Not eXactly C
Wednesday, December 13th, 2006Announcing Not eXactly C (NXC), a C-like programming language for the standard NXT firmware. Not eXactly C is built into the latest NBC compiler. If the source code file has a .nxc extension, then NBC processes the code using the NXC parser before compiling the resulting NBC assembly code. NXC is the only C-like programming solution available on Win32, Mac OSX, and Linux platforms.
http://bricxcc.sourceforge.net/nbc/
The latest test release of BricxCC also features additional support for the NXC language.
http://bricxcc.sourceforge.net/test_release.zip
Some of the features already present in NXC are:
- string variables and string literals with support for concatenation.
- while, do-while, if/else, repeat, and for loop programming constructs.
- asm block statement for writing NBC code within NXC.
- Lots of API functions for drawing, reading sensors, controlling motors, button state, etc. (More are on the way)
Posted in development, news, Programming | 8 Comments »
Now Available - Microsoft Robotics Studio v1.0
Wednesday, December 13th, 2006
Microsoft has released the first version of Robotics Studio!
New since November’s CTP:
Security Support
Security is now fully implemented and turned on by default. It is fully functional for HTTP and TCP transports.
Simulation Scenario Editing
We have added an interface for editing entities and creating scenarios scenes (configurations) directly from the Visual Simulation Environment. Now you can easily select, reposition, rotate, or add entities.
More Documentation and Tutorials
We’ve revised and added more documentation. We’ve also added some new tutorials, including tutorial demonstrating a fully distributed application and a Visual Programming Language tutorial that demonstrates how to use it to program simulated robots.
Visual Programming Language Configuration of Services
You can now configure the services you use in VPL directly or by using another service. This is in addition to using manifests. VPL now enables you to compile your project and any related, user-defined activities as services. This means you can create your own add-on services for use with VPL or other programming languages. An option even enables you to generate a C# project.
Services Improvements
We improved a lot of our sample services and their XSLTs.
Posted in development, news, software | 2 Comments »
01/01/07
Wednesday, December 13th, 2006openNXT - Can’t say much now, but this will be huge.
Posted in news | 4 Comments »
Power Users Behold!
Wednesday, December 13th, 2006I’m over in San Fran this week, so I apologize for getting up to speed on today’s news so late. If you haven’t heard, LEGO Systems is offering a wonderful promotion stateside!
On the fence about whether to get your very own NXT? Or considering adding a second kit to your collection? Our friends at Energizer are helping us deliver a holiday bonus for MINDSTORMS NXT buyers. Visit www.nxtpowerpack.com to see details of a special offer, running now through December 31, 2006, where you can get an exclusive NXT Power Pack – a light sensor, touch sensor and 8-pack of Energizer e2 Lithium AA batteries (a $50 total value) – for free with proof of purchase of a MINDSTORMS NXT unit between December 1 and December 31, 2006 from select retailers. Click here to get the details, and Happy Holidays from your friends at LEGO Systems and Energizer!
[via LEGO Systems Inc.]
Posted in hardware, news | 1 Comment »
Move over Lexus, make room for NXT
Tuesday, December 12th, 2006The Lexus Intelligent Park Assist system has been in the news quite a bit lately. Who wouldn’t want a car that parks itself? Well, inspired by this, a creative LEGO Mindstorms NXT builder has succeeded in making his own self-parking robot.
It’s a kind of robot-car done with LEGO mindstorms NXT elements that can automatically park itself if it detects enough space between 2 objects. It has got an ultrasonic sensor that detects the length of free spaces. Then, when it detects enough space, it makes the necessary movments to park. And when you say “GO!” it returns to the road.
See the video. He gives the ‘car’ in front of him a little fender bender on the way out, but it’s still very, very cool!
[via TechEBlog]
Posted in video, projects | 5 Comments »
BrickFest PDX 2007 - Open Pre-Registration
Tuesday, December 12th, 2006
Pre-registration is now available for next year’s BrickFest PDX.
Posted in news, events | 33 Comments »
The Firmware Sources have been Released
Monday, December 11th, 2006The source code of the NXT’s firmware has been released. Version 1.04 of the firmware was also released in binary form for updating your NXT brick. It appears that the source of the firmware includes all the sources for the main ARM processor and for the ATmega processor, but not the NXT-specific code that runs on the Bluetooth module. Rasmus Pedersen has released patches that allow the firmware to be built using GCC.
Posted in firmware, news | 2 Comments »
Hi-Res Video of DTU 2-NXT Demo
Thursday, December 7th, 2006As an update to news from earlier today, a higher resolution video of the DTU 2-NXT demo is now available.
