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
Tutorial
s

Toolbar

Web
Portal

Workspace

Sequence Beam
Palettes
Controller
Configuratio
n Panel

Help & Navigation

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:
Custom:
Most
commonly
used blocks

Complete:
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
Selectio
n

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: Stop with

Sound

NXT Ultrasonic/Distance
Sensor

Measures
distance/proximit
y
Range: 0-255 cm
Precision: +/- 3cm
Can report in
centimeters or
inches
http://mindstorms.lego.com/Overview/Ultrasonic_Sensor.a
spx

Challenge: Parking NXT

Program your NXT car to drive forward

until you find a parking spot (hit a
touch sensor)
The car should then turn into the spot,
and stop when it gets close enough to
wall.

Example Program: Parking

NXT

A note about NXT memory

Memory space is limited!

To clear space, use NXT window
Show and delete system files for more
space

NXT Structure: Loops

Challenge: Stay on Table

Program your NXT to stay on the table

Example Program: Stay on

Table

NXT Structure: Switch

Challenge: Remote Control

Program car to drive while the touch

sensor is pushed and stop while the
touch sensor is released

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
Dont 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

My Blocks

Create custom blocks

Saved in custom palette
Download blocks from the web

Creating My Blocks

Write the code for the My Block

Creating My Blocks

Select all the blocks to be used for My

Block

Creating My Blocks

Choose Create My Block on toolbar

Or, go to the Edit menu and select
Make a new My Block

Creating My Blocks

Name My
Block

Add a
description

Creating My Blocks

Create a
custom icon

Creating My Blocks

My Block appears in Custom Palette

Challenge: Create My Block

Come up with a program where you

might use a My Block
May use it to repeat actions or to
conserve workspace

Example Program: Create My

Block

This program displays If youre happy

and you know it, press the touch sensor
(and hold it)!
If the touch sensor if pressed, it
displays a happy face, otherwise it
displays a sad face
A My Block is used for the text display

Example Program: Create My

Block

Design Challenge: Alarm

System

Build an alarm system using the NXT

Alarm can be triggered by any sensor
(or use more than one)
Alarm should have an audio component
Alarm can use display or motors as well