LEGO Mindstorms - Whats New

MINDSTORMS NXT and yellow marshmallow treats in near space?

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 02:00:00 GMT

What happens when you send yellow marshmallow treats into near space? And what would happen when they land in the hot Nevada desert? That’s what some 4th grade students from Shady Hill School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA wished to investigate as part of the High Altitude LEGO Extravaganza (H.A.L.E.) project last week in Reno, Nevada.

Under the leadership of Shady Hill science teachers Barbara Bratzel and Jeanne McDermott as well as Chris Rogers and Susan Tse from Tufts University, the 4th grade students used the yellow marshmallows to measure temperature and pressure during the mission.

“We ran some tests on Earth with the students--putting the yellow marshmallow treats in a small vacuum chamber, a freezer, and a solar oven--to simulate the conditions they would be exposed to in space and after landing. The kids then made sketches and wrote predictions of what they thought the yellow marshmallow treats would look like when they returned,” says Bratzel.

The students’ payload carried an off the shelf pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, as well as a "marshmallow-o-meter" where a yellow marshmallow is anchored in a LEGO cage with a MINDSTORMS NXT Ultrasonic Sensor to measure its expansion. The "marshmallow-o-meter" was designed and built by high school student and Shady Hill School alumni Eric Mukherjee. A NXT brick was also used to record the data. The payload was contained in a styrofoam container for insulation and cushioning.

The yellow marshmallows traveled up to 99,570 feet last Tuesday before being recovered in the Nevada desert. The NXT and marshmallow payload is now on its way (via snail mail) back to the students at Shady Hill School. The fourth graders (who will now be fifth graders) will examine the temperature and pressure data and present their findings to their school.

The students are curious to see what happens to their treats. Some students think that the marshmallows will swell up when the pressure is low but shrink back to their original size upon returning to Earth. Some of the students think that they will become wrinkled or that some of the yellow sugar will fall off. Some students think (hope!) that the marshmallows will explode when the pressure is very low.

The students aren’t going to eat any of the yellow marshmallow treats that went into space when they are returned to them, but they enjoyed eating them during their experimentation before the H.A.L.E. launch!

You can learn more about all the H.A.L.E. missions by visiting: http://www.unr.edu/nevadasat/HALE/What happens when you send yellow marshmallow treats into near space? And what would happen when they land in the hot Nevada desert? That’s what some 4th grade students from Shady Hill School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA wished to investigate as part of the High Altitude LEGO Extravaganza (H.A.L.E.) project last week in Reno, Nevada.

Under the leadership of Shady Hill science teachers Barbara Bratzel and Jeanne McDermott as well as Chris Rogers and Susan Tse from Tufts University, the 4th grade students used the yellow marshmallows to measure temperature and pressure during the mission.

“We ran some tests on Earth with the students--putting the yellow marshmallow treats in a small vacuum chamber, a freezer, and a solar oven--to simulate the conditions they would be exposed to in space and after landing. The kids then made sketches and wrote predictions of what they thought the yellow marshmallow treats would look like when they returned,” says Bratzel.

The students’ payload carried an off the shelf pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, as well as a "marshmallow-o-meter" where a yellow marshmallow is anchored in a LEGO cage with a MINDSTORMS NXT Ultrasonic Sensor to measure its expansion. The "marshmallow-o-meter" was designed and built by high school student and Shady Hill School alumni Eric Mukherjee. A NXT brick was also used to record the data. The payload was contained in a styrofoam container for insulation and cushioning.

The yellow marshmallows traveled up to 99,570 feet last Tuesday before being recovered in the Nevada desert. The NXT and marshmallow payload is now on its way (via snail mail) back to the students at Shady Hill School. The fourth graders (who will now be fifth graders) will examine the temperature and pressure data and present their findings to their school.

The students are curious to see what happens to their treats. Some students think that the marshmallows will swell up when the pressure is low but shrink back to their original size upon returning to Earth. Some of the students think that they will become wrinkled or that some of the yellow sugar will fall off. Some students think (hope!) that the marshmallows will explode when the pressure is very low.

The students aren’t going to eat any of the yellow marshmallow treats that went into space when they are returned to them, but they enjoyed eating them during their experimentation before the H.A.L.E. launch!

You can learn more about all the H.A.L.E. missions by visiting: http://www.unr.edu/nevadasat/HALE/

Winners of the LEGO Club Magazine MINDSTORMS drawing contest

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 02:00:00 GMT

This year it is 10 years ago LEGO MINDSTORMS was first launched, so we want to celebrate the anniversary. As part of the celebration we have run a drawing competition in the March issue of LEGO Club Magazine: LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT “Visions of the Future”, where you should draw your MINDSTORMS robot of the future - how would LEGO robots look like in the future?

We have received well over 3000 fantastic drawings from users from age 6 to early 20's, so it has been very hard to choose the 10 winners! Thanks to all of you who entered a drawing for this contest.

Here are the lucky ones who will receive a LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT set (#8527).

Congratulations, winners, and thank you for your drawings of future LEGO MINDSTORMS robots!!

The LEGO MINDSTORMS team

Note: all winners will be notified by regular US mail.
This year it is 10 years ago LEGO MINDSTORMS was first launched, so we want to celebrate the anniversary. As part of the celebration we have run a drawing competition in the March issue of LEGO Club Magazine: LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT “Visions of the Future”, where you should draw your MINDSTORMS robot of the future - how would LEGO robots look like in the future?

We have received well over 3000 fantastic drawings from users from age 6 to early 20's, so it has been very hard to choose the 10 winners! Thanks to all of you who entered a drawing for this contest.

Here are the lucky ones who will receive a LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT set (#8527).

Congratulations, winners, and thank you for your drawings of future LEGO MINDSTORMS robots!!

The LEGO MINDSTORMS team

Note: all winners will be notified by regular US mail.

Winners of the LEGO Club Magazine MINDSTORMS drawing contest (#6 to #10)

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 02:00:00 GMT

Here are #6 to #10.

A big congratulations!

The LEGO MINDSTORMS team

Here are #6 to #10.

A big congratulations!

The LEGO MINDSTORMS team

A NXT controlled digital camera and the longest NXT freefall are launched from the stratosphere!

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:00:00 GMT

At 5:57 am Pacific Time today in the desert outside of Reno Navada, USA, MINDSTORMS robots were launched from a weather balloon into the stratosphere (up to 30KM) as part of the High Altitude LEGO Extravaganza (H.A.L.E.).

Two of the payloads launched were designed by MINDSTORMS Community Partner, Brian Davis. We got a chance to interview him about his robots and this historic event.

How did you get involved with the H.A.L.E. project?

