NXT 2.0 Dial Remote Control

I have posted an NXT 2.0 Dial Remote Control project, which is an updated version of the NXT 1.0 version posted last year. This is a simple-to-build and sturdy remote control designed for NXT-to-NXT Bluetooth control, which has a somewhat unique feature in that you can get very smooth and progressive movements based on the way that the dial control works (the speed of the dial rotation maps to the robot motor speed instead of the usual dial/lever position technique). This control works particularly well to control the Forklift project.

In addition to the Bluetooth programs (one for the remote and one for the controlled bot), the project includes a program that shows how you can use the Dial Remote Control to control two motors via wires, with only a single NXT kit. Along these lines (wired remote control), I also posted a separate Mini Rover with 3-Button Remote project that shows a much simpler wired remote program using only the 3 buttons on the NXT.

To throw in something new for the Dial Remote Control over the 1.0 version, I added a touch sensor to give you five total actions to choose from, and also a bar to prevent you from accidentally pressing the dark gray program abort button by mistake when using the remote.

The NXT 2.0 Dial Remote Control is similar enough to the 1.0 version that I didn't make a new video, but here is a video of the 1.0 version controlling the 1.0 Forklift project.

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...

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...

ROBOTMAK3RS Review: LEGO River Steamboat

I thought the LEGO River Steamboat would be an interesting set for a ROBOTMAK3R review for a few reasons. First, the LEGO designer of the model is Marina Stampoli, a long-time collaborator of the late ROBOTMAK3R Vassilis Chryssanthakopoulo s. From earlier collaborations with Vassilis, I knew Marina was incredibly talented, with an eye for aesthetics and functionality. Her background in architecture is particularly useful for her relatively new position at LEGO. Her other sets include the Magic of Disney (21352), Message Board (41839), and Red London Telephone Box (21347). Second, watching Marina's reveal video and reading her designer interview made this set even more tempting to build. The gearing mechanisms running through the model gave way to many opportunities for automation using LEGO robotics elements. Since ROBOTMAK3RS is all about adding interactivity and automation to LEGO brick, I thought it would be fun to see where and how LEGO robotics could be added to this s...

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