[via Multi-Agent Robotics]
Posted in video, news | 1 Comment »
HiTechnic Compass Block v. 1.1
Thursday, December 7th, 2006For those who have the HiTechnic Compass sensor - there was a bug in the “Relative Mode” logic output terminal which I reported to HiTechnic a week ago, and they have quickly fixed it and posted a new block version (v. 1.1) on their download page. If you are using the compass sensor from HiTechnic I advise you to download the new block, and use the block import wizard (part of the Dynamic Palette update) to replace the existing one.
Posted in news | No Comments »
LEGO Mindstorms NXT Synchro Drive
Thursday, December 7th, 2006
Here’s a video of the running, and subsequent disassembly, of a LEGO Mindstorms NXT synchro drive.
I have been working on creating a new Synchro Drive for the turntable that comes with the Lego Mindstorms NXT kit. I have the basics worked out but I need to refine it a bit so I de-constructed it on video so I can start over.
[via Robot Thoughts]
Posted in video, projects, news | No Comments »
Another Demo of Two NXTs in Action
Thursday, December 7th, 2006
Here’s another video demonstration of two NXTs in action, but unfortunately filmed with a low resolution. From the description provided, each robot removes his respective objects from the LEGO grid.
This demonstration is part of a student project at the Technical University of Denmark and has the following goals:
Two teams, red and blue, of modified tribot agents are collaborate in removing a number of blue and red items in a closed world. Only red team tribots can remove up red items, and the blue items can only be removed up by the blue team. If a tribot encounters an item which it is not permitted to remove, it must communicate the finding to the other tribots.
The site has been added to our blogroll.
Posted in video, projects, news | 2 Comments »
NXT Poker Machine
Wednesday, December 6th, 2006
In an effort to learn more about NeXT Byte Codes I developed a simple poker machine for the NXT Brick. The program gives you one hundred dollars to start and lets you alter bets with the bricks buttons. Winning combinations are 4 of a kind, 3 of a kind, 2 pair and straights (straights must appear in order). My original idea was to create an old leaver style of poker machine and I will release it if people seem interested. This project helped me to further understand the implementation of subroutines, threads, graphical syscall and array handling with NeXT Byte Codes. I would encourage learners of NeXT Byte Codes to develop their own poker machine, it is very worth while.
I am providing a NXT Poker Machine file with the program and graphics so you can have a look, I will also provide the source code to people that are interested.
Posted in development, projects, knowledge | 37 Comments »
LEGO Mindstorms NXT — The Mayan Adventure
Wednesday, December 6th, 2006
Our good buddy Jim Kelly over at The NXT Step has announced availability of his new book ‘LEGO Mindstorms NXT — The Mayan Adventure’. Buy the book now from Amazon and Barnes & Noble!
LEGO Mindstorms NXT: The Mayan Adventure presents a multipart fictional story as the premise for introducing and detailing a unique robot. The story’s main character, Max, is on an archaeological expedition with his uncle in the jungles of Guatemala to investigate a newly discovered Mayan pyramid. During the expedition, the team encounters various problems. And each problem is solved with the help of a unique robot that Max creates.
Following each chapter in which a new problem is introduced is a “theory” chapter that discusses the concepts and provides the programming knowledge you need for creating the robot. The robot “solution” chapter ultimately follows. Over the course of the book, you’ll follow along as Max and the expedition team use the Lego Mindstorms NXT kit to overcome obstacles and move deeper into the Mayan pyramid.
Posted in news, knowledge | No Comments »
NXT-G Blocks from Steve Hassenplug
Wednesday, December 6th, 2006
Steve Hassenplug has posted in our forums that he has uploaded several NXT-G blocks that he created with the LabVIEW Toolkit. You can find these blocks on the Team Hassenplug site. Make sure you have the Dynamic Block update installed.
Line Following block
This block should be placed in a loop, and will cause drive the motors at the speed specified, so the robot can follow the edge of a line, with a single light sensor. My tests show this single block will execute about 2 to 3 times as fast as the same code in NXT-G.Display Number block
I made this block as a debugging tool. It combines several blocks that (due to program limitations) can not be compiled into a My Block. The block takes a line number, a caption, and a number as input. The Caption and Number are displayed on the given line on the screen. This block requires the “Display Performance” block be installed, in order to work.Simple Array block
The array block is a repackaged sub-block. It will allow you to Clear the array, Add values, and Get values given the index.Acceleration Sensor block
This is the first block I made. The Configuration panel is not complete. It works with one of the prototype acceleration sensors from Hi-Technic. It has outputs for X, Y & Z. It can not be used as a loop block condition, because I didn’t finish that part.
Posted in development, news | 28 Comments »