I actually noticed the University of Nevada at Reno balloon missions long before the project was kicked off, and started planning and dreaming of doing a mission like this with the materials I had at hand (namely, LEGO). When the H.A.L.E. opportunity was presented, I jumped at the chance, submitting two payloads to improve my chances of being accepted. To my surprise, both were approved, so I set to work on two very different projects.

Why are you interested in High Altitude LEGO?

Well, since MINDSTORS NXT came along with it's stronger construction and stronger motors, I've been much more interested in outdoor, "all terrain" robots. I built LNE/PackBot as a high-mobility "supertank" for running around in my house and yard (it also handles small steps, curbs, and rough snowfields). I then went on to construct Serenity, a robotic boat. Both of these are "pure LEGO", and I'd yet to make a robot for the air, so... High Altitude LEGO seemed like the next obvious step.

Even more exciting to me is the fact that these robots have to work right the first time, and handle things I don't know about. In the language of space missions, they must be "fault tolerant", and handle all their own decisions, under conditions where there is no possibility of help. These are not robots I can help out of the corner when they get stuck... and that challenge really got my interest.

Is it safe to send LEGO MINDSTORMS into the stratosphere?

Perfectly safe... but I'm having trouble convincing the minifigs that will ride along of that :). Seriously, the NXT can function under the near vacuum conditions, and will function at low temperature (although the payloads do have insulation and heaters to try to keep them warmer than the -60° C temperatures outside). So for the NXT, conditions aren't a major problem.

However, both my payloads have an additional element of risk. Gypsy's primary support is from two large LEGO turntables and studless beams. If those pull apart, or become brittle in the bitter cold and shatter, the payload could fall... and that's a loooong fall! So it will have a "back up tether", a string that should support it if those turntable supports fail. For Lil' Joe the risk is even greater: if anything goes wrong, it will hit the desert floor at something like 300 mph (around 500 kph). So it has been tested a lot... but there's still some risk.

How are you sending your robots into the stratosphere?

The robots are held on a string that hangs below a balloon. Just like you could attach a minifig to the string of a small helium balloon, the HALE mission uses the same idea. Instead of a small party balloon, it uses a very large weather balloon that can lift many pounds. And instead of a minifig or two, the HALE mission will carry half a dozen payloads in addition to GPS and radio equipment. This "infrastructure" (the stuff you need to support the mission) is being provided by the folks at the University of Nevada at Reno, who have experience in this sort of thing.

One of your projects, "Lil' Joe" involves the longest NXT free-fall. How long is the free-fall? Aren't you afraid that you'll risk breaking your NXT?

Lil' Joe is named after Col. Joseph Kittinger who was instrumental in the early days of upper atmosphere exploration as part of Project Excelsior. He is best known for a world record jump from a balloon above 100,000 feet... which in a very small, experimental way I was curious if I could replicate with a LEGO robot. The payload will hang below the main payload string, to be released at high altitude without a deployed parachute (in other words, in free fall). After a short time (nothing like Col. Kittinger's 14 minute free-fall, more along the lines of a 20 to 40 second free-fall) it will try to deploy its own internal parachute, HOPEFULLY descending on it's own. It will contain its own satellite location system, and the parachute & cords are not LEGO... but everything else, from the computer controlling the mission to the motor releasing the parachute to the software running on the NXT and the sensor detecting free-fall will all be "stock LEGO".

The length of the free-fall is actually left up to the robot - it estimates how high it is upon release, and makes a very conservative estimate of the maximum safe free-fall time. Since there are so many unknowns on this, I'm not trying to set a really impressive, multi-minute free-fall record (although I suspect this payload could). First make sure it works, then maybe the next time make it work better. While all this is going on, Lil' Joe will also be logging the accelerations experienced by the payload just before, during, and after the free-fall portion of the mission, to better understand what is happening to a payload under these conditions.

Your second project, the "Gypsy (a.k.a. Nadar 2.0)," will take video and pictures. Why are you taking pictures?

Gypsy is an improved version of a project I put up on NXTlog named "Nadar". The goal with Gypsy (named after a robot from the TV show "Mystery Science Theater 3000") is to automate an off-the-shelf digital camera to take both still images as well as video. This way I could get a pre-programmed variety of images and movies during the mission, instead of the typical "one picture every 30 seconds" technique that is commonly employed on balloon missions like these.

Additionally, I wanted to be able to control the cameras' pitch (how far up or down it is pointed) to get images up and down the payload string as well as towards the horizon. Gypsy will be following a complex "script" of commands during the mission ("take 10 photos, tilt to look straight down, take four photos, take 40 seconds of video", etc.), and in addition to controlling the camera, will by logging more than 10 different environmental variables (sound, pressure, light, temperatures, etc.) at intervals of a few seconds, storing these using a "data compression" technique to fit as much as possible into the NXT's memory. If this sounds complicated it is, but when it's all done the program is surprisingly small - about 17k in the NXT. NXT-G can churn out some amazingly compact efficient code if you work with its strengths (My Blocks and wires).

What are you hoping to accomplish at the end of this event?

Primarily, showing that a nearly "pure LEGO" robot can do some very impressive stuff in such a hostile environment. Personally I love the challenge of trying something new, and these two payloads have pushed my understanding and use of the NXT, electronics, and NXT-G much further. There may be better ways to do everything I'm trying to accomplish... but doing it with LEGO allows single individuals or small groups to do this sort of thing at a fairly high level for very low cost.

You can learn more about all the H.A.L.E. missions by visiting: http://www.unr.edu/nevadasat/HALE/At 5:57 am Pacific Time today in the desert outside of Reno Navada, USA, MINDSTORMS robots were launched from a weather balloon into the stratosphere (up to 30KM) as part of the High Altitude LEGO Extravaganza (H.A.L.E.).

Two of the payloads launched were designed by MINDSTORMS Community Partner, Brian Davis. We got a chance to interview him about his robots and this historic event.

How did you get involved with the H.A.L.E. project?

I actually noticed the University of Nevada at Reno balloon missions long before the project was kicked off, and started planning and dreaming of doing a mission like this with the materials I had at hand (namely, LEGO). When the H.A.L.E. opportunity was presented, I jumped at the chance, submitting two payloads to improve my chances of being accepted. To my surprise, both were approved, so I set to work on two very different projects.

Why are you interested in High Altitude LEGO?

Well, since MINDSTORS NXT came along with it's stronger construction and stronger motors, I've been much more interested in outdoor, "all terrain" robots. I built LNE/PackBot as a high-mobility "supertank" for running around in my house and yard (it also handles small steps, curbs, and rough snowfields). I then went on to construct Serenity, a robotic boat. Both of these are "pure LEGO", and I'd yet to make a robot for the air, so... High Altitude LEGO seemed like the next obvious step.

