Building models using Google SketchUp
Sunday, April 29th, 2007
Payton White has made available a collection of 75 NXT and technic pieces modeled in Google SketchUp. Here’s an email from Payton:
“I have modeled up 75+ detailed Technic and Mindstorms NXT parts in Google’s SketchUp and made them all available on Google’s 3D Warehouse:
http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/cldetails?mid=26d528c1c35774f056ed665b21152bcd
I believe vetting builds in a tool like SketchUp is quite valuable for the seasoned builder [while at the same time I don’t dispute the value of sitting down with the real parts and snapping things together]. I’ve taken special care to make the parts appropriate for quick snapping and prototyping with the built-in SketchUp functionality. For my money, it’s a much better fit for Lego assembly than LDraw, etc.
Here’s the blurb I’ve posted for the collection of parts:
Over 75 parts in part groups including Technic pieces and Mindstorms NXT components. Everything is modeled to 1:1 scale within roughly 0.5mm tolerance with respect to the real parts. Snapping helper points are modeled with very high precision. Here are some tips to make using these models easier:
1) Set Window -> Model Info -> Units -> Enable Length Snapping to
4mm.
2) There are two detail layers for many models. Use “HiFi” for the
most detailed versions and “LoFi” for better interactive use while
modeling.
3) There is a “Helpers” layer that includes line segments that
exactly model where connectors and axles fit with beams and
bushings, etc. Turn on this layer and x-ray mode for precise
“snapping” of parts.
Many thanks Payton! Now I need to learn what Google SketchUp is all about…
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Perfect Pitch: Accurately Recognizing Tones
Sunday, April 29th, 2007
This home-made device allows the NXT to accurately recognize tones, as well as to produce a fairly strong tone at a particular frequency. Click on the image for details.
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Challenge No. 2 - IMPORTANT UPDATES
Saturday, April 28th, 2007I’ve made a dedicated page for the official challenge rules here. Everything new in these rules was already mentioned in the forum topic dedicated to this challenge.
The challenge is sponsored by mindsensors.com. Prizes are detailed in the same page.
Deadline is postponed to June 1st 2007. For those who already submitted - you can post better results if you like ’till that time.
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Cybermaster Touch Sensor Multiplexing on the NXT
Friday, April 27th, 2007If you are have a set of Cybermaster Touch Sensors hanging around, you can multiplex them for use on the NXT. For those that are unaware of these sensors, they are the trans-green (clear) touch sensors that come with the Cybermaster kit and look similar to the standard MINDSTORMS RIS ones, but with one significant difference - each of them have an inline resistor so that when the circut is closed, each passes through current with a different resistance.
More details: http://www.plastibots.com/misc/touchmultiplexer.asp
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Sample programs for NXT-G blocks
Thursday, April 26th, 2007In effort to make third-party or community developed NXT-G blocks more accessible, I’ve asked the contributers of all blocks in NXTasy repository (see http://nxtasy.org/repository/nxt-g-blocks/ for the complete table of blocks) to submit block images and sample programs in picture (.PNG) format and actual codes (.RBT). So far, only Steve Hassenplug has kindly provided this information for his blocks - the Simple Array, Bit Logic, Display Number, Display Time and Line Following. Look at his sample codes to see how to use the block in your own programs, and decide if you want to import the block.
Thanks Steve! Now I have to keep nag this Guy Ziv… 
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Qwerk controller
Thursday, April 26th, 2007
No, this is NOT an NXT, but I was so amazed by the specificiations of this 350 USD controller that I had to publish this… The new Qwerk controller by Charmlabs comes with:
· 200 MHz ARM9 RISC processor with MMU and hardware floating point unit
· 32 Mbytes SDRAM, 8 Mbytes flash memory
· 4 closed-loop 2.0 Amp motor controllers (supports quadrature encoder and back-EMF “sensorless” position feedback as well as current sensing)
· 16 RC-servo controllers
· 16 programmable digital I/Os
· 8 12-bit analog inputs
· 2 RS-232 ports
· I2C ports
· 2 USB 2.0 host ports for connecting standard USB PC peripherals
· 10/100BT Ethernet port
· Built-in audio amplifier with MP3, PCM and WAV audio support
· 4 Amp switching power supply, 90% efficient, 7 to 30 Volt input range
· Rugged aluminum enclosure
· 5.1” x 5.8” x 1.3”, 12.8 ounces
Don’t miss the “TeRK recipies” from CMU, building a mobile robot with webcam or a robotic flower using Qwerk controller.
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NxtShot - lego canon controlled by Mindsensors remote
Thursday, April 26th, 2007
NxtShot is a lego Nxt Model cannon that fires lego tubes and is controlled by a Wii-like remote made using a Mindsensors Compass and Acceleration sensor. The NxtShot mimics the tilting and turning of the remote. The NxtShot finds its limits using a light sensor.
Watch the movie on YouTube!
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Deriving Power from the NXT on Motor Port A
Wednesday, April 25th, 2007Philo never ceases to amaze me… This time he has done it again… Quoted from Philo’s post on NXTasy forums:
”This special cable allows you to power external devices such as a a motor multiplexer or a wireless camera from your NXT. No need for external bulky battery box! (if your current consumption is low enough, 800mA max). Though plugged into NXT port A, it lets you use the NXT motor connected there almost normally.”
More information: http://philohome.com/nxtpwr/pwr.htm
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RobotC code for HiTechnic Accelerometer
Tuesday, April 24th, 2007Dick Swan published on the forums a working RobotC code for the HiTechnic accelerometer sensor. It can be found in this post.
Thanks Dick!
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Remarkable books
Saturday, April 21st, 2007
I would like to attract your attention to these two brand-new Mindstorms books that I consider as the MUST for any NXT user who wants to become a real specialist.
First there is Mike Gasperi, Philippe Hurbain and Isabelle Hurbain’s “Extreme NXT” book (Apress) that I had the chance to see during the development, being its technical reviewer and foreword writer. This outstanding book takes your NXT to the next level. It shows you how to think outside the box. With more than twenty-five exciting electronics projects that range from a simple light switch to a cool magic wand writing words in thin air. The projects are explained with easy step-by-step instructions, and whether you are a novice or an expert you will be able to successfully construct them.
The second book is Brian Bagnall’s ”Maximum LEGO NXT” (Variant Press). This excellent book invites you to build amazing robots and go beyond the basic LEGO programming tools with leJOS NXJ, the open source Java virtual machine. You will realize and program an exciting collection of projects: a chess playing robot, an exoskeleton for your hand, a Mars rover, a robotic arm controlled through the Internet, a 3D object scanner, and many more – all using only NXT kit parts.
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