ROBOTMAK3RS Blog

Here is a video teaser for my new project... This was the first time I have tried taking a video of the NXT screen, and the dinky video camera I have was barely up to the task, but I'm sure you will get the idea.

In my spare time here and and there, I have been working on an NXT project that includes a lot more programming than your typical NXT project. Here is a teaser screenshot. Anybody want to guess what it does?

In preparation for the official launch of NXT 2.0 (any time now...). The nxtprograms.com web site has been updated to start providing projects for the new NXT 2.0 kit as well as the original NXT kit. To start with, I posted a few projects based on a castor wheel chassis (a useful vehicle type not included in the standard LEGO NXT 2.0 instructions), including an NXT 2.0 version of the classic Explorer project from nxtprograms.com. More details on the projects will be posted after the official launch. More projects will be rolled out as time allows.

My son built two of Dave Parker's Sumo NXTs, found here . Two impressions: 1) The robots are as strong as tanks. 2) Dave's light calibration program works well--in eighteen sumo "battles", neither robot ever ran out of the ring by mistake. The robots were filmed at normal speed. (The gray tint of the video is because of a darkened room, to avoid ambient light interfering with the light sensors). Ten points if anyone can guess the title of the video's bombastic soundtrack. :) Thanks, Dave!!

For you gear heads out there, the latest project on http://www.nxtprograms.com/ is a 3-speed manual shift transmission with a realistic hand-operated clutch, using only parts from the standard NXT set. Build it with the instructions here and try out your driving skills!

The following is Dave's description of his latest creation , complete with building instructions and two programming files: "This puppy is all ready to go for a walk, either with his leash, or on the loose by himself. He can go straight or turn on smooth floors, and he can turn his head to look left and right. Two programs are provided. With the leash program, you can control when the puppy stops and turns left or right by pushing the button on the leash. Without the leash, the alternate program makes the puppy explore around the room by himself, trying to avoid walls with his ultrasonic "eyes", and you can also get him to turn in one direction or the other by calling him, and he will hear you with his sound sensor and come to you!" Thanks, Dave (again).