Even more exciting to me is the fact that these robots have to work right the first time, and handle things I don't know about. In the language of space missions, they must be "fault tolerant", and handle all their own decisions, under conditions where there is no possibility of help. These are not robots I can help out of the corner when they get stuck... and that challenge really got my interest.

Is it safe to send LEGO MINDSTORMS into the stratosphere?

Perfectly safe... but I'm having trouble convincing the minifigs that will ride along of that :). Seriously, the NXT can function under the near vacuum conditions, and will function at low temperature (although the payloads do have insulation and heaters to try to keep them warmer than the -60° C temperatures outside). So for the NXT, conditions aren't a major problem.

However, both my payloads have an additional element of risk. Gypsy's primary support is from two large LEGO turntables and studless beams. If those pull apart, or become brittle in the bitter cold and shatter, the payload could fall... and that's a loooong fall! So it will have a "back up tether", a string that should support it if those turntable supports fail. For Lil' Joe the risk is even greater: if anything goes wrong, it will hit the desert floor at something like 300 mph (around 500 kph). So it has been tested a lot... but there's still some risk.

How are you sending your robots into the stratosphere?

The robots are held on a string that hangs below a balloon. Just like you could attach a minifig to the string of a small helium balloon, the HALE mission uses the same idea. Instead of a small party balloon, it uses a very large weather balloon that can lift many pounds. And instead of a minifig or two, the HALE mission will carry half a dozen payloads in addition to GPS and radio equipment. This "infrastructure" (the stuff you need to support the mission) is being provided by the folks at the University of Nevada at Reno, who have experience in this sort of thing.

One of your projects, "Lil' Joe" involves the longest NXT free-fall. How long is the free-fall? Aren't you afraid that you'll risk breaking your NXT?

Lil' Joe is named after Col. Joseph Kittinger who was instrumental in the early days of upper atmosphere exploration as part of Project Excelsior. He is best known for a world record jump from a balloon above 100,000 feet... which in a very small, experimental way I was curious if I could replicate with a LEGO robot. The payload will hang below the main payload string, to be released at high altitude without a deployed parachute (in other words, in free fall). After a short time (nothing like Col. Kittinger's 14 minute free-fall, more along the lines of a 20 to 40 second free-fall) it will try to deploy its own internal parachute, HOPEFULLY descending on it's own. It will contain its own satellite location system, and the parachute & cords are not LEGO... but everything else, from the computer controlling the mission to the motor releasing the parachute to the software running on the NXT and the sensor detecting free-fall will all be "stock LEGO".

The length of the free-fall is actually left up to the robot - it estimates how high it is upon release, and makes a very conservative estimate of the maximum safe free-fall time. Since there are so many unknowns on this, I'm not trying to set a really impressive, multi-minute free-fall record (although I suspect this payload could). First make sure it works, then maybe the next time make it work better. While all this is going on, Lil' Joe will also be logging the accelerations experienced by the payload just before, during, and after the free-fall portion of the mission, to better understand what is happening to a payload under these conditions.

Your second project, the "Gypsy (a.k.a. Nadar 2.0)," will take video and pictures. Why are you taking pictures?

Gypsy is an improved version of a project I put up on NXTlog named "Nadar". The goal with Gypsy (named after a robot from the TV show "Mystery Science Theater 3000") is to automate an off-the-shelf digital camera to take both still images as well as video. This way I could get a pre-programmed variety of images and movies during the mission, instead of the typical "one picture every 30 seconds" technique that is commonly employed on balloon missions like these.

Additionally, I wanted to be able to control the cameras' pitch (how far up or down it is pointed) to get images up and down the payload string as well as towards the horizon. Gypsy will be following a complex "script" of commands during the mission ("take 10 photos, tilt to look straight down, take four photos, take 40 seconds of video", etc.), and in addition to controlling the camera, will by logging more than 10 different environmental variables (sound, pressure, light, temperatures, etc.) at intervals of a few seconds, storing these using a "data compression" technique to fit as much as possible into the NXT's memory. If this sounds complicated it is, but when it's all done the program is surprisingly small - about 17k in the NXT. NXT-G can churn out some amazingly compact efficient code if you work with its strengths (My Blocks and wires).

What are you hoping to accomplish at the end of this event?

Primarily, showing that a nearly "pure LEGO" robot can do some very impressive stuff in such a hostile environment. Personally I love the challenge of trying something new, and these two payloads have pushed my understanding and use of the NXT, electronics, and NXT-G much further. There may be better ways to do everything I'm trying to accomplish... but doing it with LEGO allows single individuals or small groups to do this sort of thing at a fairly high level for very low cost.

You can learn more about all the H.A.L.E. missions by visiting: http://www.unr.edu/nevadasat/HALE/

High Altitude LEGO® Extravaganza (H.A.L.E.) Commemorates 10 Year Anniversary of LEGO MINDSTORMS® by Launching Robotic Experiments to Near Space

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 02:00:00 GMT

College professors, middle school students and robotics hobbyists will unite shortly after sunrise tomorrow, July 29, 2008, to launch several MINDSTORMS robots into the Earth’s stratosphere to collect data, explore conditional effects of the Earth's atmosphere, and to set a world record as part of the High Altitude LEGO® Extravaganza.

Joining The LEGO Group to support the science experiment are Nevada Space Grant, the University of Nevada-Reno, Energizer and National Instruments to help celebrate the 10th anniversary of the LEGO MINDSTORMS® robotics platform.

The MINDSTORMS robots will be launched from a desert location 30 miles outside of Reno, Nevada, USA into near space on an atmospheric weather balloon that will reach an altitude of more than 100,000 feet (30km). At that altitude the robots will be above 99.9% of the atmosphere. The payloads will be exposed to extreme cold and radiation of near space. The sky looks black and the curvature of the Earth is evident.

Once the weather balloon reaches maximum altitude, it will burst and the robots will parachute back down to the Earth individually or as a group depending on the robot’s desired experiment. Two weather balloons will be deployed to carry the payloads of the robots.

Brian Davis, a part-time professor at Indiana University, contributed two of his custom NXT robots to the experiment. The first, Gypsy (called Nadar 1.0 on NXTLOG), has been programmed to automate a digital camera to take both still and video images while in the balloon. His second robot, Lil' Joe, will attempt a world record for the longest MINDSTORMS NXT free-fall; the robot will detach from the balloon at maximum altitude and fall until a pre-programmed parachute is deployed.

