ROBOTMAK3RS Blog

Welcome guest blogger DamonMM2000 Hey there! I am DamonMM2000 , and I build LEGO MINDSTORMS Ev3 robots. Today, I would like to introduce my 103rd Ev3 MOC (from what I've counted): CTS-eV3! CTS-eV3 is a Lego replica of the 2010 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe. With RWD (Rear Wheel Drive), lots of speed, and more than adequate torque, this motorized creation is like the real car. Having been over half a year in the making, there has been many trial-and-errors (including chassis, drivetrain, and exterior redesigns). But I am quite satisfied with the final outcome! CTS-eV3 has a 4.5:1 gear ratio (if you count the differential, the gear ratio is 3.2:1), accomplished by driving a 36 tooth gear meshed with an 8 tooth gear in a unique setup. Actual speed is a few tenths under 4 Kph! This two door coupe has been relatively replicated, including the visible V8 piston engine along with the Corvette inspired supercharger. Special thanks to Builderdude35 for his help; he came out with ...

The NXTLog Challenge this summer is to build a robotic pet! Real and made up animals are all allowed. Awarded categories will be: Domestic Pets, Exotic Pets, Creative Pets, and Interactive Pets. The deadline is August 31! Read more about the challenge here . You might find inspiration from Fay's LEGO MINDSTORMS ZOO or Robots Alive! Endangered Species books, as well as the Internet. Good luck and happy building! Richard

The winners of the April-March challenge of NXTLOG have been announced. The goal of "Smart Move" was to design a LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT transportation device of the future. Have a look at the winners here or view all entries using the smartmove tag on NXTLOG. Congrats to all participants!

With the FIRST LEGO League fast approaching, about a month away, the new NXTLog Challenge is Smart Move! From the NXTLog website: "Your challenge is to look at your community and discover how people, animals, information, and things travel. Once you know how people and things move in your community, pick one main mode of transportation and improve it through a MINDSTORMS NXT robot design prototype." All the standard rules apply; projects must be tagged "smartmove". Entries are due April 30th. Read more here . The FLL World Festival will be April 14-17 at the Georgia Dome, in Atlanta, Georgia. As always, some contributors to the NXT Step blog will be there, so be sure to drop by! Also, the FLL World Festival 2011 will be held in St. Louis! Read more about this year's World Festival here . Finally, next years' challenge has been released: Body Forward! Happy building! Richard

With the end of the previous Snap Bot challenge, the new challenge is up - Robotic Arm! The rules remain the same - no limit on the amount of hardware used, and your entry must be tagged "roboticarm". From NXTLog - " Robotic arms are no longer the work of science fiction writers. They are shaping the future of industry and medicine. Bionic arms give amputees a new lease on life enabling them grab, reach, and hug. Industrial arms make assembly line tasks safer and more efficient. They even allow astronauts to work better in space. On the fun side, robotic arms can be used as candy grabbers, pancake flippers, or even back scratchers! Your first NXTLOG challenge of the new decade is to design a MINDSTORMS NXT robotic arm." The interesting aspect to this challenge is the question... how many degrees of freedom will your arm have? Full information can be found at NXTLog: http://mindstorms.lego.com/en-us/Community/NXTLog/DisplayProject.aspx?id=4b486264-50d3-404b-92c8-b728...

Running on NXTLOG (the LEGO® official online repository for community NXT models) already since September and ending on 31 st of October, the Snapbot building challenge this time requests for sending in working NXT robots that can be reasonably built with as minimum parts as possible: "In this challenge you must create a LEGO MINDSTORMS robot that uses the minimum amount of LEGO bricks possible. Can you create a simple robot that someone can build in a snap? Snap Bots can be built in the following categories: Animals Humanoid Machines Vehicles" Do you feel inspired? Then figure out such a minimalistic robot and send it in to NXTLOG.

Using the missions from this year's FLL challenge, Climate Connections, solve them and enter your robot in this NXTLog challenge. Don't have the missions? Make up your own, and build a robot to complete them! Full details: http://mindstorms.lego.com/nxtlog/ProjectDisplay.aspx?id=b1c98d61-dd7c-49bc-83c7-f77ac83bc062 Enjoy and good luck! Richard

Details here .

NXTLog put up a new building challenge... this time contestants have to build a robot for a holiday. Read about it here . -Jonathan

What can be more fun than a barrel full of monkeys? A barrel full of NXT monkeys! We've had Biped, Quadruped, and even Bug Bot challenges on NXTLOG, but now we want you to have lots of fun and build the coolest creature on the planet. Read on here at NXTLog. Have fun! Richard EDIT: Due to a request from a reader, I've changed the link above to a hyperlink.

Continueing on from the post yesterday.... about the double NXT Whac-a-mole construction. Today we been working on another module of the robot - the score tower - which uses the caterpiller tracks to move the pointer up and down: The tracks (that came with last year's TECHNIC Bulldozer) is extremely useful. Most people use the tracks for moving a vehicle. e.g. Like the TECHNIC Bulldozer. You can also use the tracks to move an object attached to the tracks from part of the robot to another - like we have done for the second module of the Whac-a-mole today The tracks moves a LEGO mole up and down on a long tower. The idea of the game is that the player whacks the moles that pop their head. As you whack more and more moles, you get higher points. And as you get more and more points the mole gets higher until it touches the top touch sensor - then the pointer returns to the base and starts the next level - just like the ones you see in carnivals. It is way easier to implement than usin...

