NXT Sensors &

Motors

Exploration of Materials

Enables your robot to see, recognize, avoid objects, and detect movement.

It uses the same scientific principle that bats use. It measures distance in centimeters/inches by calculating the time it takes for a sound wave to hit an object and come back. Think of it like an echo!

Enables the robot to respond to obstacles in the environment.

When it is pressed or bumped, it will detect the press or bump and react accordingly.

You can use this sensor to have your robot hit a wall, but back up and turn when it hits if the touch sensor is activated.

Enables your robot to respond to sound levels. It is also known as decibel meter as it detects decibel level. What that means is that the sensor will be able to detect how soft or loud a sound is.

The sensor detects both dB and dBA. dBA: sounds human ears are able to hear dB: all actual sound, including sounds too high or

low for the human ear to hear.

Enables the robot to respond to variations in light level and color, to distinguish between light and darkness, to read the light intensity in a room and to measure the light intensity on colored surfaces.

The diagram shows how the light sensor see’s different colors.

It will not detect actual color, but it will detect differences in light and dark.

Ensures that robots move smoothly and precisely Gives the robot the ability to move When you program using the Move block, the motors

are automatically aligned so their speed is the same When you change the speeds of the motors, you will

see that it allows your robot to perform many different functions, including more speed and turns.

LEGO NXT BRICK

An intelligent, computer controlled LEGO® brick, the NXT is the brain of the LEGO MINDSTORMS®Education

robot.

Test Your KnowledgeWhat can each of these sensors do?