“I love building LEGO mechanisms because the inherent limitations and versatility of the medium offer unique design challenges,” said Davis. “Additionally, since LEGO bricks are infinitely reusable, I can build and test prototypes much faster than I could in other mediums. I’m excited to take my experiments to a new level; I’ve never tried to build a robot that could function under these conditions and function right the very first time. 100,000 feet above ground is no place for a mistake.”

Children are also getting involved in H.A.L.E. FIRST LEGO League Team 90 from Virginia is getting a head start on this year’s annual challenge, “Climate Connections”, by sending up a robot they created that has been programmed to measure and log Ultraviolet radiation as a function of altitude while on board the weather balloon.

“I am confident that the team will learn something about Earth science and Global Warming through this program,” said David Levy, coach of the team. “We are treating our participation as a FIRST LEGO League research project for the upcoming season’s challenge, so I expect that the team will learn how to seek out the advice of experts in the field, come up with their own solutions through experimentation, document their work and have lots of fun in the process.”

Other robots will seek to collect data in relation to ozone concentration, the impact of varying temperatures and air pressure on objects, particles in the air, impact of flight conditions and varying g-forces as a function of altitude.

Energizer provided H.A.L.E. participants with long-lasting Energizer® Lithium AA batteries, which are 33 percent lighter than ordinary alkaline batteries and perform in extreme temperatures from -40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit (-40 to 60 degrees C), which are ideal for the conditions the robots are anticipated to experience on the balloon.

You can learn more about the individual H.A.L.E. missions as well as learn how you can track the event live tomorrow by visiting: http://www.unr.edu/nevadasat/HALE/College professors, middle school students and robotics hobbyists will unite shortly after sunrise tomorrow, July 29, 2008, to launch several MINDSTORMS robots into the Earth’s stratosphere to collect data, explore conditional effects of the Earth's atmosphere, and to set a world record as part of the High Altitude LEGO® Extravaganza.

Joining The LEGO Group to support the science experiment are Nevada Space Grant, the University of Nevada-Reno, Energizer and National Instruments to help celebrate the 10th anniversary of the LEGO MINDSTORMS® robotics platform.

The MINDSTORMS robots will be launched from a desert location 30 miles outside of Reno, Nevada, USA into near space on an atmospheric weather balloon that will reach an altitude of more than 100,000 feet (30km). At that altitude the robots will be above 99.9% of the atmosphere. The payloads will be exposed to extreme cold and radiation of near space. The sky looks black and the curvature of the Earth is evident.

Once the weather balloon reaches maximum altitude, it will burst and the robots will parachute back down to the Earth individually or as a group depending on the robot’s desired experiment. Two weather balloons will be deployed to carry the payloads of the robots.

Brian Davis, a part-time professor at Indiana University, contributed two of his custom NXT robots to the experiment. The first, Gypsy (called Nadar 1.0 on NXTLOG), has been programmed to automate a digital camera to take both still and video images while in the balloon. His second robot, Lil' Joe, will attempt a world record for the longest MINDSTORMS NXT free-fall; the robot will detach from the balloon at maximum altitude and fall until a pre-programmed parachute is deployed.

“I love building LEGO mechanisms because the inherent limitations and versatility of the medium offer unique design challenges,” said Davis. “Additionally, since LEGO bricks are infinitely reusable, I can build and test prototypes much faster than I could in other mediums. I’m excited to take my experiments to a new level; I’ve never tried to build a robot that could function under these conditions and function right the very first time. 100,000 feet above ground is no place for a mistake.”

Children are also getting involved in H.A.L.E. FIRST LEGO League Team 90 from Virginia is getting a head start on this year’s annual challenge, “Climate Connections”, by sending up a robot they created that has been programmed to measure and log Ultraviolet radiation as a function of altitude while on board the weather balloon.

“I am confident that the team will learn something about Earth science and Global Warming through this program,” said David Levy, coach of the team. “We are treating our participation as a FIRST LEGO League research project for the upcoming season’s challenge, so I expect that the team will learn how to seek out the advice of experts in the field, come up with their own solutions through experimentation, document their work and have lots of fun in the process.”

Other robots will seek to collect data in relation to ozone concentration, the impact of varying temperatures and air pressure on objects, particles in the air, impact of flight conditions and varying g-forces as a function of altitude.

Energizer provided H.A.L.E. participants with long-lasting Energizer® Lithium AA batteries, which are 33 percent lighter than ordinary alkaline batteries and perform in extreme temperatures from -40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit (-40 to 60 degrees C), which are ideal for the conditions the robots are anticipated to experience on the balloon.

You can learn more about the individual H.A.L.E. missions as well as learn how you can track the event live tomorrow by visiting: http://www.unr.edu/nevadasat/HALE/

MINDSTORMS NXT Summer Sports Building Challenge

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:00:00 GMT

This is a summer where the whole world is busy with sports activities. We want to challenge you to create a robot that can compete in a sports discipline.

You have until Sunday August 31, 2008 to enter your robot.

See the Summer Sports Building Challenge NXTLOG for more details.

Good luck and go for the Gold!This is a summer where the whole world is busy with sports activities. We want to challenge you to create a robot that can compete in a sports discipline.

You have until Sunday August 31, 2008 to enter your robot.

See the Summer Sports Building Challenge NXTLOG for more details.

Good luck and go for the Gold!

MINDSTORMS NXT NXT Building Challenge Winners

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 05:00:00 GMT

The quality of projects submitted to this competition proved that two (or more) NXT's can be better than one! There was a wide range of innovative entries including robots with two or more NXT's onboard the robot, robots being remote controlled by a second NXT, and two or more autonomous NXT robots working together with synchronized communication. Please visit, comment, rate, and get inspired by all the robots entered this competition by entering the tag "nxt200805"

Here are the winners:

CHAMPION'S AWARD
Copycats
Created by: Natwan33

Natwan33 got the idea for the Copycats robots from the book Creative Projects with LEGO MINDSTORMS by Benjamin Erwin. The book was made for the RCX, but the idea of a robot copying another robot's moves is still a great one, and a creative use of 2 NXT's! One of the two NXT robots is the the "leader" and sends some random numbers and logic to the "follower," and both robots do the same random move. Natwan33 provides a detailed description, a LEGO Digital Designer file to help you build the robot, annotated program files, as well as video of the copycats in action. Congrats on winning the Champion's Award! (This is Natwan33's 2nd project on NXTLOG.)

ROBOT DESIGN AWARD
tri-bot mine field exploration game
Created by: yacker2000!!!!

Yacker2000!!!! combined a Tribot vehicle with a remote control to create an obstacle course game for his NXT NXT contest submission. The aim of the "tri-bot mine field exploration game" is to retrive all the items (balls) from a mine filed. The Tribot vehicle can withstand a single mine blast before the remote control is disabled. For an innovative concept, game, as well as a KISS approach in robot vehilcle and remote control design, yacker2000!!!! wins the Robot Design Award! (yacker2000!!!! has 28 robots on NXTLOG.)

