Projects, Slides, & Videos

• Learning about robotics & the NXT
  • Introduction to robotics
  • Introduction to the LEGO NXT   Video 1
  • Fast Facts: Understanding how to hook things up.
  • Inside your NXT slides
    
• Robotic Design Options
  • Design Ideas (photos)
  • Cool Projects
  • More design ideas.

• Introduction to LEGO-G Programming: How to move your robot
• Get NXT programming software here.
• Video overview of the challenges
• Video: The Challenges in more detail

Thinking as a programmer...
Ideas about how to "talk" to a machine
Learning about the Lego Editor  Video 2

• Motor Basics Programming
  Moving the Robot Video 3
  

• Learning about Wait controls  Video 4

• Activities 1-3: Robot Motor Tests (These will show up under activities when you check grades)
  • Dead Reckoning (Up & Back 10 pts)
  • Zig-Zag (10 pts)
  • Obstacle Course (10 pts)  Video: Stan's Tank

• Making controlled Turns & Controlling Speed
  
• Challenge #1: Hill Climb  Video
  Your bot must go up my ramp, turn around at the blue line, and come back down without crashing!
  • Video: Stan's Ramp Runner
    
• Challenge #2: Trap Door  Video
  Your bot must go through the tunnel box when the door is open and make one loop around the outside of the box and stop back where it started. I want you to use some Motor Blocks in your program. You can use Move blocks also.

• The NXT Sensory Systems
   
• Testing your sensors (P. 23 in pdf.)
• Touch Sensor Plans
• Light Sensor video  Plans
• Ultrasonic Vision Sensor Plans
• Sound Sensor Plans
   

• Activity: Test your sensors.
  Use the NXT View Me program to test your sensors.

• More Programming Concepts: Introduction to Loops

• Making your program repeat   Video 5
• Line Follower Robot video
• Calibrate your light sensor (b&w)
• Get the Color sensor block here. I will show you how to install it!
• Video for challenges 3, 4, & 5
• Pre-test for Challenge #3
  • I want you to repeat Challenge 1 but this time use the light sensor to make the bot turn around when it "sees" the blue line.
• Challenge #3: Walk the Line 
  Make your bot follow the line on my track I lay out for you.
  • Video: Drake's Line Follower

• Making Decisions
• Introduction to the Switch Block Video
• Programming with the Switch block:
  
  A Simple Switch example
  Switch inside a loop
  "TouchNSee" (Two switches manage sonar & touch sensors)
  Get all three switch programs here.
  
• Making Multiple Decisions
  Using Cascading Switches   Video  
   
• Challenge #4: Watch Out!
  Build a bot to move around the room without crashing into anything. It must run for 3 minutes. (Sonar sensor detects objects 0-255 cm or about 8 feet within 1.5")
   
• Challenge #5: Adaptive Cruise Control
  Make your robot run the track around the classroom without runining into the "car" in front. It needs to be able to stop for obstacles and then go again! Watch out for trains!!!
  • Video: Fun with trains!

• Overview of Gears
  • Drag racing demo
  •  Working with gear ratios video
    • Huge clock gears system
    • NXT Gearing calculator summary
    • Gears and tire size
• Differentials & Transmissions
  • NXT differential photo
  • NXT Car with transmission
  • How to build a transmission
  • Video of NXT transmission
• For our class, ratio = driver/driven
• Construction plans for adding gears

• Working with Data Hubs  Video
• Project pack includes:
  • Real-Time sensor monitoring
  • Control speed via sound level
  • Random start-up speed

• Displaying Stuff
  Using the Display Block Controls   Video
  
  
• Working with NXT-G Variables  Video
  
  • Creating and saving one variable (Tunnel Runner 1)
  • Creating and saving two variables (Tunnel Runner 2)

• Using Math blocks
• Calculating differences in sensor readings

• Working with Logical Conditions

• Project pack includes:
  • Distance, light, & touch
  • Using a logical OR test
  • Motion detector using the Compare Block

• Custom Code
  Using "My Block" as subroutines   Video
• Advanced "My Block Custom Code"
  Expanding on "My Block" subroutines   Video
• How to create a MY BLOCK(Sub)

• Multitasking
  
  Making the Robot do several things at the same time!   Video
• EV3 Multitasking

• NXT Pilot (My Windows Phone & Store app)
• Remote Control Projects: Bluetooth, XBEE radios, IR, & WiFi remote controlled robots you can build.