Updated LDraw and LeoCAD Parts for NXT
Tuesday, December 5th, 2006
Philo’s home page has been updated with downloads to his latest LDraw and LeoCAD NXT parts libraries.
LeoCAD
A few new parts, and several improved, thanks to the work of Kevin Clague and Daniele Benedettelli.LDraw
A few new parts, and several improved, thanks to Kevin Clague’s work.
[via TheNXTStep]
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NBC Debugger for NXT
Wednesday, November 29th, 2006
A new debugger has surfaced for NBC and the LEGO Mindstorms NXT. Check out the wealth of features!
Basic Features
integration with BricxCC; start/stop/restart; step into/over/out; single/multi thread debugging; show/walk thread’s call stack; watch/modify variables; debug logging; unlimited soft and hardcoded break points and debugbreaks; copy to clipboard; optional periodical data collection during program execution; comm status lights; NXT keep aliveDebug logging
simple/multi-segment debug log with numeric and string supportSource code integration
jump to definition of subroutine/thread/variable/label/macro/file in the project; show/jump to next instruction; force continue anywhere; run to cursor; color coded soft/hard enabled/disabled breakpoints; user selected fontBreakpoints
unlimited hard coded unconditional/conditional/counter type with optional reset, enable/disable at run-time; unlimited soft breakpoints add/remove/enable/disable at run time; 1 soft break point enabled per subroutine; display location/type/hit count; enable all/disable all; reset hit count; jump to breakpoint; add/remove/enable/disable breakpoint for source line at run time; copy to clipboardVariable watch/modify
display/modify variable/array/cluster during execution/pause; hex/decimal base; display variable name/type/value; display array type/length/values; display array as string; expand truncated lines in tool-tip; unlimited embedded array/cluster dimensions; collapse/expand clusters/arrays; full collapse/expand; 3 modes show all variables/user selected variables/variables in currently executed section; copy to clipboard
Thread and call stack
display location with subroutine/thread name/file name/line number; expand truncated lines in tool-tip; expand threads call stack; display/walk call stack; click to jump to source code; copy to clipboard
[via nxtasy.org forums]
Posted in development, news, software | 2 Comments »
RoboRealm Machine Vision for NXT
Wednesday, November 8th, 2006
The talented folks at RoboRealm have added a module that provides machine vision capabilities to the LEGO Mindstorms NXT. This free software allows you to control your robots from a PC over a Bluetooth connection, and with a wireless camera, a digitizer, and a little VBScript, gives you the ability to incorporate machine vision to do some pretty cool things.
To demonstrate, RoboRealm hooked up a wireless camera to a TriBot and programmed it to use machine vision to help find a blue ball, pick it up, and move it to an orange cone. Take a look at the videos below to see the robot in action. A comprehensive tutorial is also available to get you started.
Video of robot view:
Video of 3rd-person perspective:
Posted in video, development, news, software, hacking | 25 Comments »
MS Robotics Studio November 2006 CTP Released
Wednesday, November 8th, 2006
Microsoft Robotics Studio sees an updated community technology preview for November. This release brings new security support, visual programming language improvements, simulation improvements (like the new wireframe view), a new deployment tool, and service improvments.
While you will see some significant new features in this preview, from here we will be winding down and focused on finalizing what we have for version 1. If you encounter any significant issues after installing this latest preview, please post something to us in our newsgroup. Feature requests are still welcome, but we may save these for our next release.
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NXT Mobile Application Now Available!
Monday, November 6th, 2006
A few weeks ago, nxtasy.org reported that a new download would be surfacing soon from the LEGO site for interfacing your mobile device with the Mindstorms NXT. Well, the time has come! The NXT Mobile Application is now here!
Here’s a brief summary of basic operation:
Remote Control
This enables you to control two motors on the NXT. Use the joystick/command wheel on your phone to go forward, backwards, stop – or you can choose to control one motor at the time. If your NXT model have wheels (like the Tribot) it will be much like a remote controlled car.Program Control
This mode enables you to control any of the programs on your NXT. First select the program you want to control and then you can send command messages to your NXT by pressing the numeric keys on your phone. What the NXT does when you press the keys depends entirely on your program.Collected Data
If the NXT can make your phone take photos, this is where you can find them. Have you made a program that sends data to your phone, this is where you can find it as well, for instance be readings from the sensors.