ROBOT PERFORMANCE AWARD
Super Dragster
Created by: NXTGeneration

The NXTGeneration FLL team imagined that if you can build a dragster with two NXT's... then why not go for one with four! This team pulled their NXT resources together to build a SUPER dragster with 12 NXT motors on board as well as 4 NXT bricks. The motors pull in 2 blocks. The upper block of motors consist of 7 motors and the lower block consist of 5 motors joined together. The dragster also use 2 differentials. NXTGeneration claims that this dragster runs very fast. This team provies an LDD file of the dragster, as well as a detailed NXTLOG and annotated program files. For NXTGeneration's amazing design, programming, and team efforts, they are presented with the Robot Performance Award. (This is NXTGeneration's 3rd project on NXTLOG.)

CREATIVE USE OF NXTLOG AWARD
NXT Whac-A-Mole
Created by: LinearActuator

One of the most creative projects submitted to this challenge, a NXT Whac-A-Mole! The idea of this model is to push, or hit as many moles that pop in and out of the "Mole Whacking Platform" as quickly as possible. When a mole is hit, a score indicator mole that is attached to the score tower will be raised. The NXT Whac-A-Mole is controlled and powered by two NXT bricks, one controlling the mole's touch sensors and motors, and the other controlling the score tower and indicator, light sensors, and any other sensors and motors that cannot be plugged into the first NXT brick. LinearActuator provides excellent pictures, a detailed NXTLOG and screen shots of the master and slave prgrams. We would love LinearActuator to share an LDD file and a video of the robot in action. (This is LinearActuator's 2nd project on NXTLOG.)

HONORABLE MENTION

Techno Arm
Created by: papusa8r

NXT Bike
Created by: LeoBello

BattleBots
Created by: Mister.Tux

Overhead Travelling Crane
Created by: koldo

Meteorologic Station 1.0
Created by: truppelito

The Claw of Dexterity
Created by: stephen1675
The quality of projects submitted to this competition proved that two (or more) NXT's can be better than one! There was a wide range of innovative entries including robots with two or more NXT's onboard the robot, robots being remote controlled by a second NXT, and two or more autonomous NXT robots working together with synchronized communication. Please visit, comment, rate, and get inspired by all the robots entered this competition by entering the tag "nxt200805"

Here are the winners:

CHAMPION'S AWARD
Copycats
Created by: Natwan33

Natwan33 got the idea for the Copycats robots from the book Creative Projects with LEGO MINDSTORMS by Benjamin Erwin. The book was made for the RCX, but the idea of a robot copying another robot's moves is still a great one, and a creative use of 2 NXT's! One of the two NXT robots is the the "leader" and sends some random numbers and logic to the "follower," and both robots do the same random move. Natwan33 provides a detailed description, a LEGO Digital Designer file to help you build the robot, annotated program files, as well as video of the copycats in action. Congrats on winning the Champion's Award! (This is Natwan33's 2nd project on NXTLOG.)

ROBOT DESIGN AWARD
tri-bot mine field exploration game
Created by: yacker2000!!!!

Yacker2000!!!! combined a Tribot vehicle with a remote control to create an obstacle course game for his NXT NXT contest submission. The aim of the "tri-bot mine field exploration game" is to retrive all the items (balls) from a mine filed. The Tribot vehicle can withstand a single mine blast before the remote control is disabled. For an innovative concept, game, as well as a KISS approach in robot vehilcle and remote control design, yacker2000!!!! wins the Robot Design Award! (yacker2000!!!! has 28 robots on NXTLOG.)

ROBOT PERFORMANCE AWARD
Super Dragster
Created by: NXTGeneration

The NXTGeneration FLL team imagined that if you can build a dragster with two NXT's... then why not go for one with four! This team pulled their NXT resources together to build a SUPER dragster with 12 NXT motors on board as well as 4 NXT bricks. The motors pull in 2 blocks. The upper block of motors consist of 7 motors and the lower block consist of 5 motors joined together. The dragster also use 2 differentials. NXTGeneration claims that this dragster runs very fast. This team provies an LDD file of the dragster, as well as a detailed NXTLOG and annotated program files. For NXTGeneration's amazing design, programming, and team efforts, they are presented with the Robot Performance Award. (This is NXTGeneration's 3rd project on NXTLOG.)

CREATIVE USE OF NXTLOG AWARD
NXT Whac-A-Mole
Created by: LinearActuator

One of the most creative projects submitted to this challenge, a NXT Whac-A-Mole! The idea of this model is to push, or hit as many moles that pop in and out of the "Mole Whacking Platform" as quickly as possible. When a mole is hit, a score indicator mole that is attached to the score tower will be raised. The NXT Whac-A-Mole is controlled and powered by two NXT bricks, one controlling the mole's touch sensors and motors, and the other controlling the score tower and indicator, light sensors, and any other sensors and motors that cannot be plugged into the first NXT brick. LinearActuator provides excellent pictures, a detailed NXTLOG and screen shots of the master and slave prgrams. We would love LinearActuator to share an LDD file and a video of the robot in action. (This is LinearActuator's 2nd project on NXTLOG.)

HONORABLE MENTION

Techno Arm
Created by: papusa8r

NXT Bike
Created by: LeoBello

BattleBots
Created by: Mister.Tux

Overhead Travelling Crane
Created by: koldo

Meteorologic Station 1.0
Created by: truppelito

The Claw of Dexterity
Created by: stephen1675

Earth Day Building Challenge Winners

Mon, 05 May 2008 08:00:00 GMT

Many NXTLOGgers took up the global challenge of creating a MINDSTORMS NXT robot that could be used to help maintain a healthy, sustainable environment. There were many innovative entries that can be used to help save energy and the earth, but we can only acknoledge a few winners. Please visit, comment, and rate all the robots entered this competition by entering the tag "nxt200804"

Here are the winners:

CHAMPION'S AWARD
TP-Bot 2008
Created by: Dino_Martino

The TP-Bot 2008 helps the earth by helping people to use less paper... toilet paper! The TP-Bot 2008 is compatible for use with five different people. It has a scanner (where users present an accesspass and 4 digit secret code), a TP dispensing system, and the robot can even tell you how much toilet paper you have left. Dino_Martino provides a creative concept and a well detailed NXTLOG (we would love to see some video). Congrats on winning the Champion's Award! (This is Dino_Martino's 5th project on NXTLOG.)

