NXT Basics: Technic Building and NXT-G Erin Cejka Riecker Center for Engineering Educational Outreach Tufts University
Getting to Know the NXT
Motors and Sensors
Hardware Comparison
Technic or “Studless” Building Pieces: Studless beams Connectors Axles Features: Symmetry Sturdy
Build a Two Motor Car
Software Options ROBOLAB 2.9
LEGO Mindstorms for NXT (NXT-G)
Using ROBOLAB 2.9 with the NXT New sensors
Screen control
Using ROBOLAB 2.9 with the NXT
NXT control panel appears during download
NXT-G Interface Tutorials
Toolbar Workspace
Sequence Beam Palettes Controller Configuration Panel
Help & Navigation
Web Portal
NXT-G tools
Pointer tool: move blocks, select blocks Pan tool: move within workspace Comment tool: add notes to your code
Intro to NXT-G: Palettes Common:
Complete:
Custom:
Most commonly used blocks
All blocks
Downloaded and created blocks
Writing a Basic Program
Drag and drop block(s) on sequence beam
Manipulate Configuration Panel & Download
Intro to NXT-G: Controller
Downloa d & Run Selection
NXT Window
Stop
Download
Download & Run
ROBOLAB vs. NXT-G
ROBOLAB vs. NXT-G In ROBOLAB
In NXT-G
Icons or VIs
Blocks
Modifiers
Configuration Panel
Wiring together icons
Sequence beams
Need start & stop light
Start is given, no stop needed
NXT Rotation Sensor
Built in to motors Measure degrees or rotations Reads + and Degrees: accuracy +/- 1 1 rotation = 360 degrees
Viewing Sensors
Connect sensor Turn on NXT Choose “View” Select sensor type Select port
NXT Sound Sensor
Sound sensor can measure in dB and dBA
dB: in detecting standard [unadjusted] decibels, all sounds are measured with equal sensitivity. Thus, these sounds may include some that are too high or too low for the human ear to hear. dBA: in detecting adjusted decibels, the sensitivity of the sensor is adapted to the sensitivity of the human ear. In other words, these are the sounds that your ears are able to hear.
Sound Sensor readings on the NXT are displayed in percent [%]. The lower the percent the quieter the sound. http://mindstorms.lego.com/Overview/Sound_Sensor.aspx
Challenge: Stop with sound
Program your NXT car to drive until you yell “Stop”
Example Program: Remote Control
NXT Sound
NXT can play sound files or notes Sounds take up more memory space
NXT Display
Display images, text, or drawings Choose location on display screen 100 x 64 pixels (up to 7 lines of text) Graphics take up memory space
Challenge: Say Hello
Have the RCX say hello using sound and the display screen Don’t forget – the program ends after the last block. You may need a wait for to see the display. Caution: one of the options in the configuration panel is Clear – use it to clear screen. Otherwise, uncheck the box!
Example Program: Say Hello