Posted in news, software | 18 Comments »
Razix’s NXT Director Updated
Monday, November 6th, 2006
NXT Director, a remote control application for Palm OS mobile devices, has been recently updated with new features.
Per Razix:
More functions added. Telemetry of sound, light and touch sensors now online. More to come when I have some time. This addition ate up my whole weekend!
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roboDNA Dashboard Designer 2007 Beta
Friday, November 3rd, 2006
A new commercial product supporting NXT drive-by-wire was brought to our attention by Lou Morris from roboDNA.com. The software package “roboDNA Dashboard Designer 2007 Beta” (final version will cost $89 for non-commercial use) allows users to easily and interactively build impressive dashboards (i.e. user interfaces) to control and monitor NXT robots (as well as other robotic platforms).
Posted in news, software | 38 Comments »
Adding your own robots into NXT-G Robo Center/Robot Educator
Friday, October 27th, 2006
Motivated by a question posted by ahdavidson on our forums, I set out to unravel the details of NXT-G Robo Center/Robot Educator file structure. In a detailed review I posted to NXTasy repository, I describe the details and the instructions how to add your own contents into Robo Center/Robot Educator.
I’ve opened a thread in our forum for discussion on this review here.
Posted in news, software, hacking | No Comments »
NXT Mobile Application!?
Wednesday, October 25th, 2006A FAQ can be found on the LEGO Mindstorms website about something new called the NXT Mobile Application. Details are sketchy, but it appears to be a Java app for phones and mobile devices that allows the remote control of the NXT over Bluetooth. Perhaps something similar to Ap0cN3t’s application. It may also allow the control of the mobile device from the NXT — taking pictures, for instance. We shall see.
What are the requirements for my phone to run the NXT Mobile Application?
You need Bluetooth and the option of running Java programs (JSR-82). Make sure that your operator allows third party applications and that your phone’s internet settings allow download of Java. You may have to change your phones settings to permit the use of java applications.What are the requirements for my NXT to support the NXT Mobile Application?
Your version of the NXT brick needs to be minimum:
FW 1.03
AVR 1.01
BC4 1.01
You can find your version numbers under ‘Settings’ - ‘NXT Version’ on the NXT brick.
A sign of things to come? Sure! The end of October already promises a new patch. Who knows what else is around the corner!? Stay tuned to nxtasy.org and, most likely, the LEGO NXT’reme section for news on download availability.
Posted in hardware, development, news, software | 1 Comment »
NXT Tic-Tac-Toe - No Motors, No Sensors!
Saturday, October 21st, 2006Ross Crawford has whipped up a version of Tic-Tac-Toe on his NXT using NBC - with no sensors or motors… Why bother when you can do it right on the screen? Right?
Well, I’ve been playing a bit with NBC on my NXT lately, and the first program I like to write in any new language is Tic Tac Toe, so here is my NXT version. You are always “X” and have the first move. NXT plays for the draw, but will win if you stuff up! Use the arrow keys and enter key on the NXT to play.
Posted in projects, news, software, Alt.NXT-G | 2 Comments »
Compass FAQ Hints at New Patch
Thursday, October 19th, 2006The official LEGO Mindstorms NXT FAQ has been updated with a few questions pertaining to the HiTechnic Compass Sensor. The last question asks, “How do you program the Compass Sensor?”
There will be a patch available by the end of October that will enable 3rd party programming blocks in the MINDSTORMS NXT environment. In the meantime, the current version of MINDSTRORMS [sic] NXT software will allow the Ultrasonic block to program the Compass Sensor.
The ‘patch’ has been rumoured for quite sometime now, but this gives us an indication as to when we can expect it. The end of October draws near and we will probably see a download available for the Compass Sensor block as the patch goes live.
Posted in development, news, software | 2 Comments »
Analysis of NXT Bluetooth Protocol
Thursday, October 5th, 2006Sivan Toledo published a detailed analysis of the NXT BT communication protocol. Get it here.
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Updated NXT LDraw Parts
Wednesday, September 27th, 2006
The unofficial collection of LEGO Mindstorms NXT LDraw parts has been updated. Several improvements have been made to existing parts.
Posted in news, software | 2 Comments »