ROBOT DESIGN AWARD
The Tree Doctor
Created by: Mister.Tux

The Tree Doctor is a true Earth Day robot designed to save a precious natural resource. The robot was designed to inspect trees to see if they have the pine beetle. Within 2 days, a few handfuls of these beetles can infest and kill an entire tree. The Tree Doctor roves around a tree and scans its hardness with an ultrasonic sensor. Mister.Tux found that trees infected with the pine beetle reflect back quite a bit of sound. For an innovative concept and robot design, Mister.Tux wins the Robot Design Award. (This is Mister.Tux's 8th NXTLOG project, and 2nd NXTLOG Challenge award!) P.S. LEGO MINDSTORMS is not intended for outdoor use - use MINDSTORMS outdoors at your own risk.

ROBOT PERFORMANCE AWARD
Vestas Windmill (turbine) FLL2007 demo
Created by: robotica008

The Vestas Windmill created by robotica008 (actually MDP/MCP Martyn Boogaarts) as a demonstration model during the 2007-08 FLL final in Rijnmond, the Netherlands. The robot behaves like a real wind turbine. By blowing into the front fan, the NXT knows how hard the large windmill should turn. For a true Earth Day robot that replicates an alternative energy solution, the Vestas Windmill is presented with the Robot Performance Award. (This is robotica008's 9th project on NXTLOG.)

CREATIVE USE OF NXTLOG AWARD
Crash Lab(with the florecant fetchbot)
Created by: RrangerRick

RrangerRick with the help of some minifigs has created a robot that helps fetch old lightbulbs safely so that new energy efficient compact florescent lightbulbs can be used. RrangerRick's NXTLOG is very creative with LEGO minifigs narrating the action. We also appreciate the message of this project, that saving energy can start with something as simple as changing a lightbulb. This is RrangerRick's 11th project on NXTLOG. Congrats!

HONORABLE MENTION(S)

Water Saver
Created by: iggy5772

Bottle sorter 3000
Created by: xaviack

Plant Waterer
Created by: mperrin

Hybrid Machine
Created by: NeXTSTORM

Garbot
Created by: spaz487

An Earth Friendly Report
Created by: NatoNX

Generator bot
Created by: arclegoman12
Many NXTLOGgers took up the global challenge of creating a MINDSTORMS NXT robot that could be used to help maintain a healthy, sustainable environment. There were many innovative entries that can be used to help save energy and the earth, but we can only acknoledge a few winners. Please visit, comment, and rate all the robots entered this competition by entering the tag "nxt200804"

Here are the winners:

CHAMPION'S AWARD
TP-Bot 2008
Created by: Dino_Martino

The TP-Bot 2008 helps the earth by helping people to use less paper... toilet paper! The TP-Bot 2008 is compatible for use with five different people. It has a scanner (where users present an accesspass and 4 digit secret code), a TP dispensing system, and the robot can even tell you how much toilet paper you have left. Dino_Martino provides a creative concept and a well detailed NXTLOG (we would love to see some video). Congrats on winning the Champion's Award! (This is Dino_Martino's 5th project on NXTLOG.)

ROBOT DESIGN AWARD
The Tree Doctor
Created by: Mister.Tux

The Tree Doctor is a true Earth Day robot designed to save a precious natural resource. The robot was designed to inspect trees to see if they have the pine beetle. Within 2 days, a few handfuls of these beetles can infest and kill an entire tree. The Tree Doctor roves around a tree and scans its hardness with an ultrasonic sensor. Mister.Tux found that trees infected with the pine beetle reflect back quite a bit of sound. For an innovative concept and robot design, Mister.Tux wins the Robot Design Award. (This is Mister.Tux's 8th NXTLOG project, and 2nd NXTLOG Challenge award!) P.S. LEGO MINDSTORMS is not intended for outdoor use - use MINDSTORMS outdoors at your own risk.

ROBOT PERFORMANCE AWARD
Vestas Windmill (turbine) FLL2007 demo
Created by: robotica008

The Vestas Windmill created by robotica008 (actually MDP/MCP Martyn Boogaarts) as a demonstration model during the 2007-08 FLL final in Rijnmond, the Netherlands. The robot behaves like a real wind turbine. By blowing into the front fan, the NXT knows how hard the large windmill should turn. For a true Earth Day robot that replicates an alternative energy solution, the Vestas Windmill is presented with the Robot Performance Award. (This is robotica008's 9th project on NXTLOG.)

CREATIVE USE OF NXTLOG AWARD
Crash Lab(with the florecant fetchbot)
Created by: RrangerRick

RrangerRick with the help of some minifigs has created a robot that helps fetch old lightbulbs safely so that new energy efficient compact florescent lightbulbs can be used. RrangerRick's NXTLOG is very creative with LEGO minifigs narrating the action. We also appreciate the message of this project, that saving energy can start with something as simple as changing a lightbulb. This is RrangerRick's 11th project on NXTLOG. Congrats!

HONORABLE MENTION(S)

Water Saver
Created by: iggy5772

Bottle sorter 3000
Created by: xaviack

Plant Waterer
Created by: mperrin

Hybrid Machine
Created by: NeXTSTORM

Garbot
Created by: spaz487

An Earth Friendly Report
Created by: NatoNX

Generator bot
Created by: arclegoman12

MINDSTORMS NXT NXT Building Challenge

Thu, 01 May 2008 08:00:00 GMT
NXT NXT...? Are you seeing double? Yes! We are presenting a doubly fun building challenge on NXTLOG where you create a robot that uses 2 NXT bricks! We are also giving you double the amount of time to enter this challenge. The 2 NXT's can be onboard the robot or the 2 NXT's can be separate...but we must require that the 2 NXT's communicate with each other. You have until Monday June 30th to enter.

Don't have 2 NXT's? Why not enter the challenge with a friend!

What will you make?

See the MINDSTORMS NXT NXT Building Challenge NXTLOG for more detailsNXT NXT...? Are you seeing double? Yes! We are presenting a doubly fun building challenge on NXTLOG where you create a robot that uses 2 NXT bricks! We are also giving you double the amount of time to enter this challenge. The 2 NXT's can be onboard the robot or the 2 NXT's can be separate...but we must require that the 2 NXT's communicate with each other. You have until Monday June 30th to enter.

Don't have 2 NXT's? Why not enter the challenge with a friend!

What will you make?

See the MINDSTORMS NXT NXT Building Challenge NXTLOG for more details

MINDSTORMS NXTperts share their expertise at the FLL World Festival

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 08:00:00 GMT
Along with seeing great robots in competition at the FLL World Festival in Atlanta, Georgia last week, attendees were also able to see live demonstrations from MINDSTORMS experts.

