Sample programs for NXT-G blocks

Thursday, April 26th, 2007

In 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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