Acceleration Sensor NXT-G Block

This block 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 yet. The Configuration panel is also not complete.

Arctangent NXT-G Block

This block calculates the arctan(x) function

Array NXT-G Block

I’ve uploaded here my NXT-G “Array Block” directory. It is fully functional, but lacks any documentation at present. It uses Text wires to pass array data (NXT-G does not support array wires at present) as “binary string”. The array elements are numbered 1,2,3,… A value 0 in the Position control reads the last element or writes to the next free element. Negative values can be used to start counting from the end of the array (i.e. reading from Position -2 reads the one before last element etc.). Padding and resizing is done automatically in Write mode when Position is out of bounds. A negative Size value in Create/resize mode means adding/removing elements from the beginning of the array, rather then the end (positive Size value).

I’ve used some nice NXT-G Blocking techniques in this Block, some of them use undocumented toolkit functions and/or LabView functions. These will be reviewed in an upcoming post.

Feel free to download and test it, and I’ll be happy for any feedback (good or bad..) by email to guy@nxtasy.org.

Atan2 NXT-G Block

While atan returns the angle from the normal arctan function. With atan2 you enter the (x,y) coordinates of your vector and you receive the phase from [-180°,180°]. So, you also have the correct quadrant.

Average NXT-G Block

The Average Block lets you convert instantaneous measurement into time-averaged measurements. The block is simple to use - put in the new value in ‘New Value’ drawer, and get the running average in the ‘Average’ output. You can choose how many time points to average - 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 or 1000.
See the attached sample .rbt file, which displays time-averaged sound level on the NXT screen.

Battery Level NXT-G Block ver. 1.1

This block reads the battery level (in miliVolt) from the UI module IOMAP. It can also be used as a sensor block (for example, placed as a Wait block on a parallel sequence wire followed by commands to go back to docking station for recharging batteries… Anyone cares to implement this?).

UPDATE (April 19 2007) - version 1.1 now has a ‘Rechargeable?’ YES/NO output which tells if NXT uses the NXT Rechargeable Battery (#9798)

Download the block here.

Bit Logic NXT-G Block

This block will do bitwise operations on numbers (And, Or, Xor, and Not)

CdS Light Sensor NXT-G Block

Michael Gasperi made this block for an CdS Light Sensor with LED Control. The schematics for building this sensor are found here.

Chr() NXT-G block

Converts a numerical number (0 or 32-126) into a character.

Digital-to-Analog NXT-G block

Michael Gasperi made a NXT-G block to communicate with the TDA8444 8 channel DAC chip. More details and download here.

Display Number NXT-G Block

This block was made 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.

Display Time NXT-G Block

This block is a combination of many other things.  It’s a modified version of the display number block that will display the value of a timer in minutes and seconds.

Dynamic Blocks & Legacy Support

The LEGO support page has been updated with downloads for dynamic blocks, mini blocks, and RCX support.

Dynamic Block Update
The Dynamic Block Update allows the MINDSTORMS NXT Software to import new blocks to the Complete palette. These blocks include the Mini Blocks, the Legacy Blocks, 3rd party sensor blocks or any other blocks developed using the LabVIEW Toolkit for LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT.

Mini Block Library
The Mini Block Library adds 4 new blocks to the Action palette: Mini Move, Mini Motor, Mini Display and Mini Sound. These blocks are very similar to the blocks that were in the 1.0 release of MINDSTORMS Software, but they have been optimized to make smaller programs on the NXT.

Legacy Block Library
The Legacy Block library adds support for RCX actions and sensors to the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Software. There is a new block for the RCX motor, lamp, touch sensor, light sensor, rotation sensor and temperature sensor. NOTE: In order to connect the RCX sensors to the NXT, a converter cable is required.

[via The NXT Step]

Fixed-Point NXT-G Block

Here’s my FP block for NXT-G. Use once to convert from “Numeric” values into Fixed-Point variables, use as many math operations you need (only with this block, do not mix regular math blocks!), then convert back to get the rounded result.

download block here.