The NXT STEP blogger Jim Kelly and The LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Zoo author Fay Rhodes shared their expertise on using 3-D programs to build LEGO MINDSTORMS models, and MUP Ralph Hempel, creator of pbLua, shared his passion for Open Source and alternative programming for LEGO MINDSTORMS.

A crowd favorite was the demonstration "Taking LEGO MINDSTORMS to the Sky" given by Chris Anderson, Editor-in-Chief of WIRED magazine. He showed off and explained his MINDSTORMS UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle). Chris designed an autopilot system for a radio controlled model airplane that uses the NXT and HiTechnic Sensors to control an autopilot system, which both stabilizes and navigates the plane autonomously. A highlight for Anderson was sharing his invention with Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen (owner and Vice Chairman of LEGO) and Dean Kamen (the founder of FIRST and inventor of the Segway). He told them that he was looking to do something that had never been done with MINDSTORMS before...fly. Next stop says Chris, (for someone else) is... space?

Many of these MINDSTORMS experts are also participating in the Ask the NXTperts section of MINDSTORMS.com Have a question for them? Ask the NXTperts!Along with seeing great robots in competition at the FLL World Festival in Atlanta, Georgia last week, attendees were also able to see live demonstrations from MINDSTORMS experts.

The NXT STEP blogger Jim Kelly and The LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Zoo author Fay Rhodes shared their expertise on using 3-D programs to build LEGO MINDSTORMS models, and MUP Ralph Hempel, creator of pbLua, shared his passion for Open Source and alternative programming for LEGO MINDSTORMS.

A crowd favorite was the demonstration "Taking LEGO MINDSTORMS to the Sky" given by Chris Anderson, Editor-in-Chief of WIRED magazine. He showed off and explained his MINDSTORMS UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle). Chris designed an autopilot system for a radio controlled model airplane that uses the NXT and HiTechnic Sensors to control an autopilot system, which both stabilizes and navigates the plane autonomously. A highlight for Anderson was sharing his invention with Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen (owner and Vice Chairman of LEGO) and Dean Kamen (the founder of FIRST and inventor of the Segway). He told them that he was looking to do something that had never been done with MINDSTORMS before...fly. Next stop says Chris, (for someone else) is... space?

Many of these MINDSTORMS experts are also participating in the Ask the NXTperts section of MINDSTORMS.com Have a question for them? Ask the NXTperts!

Dean Kamen, founder of FIRST, awarded the LEGO Prize

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:00:00 GMT
Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, Owner and Vice Chairman of LEGO awarded Dean Kamen the LEGO Prize for his passionate commitment to FIRST. “It is 10 years ago we began a pilot project with FIRST LEGO League – and in the intervening years it has simply grown and grown. From just a couple of hundred participants to more than 100,000!” says Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen.

“We are particularly proud to be able to honor Dean Kamen for his personal and untiring commitment to child development and learning. Children learn best when new knowledge is presented in play form, and in founding FIRST, Dean has created an organization which – uniquely and through systematic, creative play – helps children and young people understand and appreciate science and technology. We say that the future belongs to our children, and Dean Kamen plays an immensely important role in creating a better future – harnessing the fantastic creativity and inventiveness that children and young people experience through involvement in FIRST programs.”

The LEGO Prize was founded in 1985 and has been awarded to individuals and institutions who have made an extraordinary contribution on behalf of children and young people. The recipients have included Astrid Lindgren, Paul Newman, John Feierabend, Mario Lodi and such institutions as Associacão Santa Therinha in Brazil, The SaekDong Organisation in Korea, and Papalote Museo del Niño in Mexico City. The LEGO Prize was last awarded in 1997.

Dean Kamen will receive the sum of $100,000, which he will pass on to the FIRST organization, and a unique glass bowl created specially for the occasion by Steffen Dam, a Danish glass artist from Ebeltoft.

“FIRST is inspiring the next generation of innovators and engineers,” said Kamen. “Years from now, some of the students who competed in the Georgia Dome will be inventing solutions to society's most challenging problems."

Former President George H. W. Bush echoed Kamen’s beliefs during the FIRST Challenge Opening Ceremonies on Friday, April 18. He reminisced about attending the inaugural FIRST Championship sixteen years ago and recognized Kamen for fostering young people’s aspirations in science and technology.Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, Owner and Vice Chairman of LEGO awarded Dean Kamen the LEGO Prize for his passionate commitment to FIRST. “It is 10 years ago we began a pilot project with FIRST LEGO League – and in the intervening years it has simply grown and grown. From just a couple of hundred participants to more than 100,000!” says Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen.

“We are particularly proud to be able to honor Dean Kamen for his personal and untiring commitment to child development and learning. Children learn best when new knowledge is presented in play form, and in founding FIRST, Dean has created an organization which – uniquely and through systematic, creative play – helps children and young people understand and appreciate science and technology. We say that the future belongs to our children, and Dean Kamen plays an immensely important role in creating a better future – harnessing the fantastic creativity and inventiveness that children and young people experience through involvement in FIRST programs.”

The LEGO Prize was founded in 1985 and has been awarded to individuals and institutions who have made an extraordinary contribution on behalf of children and young people. The recipients have included Astrid Lindgren, Paul Newman, John Feierabend, Mario Lodi and such institutions as Associacão Santa Therinha in Brazil, The SaekDong Organisation in Korea, and Papalote Museo del Niño in Mexico City. The LEGO Prize was last awarded in 1997.

Dean Kamen will receive the sum of $100,000, which he will pass on to the FIRST organization, and a unique glass bowl created specially for the occasion by Steffen Dam, a Danish glass artist from Ebeltoft.

“FIRST is inspiring the next generation of innovators and engineers,” said Kamen. “Years from now, some of the students who competed in the Georgia Dome will be inventing solutions to society's most challenging problems."

Former President George H. W. Bush echoed Kamen’s beliefs during the FIRST Challenge Opening Ceremonies on Friday, April 18. He reminisced about attending the inaugural FIRST Championship sixteen years ago and recognized Kamen for fostering young people’s aspirations in science and technology.

2008 FIRST LEGO League World Festival Award Winners

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 08:00:00 GMT
Eighty one teams from around the world participated in the 10th FIRST LEGO League (FLL) World Festival this past weekend at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

Top honors in the FLL challenge went to Champion’s Award 1st Place winner, Team 8095 "External Fusion" from Singapore; Champion’s Award 2nd Place winner, Team 2560 "Pixelation" from North Branch, Minnesota; and Champion’s Award 3rd Place winner, Team 334 "Power Peeps" from Swartz Creek, Michigan. The Champion’s Award measures how teams inspire and motivate others about the excitement and wonders of science and technology, while demonstrating gracious professionalism.

