I throughly enjoyed competeing in the NXTasy.org Challenge last month, and was looking forward to the next one.  Unfortunatly they appear to have given up on the challenge thing.  Therefore we're looking into running our own contest this winter!  The details are still being worked out, so I thought we'd put up a preivew of them to get some feedback.  The idea for this contest is to make a bot that can pick up a soda can, traverse an obstical course, and place the can within a designated area.  The bot must then return and pick up another can, and bring it back, doing this a total of six times.  Read on to see the full details!  (picture is from a Dutch website of a soda carrying bot.)

» Read more: Motcube Contest!

The Bricxcc folks have released a new version of NBC, 1.0.1.b13 beta.  The new version adds more support for Not eXactly C (NXC).  Adding a couple new loops, support for an NBC block, as well as enabling the use of single statements.  In previous releases all variables had to be initilized before the first task, now they can be declared anywhere as long as it isn't inside a task or subroutine.  Lastly a slew of new API's have been added mostly involving the sensors or motors, as well as the ability to play sounds.  Check out all the info over at NBC

» Read more: New Beta of NBC

Steve Hassenplug of Team Hassenplug fame was recently contacted by Lego to build a little NXT bot that would appear on a talk show.  No word on which talk show it will be on/was on however Steve posted the bot over on the NXT Log  Its not the most exciting bot in the world, but I found it quite amusing, particularly the "radar" dish that "which makes the whole thing look more like a robot."  It also points out a few intresting tidbits for bulletproofing your bot so that someone else can use it.  Check out all the info over at the NXT Log

» Read more: Hassenplug’s Package Bot

Lego has released an update to the NXT, bringing the current version to 1.04.  According to Lego it will improve the following:

» Read more: NXT Firmware updated to 1.04!

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If your frustrated trying to make a Lego biped take comfort in the fact that Honda has spent millions of dollars, and 20 years of research trying to make a robot that can walk like a human, and on occasion it still falls down and breaks its face.  It looks like the right knee failed in this short clip.

[Via Gizmodo]

» Read more: ASIMO Falls down, goes boom.

All you midwesterners can rejoice, a bunch of diffrent groups have teamed up to put together Brickworld 2007.  Taking place at the end of June, 2007 in Chicago.  Sounds like it will be a huge bash with 15,000 sqft of main exhibition space.  Not to many details yet, but it does sound like they are going to be doing another Great Ball Contraption, which I am looking forward to participating in.  LegoFan.org has the announcement with all the details so check it out, and then pay attention to www.brickworld.us for all the details.

» Read more: Brickworld 2007