Aske Olsson and Lars Pontoppidan built a very unusual bot for the DTU Robocup. While not made out of Lego, it's unique design is quite intresting. Instead of having motors powering the wheels as in most normal bots. The bot moves by bending its segments somewhat like a snake. The wheels that are on the bottom of the bot are just free-spinning. It would be a fairly simple task to build a similar bot using the NXT, however it would either require a motor multiplexor or a second NXT as three motors would probaly not be enough. Check out the Videos on Aske's site.
» Read more: Snakebot for Robocup
Archive for April, 2007
Snakebot for Robocup
April 30th, 2007Cybermaster Touch Sensor Multiplexer
April 30th, 2007
The Lego Cybermaster set from 1998 had three unique touch sensors in it. Each one was set up with a different resistor (and a different colored contact) such that when ganged together properly, you could tell which sensor was being pushed. Dave Astolfo figured out a way to use these with the NXT. This means that using just one NXT sensor port you can have three touch sensros, that the NXT can distinguish between. A set of these sensors would be a great boon to any bot as it would allow for detection on three seprate sides. Sadly for those of us who are fairly new to the Lego world, the Cybermaster set is running near $200 on Bricklink, but it should be possible to make up your own sensors using a simiilar concept. Read the whole write-up over at Plasti-bots.
» Read more: Cybermaster Touch Sensor Multiplexer
Constant Power from NXT Port A
April 25th, 2007
After digging through the Lego NXT Hardware Developers Kit (HDK) Philo realized that Port A on the NXT brick was not the same as Port B and Port C. On Port A when in either Brake or Driving mode, one of the two motor driving lines has a voltage (Ports B & C are grounded). This means that you can pull this power from Port A and use it to power other devices. You can even switch A into Coast to turn this power off. This opens up a whole realm of possibilities, and Philo has shown a few of them. First, you can use it to power any old Lego motors. Which would be very useful for constant motion things, like powering a treadmill or such. Secondly he used it to power a wireless camera, as well as a few "headlights" for the camera. This would be a great benefit, as I've always hated having the 9-Volt battery for the camera flopping around. Check out the full write-up as well as a few schematics and videos over on Philo's site. (The picture is of Philo's setup controlling a few other old motors off of Port A)
» Read more: Constant Power from NXT Port A
Wish List Response by Lego
April 25th, 2007Jim Kelly put together a wish list of NXT related features that people would like Lego to develop. At the FLL Championship this year he was able to get someone from Lego to respond to the list and there are some very intresting anwsers. A few highlights:
- Lego isn't working on a NXT related pneumatic set (but will continue to use pneumatics in other sets). This is unfortunate, but probaly makes sense from a cost standpooint, as pneumatics are already some of the most expensive components and combining them with the other most expensive components (the NXT) would undoubtly push any set past the realm of affordability.
- Lego is most likely working on some type of new motor for the NXT. They realize that the community would like a smaller motor, as well as a more powerful one.
- Due to the special tools required, as well as agreements with suppliers they won't be allowing users to modify the bluetooth firmware (for instance to add other profiles so the NXT could talk to non SPP devices).
- This one is fairly obvious, but Lego is working on a next version of the NXT. We wouldn't excpect it to be coming out anytime soon though.
Check out the full response over at The NXT Step Blog.
BricxCC test release with NXT support
April 24th, 2007
A new test release of BricxCC has been posted that includes support for the NXT. From John Hansen's Lugnet post:
It features a built-in NBC/NXC compiler which can be turned on or off via a checkbox on the NBC/NXC Compiler tab. With it turned on you will find that compiling and downloading programs via bluetooth is many times faster than it used to be. That's because BricxCC has to close its connection to the NXT before it launches the external compiler so that the compiler can make a connection and use it to download the program to the brick. Then BricxCC has to reconnect to the brick after the compiler has finished. All that disconnecting, connecting, disconnecting, and reconnecting goes away when you tell BricxCC you want to use the internal NBC/NXC compiler.
Check it out over at the BricxCC homepage.
Mindsensors Dual Infra Red Obstacle Detector
April 23rd, 2007
Mindsensors has released a new sensor for the NXT. Its a Dual Infra-Red Obstacle Detector. It uses a pair of Infra-red sensors to detect if there is an object blocking your bots path, and if so if it is directly in front or on the right or left side of the bot. This would be an extremely useful sensor for maze running, or just general obstacle avoidance. Mindsensors says the sensor is supported in NXT-G, RobotC or NBC, although I don't see any software currently on the site. Order one now over at Mindsensors.com
» Read more: Mindsensors Dual Infra Red Obstacle Detector
Brickworld 2007 NXT events!
April 19th, 2007
Brickworld 2007 will be taking place in Chicago at the end of June this year. A few MDP's are helping organize the event and as such there will be four NXT worthy events! In addition to the traditional Sumo, there is also a Gradient Oval Race. This is where a large oval with a black to white gradient (picture) and the bots have to go as fast as they can around it without hitting the inside or outside. There is also a Rock-Crawling Challenge where bots will be tasked with climbing over a wide variety of objects, as well as a Line Maze. The Line maze will consist of a random maze of black lines that overlap and cross, where the bot must find its way to the end as quickly as possible. These all sound like great events and I am looking forward to seeing the crazy contraptions that folks come up with in hopes of winning. For the full details of all the events head over to the Lugnet thread.
» Read more: Brickworld 2007 NXT events!
First Lego League Round-up
April 18th, 2007
The First Lego League World Festival was held this past weekend in Georgia. While I can't provide any first-hand coverage as I was unable to attend, There are numerous reports, pictures and videos floating around on the web.
- The offical FLL Website. As well as the offical results (PDF link)
- Lego's own post.
- Jim Kelly's excellent coverage over at The NXT Step.
- Joe Meno's great Video, as well as photo set
We'd also like to offer our congratulations to Team Built on a Rock for they're 1st place Robot Performance and 1st place Innovative Robot Design awards.
UPDATE: Lego has requested that all teams show off their bots over on the NXTLog page.
Philo’s NXTiiMote
April 17th, 2007
Philo has created a unique remote control for his NXT bots. Using a Mindsensors acceleration sensor he has created a remote that responds to tilting in various directions (similar to Nintendo's Wiimote, hence the name). In addition to the 3-axis of control provided by the sensor, he also added on a wheel and a button (based on a NXT motor and a touch sensor), allowing for secondary funtions to be controled. Philo is kind enough to not only provide pictures of the remote, but also sample programs and building instructions. So if you'd like to build your own, or just want to have a look see, head over to his site.
» Read more: Philo’s NXTiiMote
David Astolfo’s UNV
April 16th, 2007
Making a bot that can climb over tall objects has always been a fun challenge to undertake. One design that is quickly becoming a favorite is the two tracked bot with two 'flippers' that can lift the bot up to climb over objects. This design which was inspired by a few real life bots, including iRobot's Packbot, is quite versitile and allows for climbing over objects almost as large as the flippers themselves. David Astolfo has created a similar design. Using the big tracks from the Snowmobile kit he's created quite an impressive design. Sadly it is perhaps too impressive as it is apparntly too heavy to work very well. Another problem he has is the lack of traction on the plastic tracks. This is a very common complaint both with the new tracks and the old ones, they just don't provide very much traction. Perhaps someday Lego will make rubber inserts for the tracks. Check out all the pictures and videos over at Plastibots.com
» Read more: David Astolfo’s UNV
