (see the LDRAW sketch of it below in last week's post from Matthias) - in fact it comes in two sizes - the smaller one with slightly less power and the XL version with more grunt. Currently you need the Infrared remote to control the motors. However, soon you would be able to control the motors directly from the NXT using third party IR bridge sensors when they become available. The motor comes with its own power pack (with space for 6 AA batte...