The NXTLog has a new competition as Richard blogged last week. We have not entered a robot since our Wall-e won a NXTLog challenge last year. However, the new competition is really challenging - the brief is to use two NXT kits - and this weekend we started working on the creation that is the biggest robot that we ever built and uses 2 NXT, 6 motors and 7 sensors. This is as far as I got so far: Anyone want to guess what I am building? Edit: Well done to Jonathan and Joshua for guessing it right. It is going to be a Whac-a-mole.

"NXT NXT...? Are you seeing double? Yes! We are presenting a doubly fun building challenge where you create a robot that uses 2 NXT bricks! We are also giving you double the amount of time to enter this challenge (projects must be entered by June 30, 2008)." Sounds fun, but this will eliminate some competitors (including me!). Good luck! Richard

Congrats to all the entries to the Biped Challenge, and to the winners: CHAMPION'S AWARD Bipedal Dragon Prototype Created by: billy259 The Bipedal Dragon Prototype has loose ankles that can bend left or right, tilting the robot as it steps. The Prototype also moves a hinged NXT intelligent brick left and right when it is stepping. The mechanism is a simple hookup to and extension on the legs (similar to the way Alpha Rex has that hookup). It is simple, but effective, and does not strain the motors. Combined with the rubber grippers in its feet, it is able to step forward and walk. Weightshifting is a bit difficult to manage when you want your robot to look a certain way, but in the end The Bipedal Dragon Prototype came out looking pretty good! billy259 provides an incredibly detailed NXTLOG, excellent pictures, and annotated program files (we would love to see some video now). Congrats on winning the Champion's Award! (This is billy259's 8th project on NXTLOG.) ROBOT DES...

Join millions of people across the world to help celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd . This Earth Day it’s time to change the forecast for global warming and we want you to create a MINDSTORMS NXT robot that can be used to help maintain a healthy, sustainable environment. This contest also celebrates this year’s FIRST LEGO League World Festival in Atlanta, GA USA, from April 17 to 19 where FLL teams work together to help solve the world’s “Power Puzzle.” You can create a robot that helps conserve energy (like a light switch bot), a robot that represents a type of alternative renewable energy, a robot that helps you recycle, or any robot you imagine can help reduce global warming. The ideas are endless and we are looking for you to create the NXT great invention that can help the Earth. There's no limit on amount of LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT sensors, motors, NXT programmable bricks, HiTechnic sensors, or Bluetooth communication you can use on your MINDSTORMS NXT Earth Day Robot. Entries mu...

A news release (short, but nice) has been released regarding some changes about to hit NXTLOG. Read them here . Nutshell: * video * rating of projects * improved search feature * changes in submission rules

These robots are made for walkin' Alpha Rex can't be the only biped you'll ever make, so we're asking you to create the NXT two legged walker! Bipeds are said to be the most difficult robot to make, but we know NXTLOGgers are up for the challenge! There's no limit on amount of LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT sensors, motors, NXT programmable bricks, HiTechnic sensors, or Bluetooth communication you can use on your MINDSTORMS NXT Biped. Entries must be submitted from Saturday March 1, 2008 - Monday March 31, 2008 (Please note that it is better not to wait for the last minute, since then your robot may get tagged a later date then March 31). All entries must be tagged " NXT200803 " Read it all here . Good building! Martyn

We searched through 100's of innovative MINDSTORMS NXT projects to showcase for this tremendous milestone on NXTLOG. And the winner of NXTLOG 5000 is... First Place Mars Explorer Mk1 with Lander(PF Inc) Created by: mezzauk This is mezzauk's first NXT project, and it's awesome! It is an explorer robot with a PF (Power Function) enabled lander. The explorer begins by ordering the lander to lower both sides then the front so it can exit. A medium PF motor serves as a small radar/communication tower at the back - it rotates while the left, right, and front are deployed. The Mars Explorer Mk1 with Lander(PF Inc) is built with sets 8527, 8273, 9648, 8285, PF motor set and other small parts. We applaud mezzauk's first and winning contribution to NXTLOG. Thanks for your amazing and innovative work! Second Place Brick Sorter Crane Created by: pejensen Another first project on NXTLOG, this project included everything; great documentation, pictures, a program file, and an LDD ...

You've got one week left to submit your project(s) to NXTLOG for consideration as the 5000th accepted submission. Read more here .

The latest NXTLOG Challenge is up. From the description: "The MINDSTORMS NXT Camera Bot Building Challenge is asking you to create the NXT spy bot, paparazzi bot, photojournalist bot, or even a robotic fashion photographer. We are looking for robots that can take still photos (not video), and we want you to also share the pictures taken from your robot’s point of view. There's no limit on amount of LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT sensors, motors, NXT programmable bricks, HiTechnic sensors, or Bluetooth communication you can use on your MINDSTORMS NXT Camera Bot." Read more here .