Xander Soldaat BotBench.com

Topics  What is Mindstorms?  How can you build with it?  What can you build with it?  Programming the NXT  What’s inside the brick?  Sensing the world

Topics  My activities  Why do I do it?  Books  Communities  Questions

What is Mindstorms?

How can you build with it? NXT brick Motors Sensors Lego (Technic) parts Parts in other Technic sets Parts available online through webshops

What can you build with it?

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Programming the NXT  NXT-G Graphical programming using blocks and lines Comes with the set when you buy it Easy to get started with it Very suitable for children

Programming the NXT  ROBOTC C-like environment 100x faster than NXT-G Debugger More difficult to learn Not free

Programming the NXT  NXC/BrixCC C-like programming language/IDE Can use standard LEGO firmware or enhanced firmware Free (MPL)  Lejos Java on your brick! Very complete API, really great classes Free (MPL)

What’s inside the brick? 1. Bluetooth module MHz 3. 8MHz 3 x Motor ports 4 x Sensor ports 1 x USB

Sensing the world

 Sense: colour, light, sound, pressure flex, touch, shapes, distance rotation, acceleration, temperature position, altitude, velocity  Control: servos, motors, lights, relays  Communicate: USB, XBee, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RS485, IR

Sensing the world  LEGO: <10 sensors  Mindsensors: > 20 sensors  HiTechnic: >15 sensors  Dexter Industries: 8 sensors  MicroInfinity, Codatex, Vernier, POB

My activities  Software tester for Robotics Academy (Carnegie Mellon University)  Part of the LEGO MCP4  Hardware tester for all major sensor companies.  Develop and maintain a ROBOTC driver suite, 50+ devices supported, downloads

My activities  Co-owner Mindboards community  Maintainer of BotBench.com ( visitors/day)  Contributor on official ROBOTC site  Give workshops and presentations (like this one)  Attend big LEGO events (LEGO World)

Why do I do it?  It’s nice to help people  Keeps you mentally fit  Recognition within the Mindstorms community  “Thank you” s from FTC teams, professors, teachers and users.  Most of all, because it’s FUN!

Books  Countless books available For beginners For advanced programmers  Many different core subjects Building Programming Electronics; “hacking” Themed books

Some examples Just a few of the 65 results in Amazon.com

Communities  Massive online LEGO communities Lego User Groups (LUGs) (Belug, LowLug)  Mindstorms communities and blogs NXT Step Mindboards BotBench.com Many other personal websites

Additional URLs  HiTechnic: hitechnic.comhitechnic.com  Mindsensors: mindsensors.commindsensors.com  Dexter Industries: dexterindustries.comdexterindustries.com  ROBOTC: robotc.netrobotc.net  NXC: bricxcc.sourceforge.netbricxcc.sourceforge.net  Lejos: lejos.sourceforge.netlejos.sourceforge.net

Additional URLs  Laurens Valk’s websites: laurensvalk.com (personal) discovery.laurensvalk.com (book site) laurensvalk.com discovery.laurensvalk.com  Mindboards: sourceforge.net/apps/phpbb/mindboards sourceforge.net/apps/phpbb/mindboards  The NXT Step: thenxtstep.blogspot.comthenxtstep.blogspot.com  Mindstorms site: mindstorms.lego.commindstorms.lego.com  De Bouwsteen: debouwsteen.eudebouwsteen.eu  LowLug: lowlug.nllowlug.nl

Questions?

Xander Soldaat BotBench.com