NXT Basics: Technic Building and NXT-G

Erin Cejka RieckerCenter for Engineering Educational OutreachTufts University

Getting to Know the NXT

Motors and Sensors

Hardware Comparison

Technic or “Studless” Building Pieces:

Studless beams Connectors Axles

Features: Symmetry Sturdy

Build a Two Motor Car

Software Options

ROBOLAB 2.9

LEGO Mindstorms for NXT(NXT-G)

Using ROBOLAB 2.9 with the NXT New sensors

Screen control

Using ROBOLAB 2.9 with the NXT

NXT control panel appears during download

NXT-G Interface

ToolbarWorkspace

Configuration Panel Help & Navigation

ControllerPalettes

Tutorials

Web Portal

Sequence Beam

NXT-G tools Pointer tool: move blocks, select blocks Pan tool: move within workspace Comment tool: add notes to your code

Intro to NXT-G: PalettesCommon: Complete:

Custom:Most All blocks Downloadedcommonly and createdused blocks blocks

Writing a Basic Program Drag and drop block(s) on sequence

beam

Manipulate Configuration Panel & Download

Intro to NXT-G: Controller

Download & Run Selection

Download & Run

NXT Window

Download Stop

ROBOLAB vs. NXT-G

ROBOLAB vs. NXT-GIn ROBOLAB In NXT-G

Icons or VIs Blocks

Modifiers Configuration Panel

Wiring together icons Sequence beams

Need start & stop light

Start is given, no stop needed

NXT Rotation Sensor Built in to motors Measure degrees

or rotations Reads + and - Degrees:

accuracy +/- 1 1 rotation =

360 degrees

Viewing Sensors Connect sensor Turn on NXT Choose “View” Select sensor type Select port

NXT Sound Sensor Sound sensor can measure in dB and dBA

dB: in detecting standard [unadjusted] decibels, all sounds are measured with equal sensitivity. Thus, these sounds may include some that are too high or too low for the human ear to hear.

dBA: in detecting adjusted decibels, the sensitivity of the sensor is adapted to the sensitivity of the human ear. In other words, these are the sounds that your ears are able to hear.

Sound Sensor readings on the NXT are displayed in percent [%]. The lower the percent the quieter the sound.

http://mindstorms.lego.com/Overview/Sound_Sensor.aspx

Challenge: Stop with sound Program your NXT car to drive until you

yell “Stop”

Example Program: Remote Control

NXT Sound NXT can play sound files or notes Sounds take up more memory space

NXT Display Display images, text, or drawings Choose location on display screen 100 x 64 pixels (up to 7 lines of text) Graphics take up memory space

Challenge: Say Hello Have the RCX say hello using sound

and the display screen Don’t forget – the program ends after

the last block. You may need a wait for to see the display.

Caution: one of the options in the configuration panel is Clear – use it to clear screen. Otherwise, uncheck the box!

Example Program: Say Hello