BUILD AND PROGRAM ROBOTS THAT DO WHAT YOU WANT! LEGO MINDSTORMS User Guide ® ®
WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Congratulations on your new LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT robotics tool set. You now have the power to build and program robots that do what you want! Dream it, build it Your MINDSTORMS NXT set enables you to create thousands of robotic inventions. Intelligent robots that see, hear, speak, feel and move. Advanced robots that you can control with your mobile phone. Cool robots that guard your room and do your chores. If you can dream it, you can build it. Build. Program.
CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Build. Program. Go! ................................................ 4 NXT TECHNOLOGY NXT technology overview ....................................... 6 Connecting the NXT technology .............................. 8 About the NXT......................................................... 10 Installing batteries in your NXT.............................. 12 NXT main menu....................................................... 13 NXT icons .........................................
INTRODUCTION BUILD. PROGRAM. GO! Build Build a robot. You can find building instructions in this User Guide, in the software or at www.MINDSTORMS.com. Or you can use your imagination to build your own unique robot. Program Program your robot to do what you want. Use the LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT Software to make a program. Download the program to the NXT by using the USB cable or the wireless Bluetooth connection.
INTRODUCTION Quick Start Use the Quick Start kit to get your first MINDSTORMS experience. In the Quick Start kit you will find everything you need to get off to a great start. It will only take you a few minutes to create your first MINDSTORMS robot, test it, and get a fun reaction. Go! Run the program and watch your robot come to life.
NXT TECHNOLOGY NXT TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW The NXT The NXT is an intelligent, computer-controlled LEGO® brick and the brain of the MINDSTORMS® robot. Touch Sensor Enables the robot to feel and react to its environment. Sound Sensor Enables the robot to hear and react to sound. Light Sensor Enables the robot to detect light and color.
NXT TECHNOLOGY Interactive Servo Motors Ensure that the robot moves with precision. Standard port settings for sensors and motors To make your robot work correctly, the sensors and motors should be connected to specific input and output ports. Here are the standard port settings: Input ports Port 1: Touch Sensor Port 2: Sound Sensor Port 3: Light Sensor Port 4: Ultrasonic Sensor Ultrasonic Sensor Enables the robot to see, measure distance to an object, and react to movement.
NXT TECHNOLOGY CONNECTING THE NXT TECHNOLOGY Note that ALL of the black 6-wire cables can be used in both input and output ports, sensors and motors. To work, sensors MUST be attached to the input ports (1-4) and motors MUST be attached to the output ports (A-C). C 1 2 B 3 A 4 Connecting motors To connect a motor to the NXT, use one of the black 6-wire cables. Attach one end of the cable to the motor and the other to one of the NXT’s output ports (A, B, or C).
NXT TECHNOLOGY 1 Connecting the NXT to a PC with a USB cable Turn on the NXT. Make sure that the LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT Software is installed before connecting your NXT to your PC (see page 38). 2 Connect the PC and the NXT with the USB cable. When the PC identifies the NXT it will automatically finalize the installation of the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Software.
NXT TECHNOLOGY ABOUT THE NXT The NXT is the brain of a MINDSTORMS® robot. It’s an intelligent, computer-controlled LEGO® brick that lets a MINDSTORMS robot come alive and perform different operations. Please note that all text on the NXT display is in English. USB port Connect a USB cable to the USB port and download programs from your computer to the NXT (or upload data from the robot to your computer). You can also use the wireless Bluetooth connection for uploading and downloading.
NXT TECHNOLOGY Naming the NXT You can change the name of your NXT by going to the NXT window in the software. This window is accessible from the Controller. NXT names can be at most eight characters long. Battery level The battery icon displays the power level of the NXT. When battery power is low, the battery icon will flash on and off. Running icon When your NXT is turned on, the running icon will spin.
NXT TECHNOLOGY INSTALLING BATTERIES IN YOUR NXT Battery type • The NXT requires 6 AA/LR6 batteries to function properly. • Alkaline batteries are recommended. • Rechargeable batteries can be used, but the NXT’s power may be reduced, making the motors turn more slowly. Low battery power When battery power is low, this icon will pop up on the NXT’s display screen. Important! • • • • • 12 Never mix different types of batteries in the NXT. Always remove batteries prior to long-term storage.
NXT TECHNOLOGY NXT MAIN MENU My Files The My Files submenu will let you see all of the programs you have made on the NXT or downloaded from your computer. Software files - programs you have downloaded from your computer NXT files - programs you have made on the NXT Sound files Files will automatically be placed in the appropriate subfolders. When you download a program including a sound file to your NXT, the program will be placed under Software files, while the sound data will be placed under Sound files.
NXT TECHNOLOGY NXT Program You don’t need a computer to program your robot. Using the NXT Program submenu, you can make thousands of different programs without your computer. Try this simple program and see how easy it is: Make the robot go back and forth when its Touch Sensor is pressed. First, the robot will move forward until the Touch Sensor is pressed, and then it will move backwards. When its Touch Sensor is pressed again, the robot will move forward once again.
NXT TECHNOLOGY 4 Select Touch again. 5 Now select if you want the program to Loop. This means that the program will run again and again until you switch off the NXT. For our little test, select Loop. 6 Now you can run your program. Simply select Run! Try these programs as well: 1. 2. 3. 4.
