ROBOTMAK3RS Blog

Now when the first EV3 education sets are released on the market and the software is downloaded we have something nice to look for. "The SPACE Challenge set". Form the education website: The Space Challenge is for all educators that want to teach STEM through hands-on problem solving. No matter if this is your first experience using LEGO® MINDSTORMS® or robotics or not, this learning program has been developed to support you and to make the materials suitable for your teaching environment. In the Space Challenge Activity Pack, there are seven Challenge Missions, nine Learning Missions and one Learning to Gear project. Each Mission and project presents a fun STEM learning opportunity. Student and teacher materials are provided in a multimedia content environment with the LEGO MINDSTORMS Education EV3 Content Editor featuring all the tools the students needs for documenting and presenting their findings and results as they progress through the material. Three Research P...

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...

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

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 .

More information (including rules, judges, and a FAQ) on the Sumo Challenge can now be found on the official LEGO MINDSTORMS webpage . This is looking to be one of the biggest events to come around for NXT users of all ages. We want to hear from our readers - are you going to participate? Any strategy or special plans you care to share? Going it alone or maybe with a friend? Let us know...

The winners have been announced for the NXTLOG Back to School Challenge... read about it here .

From the NXTLog website: In October the weather gets cooler, the wind blows stronger, the nights come faster, and it can get pretty SPOOKY! That's why we are looking for YOU to design a spooky robot for HALLOWEEN! This can be a robot that relates to Halloween in any way. It can be a spooky creature, a robot that makes a trick or gives a treat, or even a NXT robot dressed up in costume. The ideas are endless and we’ll be looking for the most creative robots that we could not be without on a spooky autumn evening. All entries must be tagged "NXT200710" and don't forget to upload a program! Read the full text and rules here . Note that the last submission date is Wednesday October 31, 2007 (Billund time!). This means that in case you live in the USA (west coast), you should submit one day earlier, to be sure that your project is dated Oct 31. I submitted a 8275+NXT table cleaner , for the previous challange , and I saw a great School Bus , but they were both dated Oct 01...

The new challenges for the FLL Power Puzzle season are pretty interesting, and include some new twists to the competition. They also seem to make it somewhat harder to get a perfect score. For example, while the Nanoquest theme had only 9 challenges, this season has a whopping 15! Here are some comments on a few of the complicated challenges: Hydro-Dam: This challenge model is a deliverable, meaning it's in base (or the parking lot) until the robot moves it. The "water" part of the dam is not used until the end of the round, when it's used for scoring. For the challenge, the robot has to move the dam so that it touches both banks of one of the two rivers on the east (right) side of base. There is another factor, though. In a later challenge, the Power Lines have to be moved so that they connect the Power Plant property to surrounding communities. If the hydro dam is touching a community which is touching the Power Lines, you get an extra 5 points. Wind Turbines: These...

From the NXTLog website: "September is here and many of you are going back to school. Your challenge is to design a NXT robot that you would take to school. What job would your robot do for you?" Read the description here : Good Luck! Richard

Tom was kind enough to send me the link showing his team talking about their FLL challenges... you can view it below.