NXT TECHNOLOGY Try Me The Try Me submenu lets you test your sensors and motors in a fun way: Connect the sensors and motors to the appropriate ports on the NXT. Important: Use the standard settings for the ports as explained on page 7. Select a program. When you press the orange (Enter) button, you will get some fun reactions from the sensors and motors. Explore other Try Me programs to get some more fun sounds, to display images and to experience different motor reactions.
NXT TECHNOLOGY View The View submenu lets you carry out a quick test of your sensors and motors, observing real-time data from each unit: Connect the sensor or motor you would like to test to the NXT - the View submenu will help you select the right port or check standard settings on page 7. Select View on the NXT’s display. 1 Select the icon of the sensor or motor you would like to test. You can only get readings from one sensor or motor at a time.
NXT TECHNOLOGY Settings The Settings submenu lets you adjust the NXT’s settings including its speaker volume or the Sleep mode setting. This submenu will also let you delete programs that have been stored in the NXT’s memory. Sleep mode: You can set the NXT to turn itself off after 2, 5, 10, 30 or 60 minutes of inactivity (time when its not in use). You can also select the Never setting so that it remains on indefinitely (until you turn it off).
NXT TECHNOLOGY Bluetooth The Bluetooth submenu will let you make a wireless connection between your NXT and other Bluetooth devices (like other NXTs, mobile phones, and computers). You can use a wireless Bluetooth connection to send programs to other NXTs, to download programs from your own computer without using a USB cable, and lots of other cool things, such as using your mobile phone to control your robot! Read more about wireless Bluetooth communications on pages 28.
NXT TECHNOLOGY My Files Sound files Software files NXT Program Port 1: Touch Sensor Port 2: Sound Sensor Port 3: Light Sensor Port 4: Ultrasonic Sensor Port B/C: L/R motors NXT files Back left Turn left Turn left 2 Empty Backward Backward 5 Back left 2 Tone 2 Tone 1 Back right Back right 2 Turn right Forward Turn right 2 Sound Light Dark Touch Object Wait 10 Wait 5 Wait 2 Forward 5 Empty General Icons: Loop 20 Run Save File exists.
NXT TECHNOLOGY View Bluetooth Try Me Settings Sleep Volume Sound dB Sound dBA Reflected light Ambient light Temperature F* Temperature C* Light Sensor* Rotation* Motor rotations Motor degrees Ultrasonic cm Ultrasonic inch Touch Delete files Deleting all files! Are you sure? Port 1 2, 3, 4, A, B, C Visibility On/Off Visible On Invisible Off Search My contacts Connections Searching Connecting Turning on Connection? Failed! Line is busy 21
NXT TECHNOLOGY TOUCH SENSOR The Touch Sensor gives your robot a sense of touch. The Touch Sensor detects when it is being pressed by something and when it is released again. Pressed Released Bumped Suggestions for use You can use the Touch Sensor to make your robot pick up things: a robotic arm equipped with a Touch Sensor lets the robot know whether or not there is something in its arm to grab. Or you can use a Touch Sensor to make your robot act on a command.
NXT TECHNOLOGY SOUND SENSOR The Sound Sensor makes your robot hear! The Sound Sensor can detect both decibels (dB) and adjusted decibels (dBA). A decibel is a measurement of sound pressure. dBA: In detecting adjusted decibels, the sensitivity of the sensor is adapted to the sensitivity of the human ear. In other words, these are sounds that your ears are able to hear. dB: In detecting standard (unadjusted) decibels, all sounds are measured with equal sensitivity.
NXT TECHNOLOGY LIGHT SENSOR The Light Sensor is one of the two sensors that give your robot vision (the Ultrasonic Sensor is the other). The Light Sensor enables your robot to distinguish between light and dark. It can read the light intensity in a room and measure the light intensity of colored surfaces. This is what your eyes see. This is what your robot will see, using the light sensor.
NXT TECHNOLOGY ULTRASONIC SENSOR The Ultrasonic Sensor is the other sensor that gives your robot vision. The Ultrasonic Sensor enables the robot to see and detect objects. You can also use it to make your robot avoid obstacles, sense and measure distance, and detect movement. The Ultrasonic Sensor measures distance in centimeters and in inches on the NXT. It is able to measure distances from 0 to 255 centimeters with a precision of +/-3 cm.
NXT TECHNOLOGY INTERACTIVE SERVO MOTORS The three Servo Motors give your robot the ability to move. If you use the Move block in the software to program your motors, the two motors will automatically synchronize, so that your robot will move in a straight line. Built-in Rotation Sensor Each motor has a built-in Rotation Sensor. This lets you control your robot’s movements precisely. The Rotation Sensor measures motor rotations in degrees or full rotations (accuracy of +/- one degree).
NXT TECHNOLOGY 1. The motor 2. Tachometer (Rotation Sensor) 3.
NXT TECHNOLOGY USING BLUETOOTH Bluetooth is a technology that makes it possible to send and receive data without using wires or cables. Using Bluetooth, you can exchange programs between your NXT and other NXTs. Or you can establish a wireless connection between your computer and your robot and try out programs instantly − even with your robot on the other side of the room! 28 If you have a mobile phone with Bluetooth capability, you can use it to control your robot.