Winning first place in Robot Performance were the NERDS (The New England Robotics Designers) from New Hampshire, USA. The team took this year’s green theme seriously by dressing up as the Green Man Group (in honor of the popular Blue Man Group). They entertained the public in the pits playing the “tubes,” and managed perfect 400 point scores each round with their innovative MINDSTORMS NXT robot design.

A complete list of the 2008 FLL World Festival Awards can be found here.

Congratulations to all the participants in the World Festival!Eighty one teams from around the world participated in the 10th FIRST LEGO League (FLL) World Festival this past weekend at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

Top honors in the FLL challenge went to Champion’s Award 1st Place winner, Team 8095 "External Fusion" from Singapore; Champion’s Award 2nd Place winner, Team 2560 "Pixelation" from North Branch, Minnesota; and Champion’s Award 3rd Place winner, Team 334 "Power Peeps" from Swartz Creek, Michigan. The Champion’s Award measures how teams inspire and motivate others about the excitement and wonders of science and technology, while demonstrating gracious professionalism.

Winning first place in Robot Performance were the NERDS (The New England Robotics Designers) from New Hampshire, USA. The team took this year’s green theme seriously by dressing up as the Green Man Group (in honor of the popular Blue Man Group). They entertained the public in the pits playing the “tubes,” and managed perfect 400 point scores each round with their innovative MINDSTORMS NXT robot design.

A complete list of the 2008 FLL World Festival Awards can be found here.

Congratulations to all the participants in the World Festival!

Greetings from the FLL World Festival in Atlanta!

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 08:00:00 GMT
The FIRST LEGO League World Festival kicked off yesterday at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. At the opening ceremonies teams wore party hats as they celebrated the ten-year anniversary of FLL. Yesterday’s events also included judging and practice rounds, and an anniversary party in Centennial Park. Today the robots take to the playing filed to see who will be champion!

The MINDSTORMS Team as well as many members of the MCP were at the MINDSTORMS booth sharing their NXT creations and knowledge. Visitors to the booth got a chance to interact with NXT robots including Chris Anderson’s LEGO Autopilot, Chris Smith’s NXT Hoop Rover, and Gus Jansson and David Schilling’s NXT Helicopter. Also on hand were the original members of the MUP (MINDSTORMS User Panel) who helped develop the NXT.

This year also marks the 10th anniversary of LEGO MINDSTORMS, and to celebrate, two Alpha Rex World Travelers are going on a Global Roadrip. FLL Teams can sign up to possibly host an Alpha Rex on his travels.
The FIRST LEGO League World Festival kicked off yesterday at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. At the opening ceremonies teams wore party hats as they celebrated the ten-year anniversary of FLL. Yesterday’s events also included judging and practice rounds, and an anniversary party in Centennial Park. Today the robots take to the playing filed to see who will be champion!

The MINDSTORMS Team as well as many members of the MCP were at the MINDSTORMS booth sharing their NXT creations and knowledge. Visitors to the booth got a chance to interact with NXT robots including Chris Anderson’s LEGO Autopilot, Chris Smith’s NXT Hoop Rover, and Gus Jansson and David Schilling’s NXT Helicopter. Also on hand were the original members of the MUP (MINDSTORMS User Panel) who helped develop the NXT.

This year also marks the 10th anniversary of LEGO MINDSTORMS, and to celebrate, two Alpha Rex World Travelers are going on a Global Roadrip. FLL Teams can sign up to possibly host an Alpha Rex on his travels.

How do you get to the FLL World Festival? Practice, practice, practice.

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 06:00:00 GMT
Practice, practice, practice is what the St. Clare’s FIRST LEGO League (FLL) team, the Transformers from Staten Island, NY are doing to prepare for the FLL World Festival later this week at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The Transformers practice 5 to 6 times a week from 2 to 4 hours per session in the science lab at their school. They practice with multiple robots on multiple tournament tables while working toward that perfect 400 point score. ”The pizza delivery man knows us well, parents send in nourishment, and maintenance is ready to set up cots for us!” says their dedicated coach, Mary Lee.

The Transformers are a team of 18 students, ten boys and eight girls from 11-14 years of age. Most of the team has experience with LEGO MINDSTORMS, participating for 1-3 years in a minor league before joining the ”Majors” (which is the team at St. Clare’s that competes in FLL tournaments). All 18 team members along with their family, friends, and coach are attending the festivities in Atlanta.

”This is the second year that the Transformers are using a LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT robot. We now recognize the NXT as a more advanced machine with tremendous possibilities,” explains Coach Lee.

About FLL Events
Each year FLL teams embark on an adventurous challenge based on current, real-world issues. Students between 9 and 14 years of age build and program a robot to complete a set number of missions in 2½ minutes (the robot game), present research on a given topic (the research presentation), and share how they designed and programmed their robot (the technical presentation). This year’s FLL theme, “Power Puzzle” challenges teams to use robotics to understand and create solutions for one of today's most critical environmental issues: energy management and conservation.

The Robot Game
The Transformers found the solar panel mission to be the most difficult robot task in the Power Puzzle challenge. Four separate groups of students worked on troubleshooting the mission, each with their own robot. The biggest trouble was getting the solar panel to stay on. ”We finally tackled this by adding extra pieces to the panel that allowed it to hang, and we added little claws that helps it grab on to the roof if it starts to flip over.” Each group helped one other succeed by sharing ideas and building for each other. ”The frustration was high at times, but it brought us closer and taught us to battle together.”

The Transformers are excited that the robots they are taking to the World Festival can score 400 points provided the opposing team does not get the satellite challenge first. Let’s hope the Transformers make it!

The Research Project
The Transformers conducted extensive research in their community on alternative enery options. They visited a home with solar panels to see how they are setup and work. They investigated their school, local zoo, and a bakery, and then researched similar structures in different areas using alternative energy and energy providers. The team even went to the Fresh Kills Landfill in Staten Island to learn about a methane gas collection system and to explore the possibility of using the area as a wind farm. The team saw that fish were dying in a local pond, discovered that the oxygen levels were low and requested that a solar aerator pump be installed as part of the Department of Environmental Protection’s Adopt a Bluebelt program. They also held a public forum on alternative energy for the community and presented their findings on all our research and allowed special guests in the field to speak. The Transformers live up to their name in transforming their community in green ways!

The Technical Presentation
The Transformers played with different robot designs including a horizontal design that they found on NXTLOG. The team played with different attachments, including a big lasso type piece that swings down over the corn and later the uranium to gather those pieces before coming back to base (after it hits the rail car and brings the coal to base). Other attachments include a big box for catching the oil and a flat piece to push objects like the dam and the power line.

For the programming, the team relies on motor rotations and time rather than sensors. Although the robot has a third motor, the team tries to limit its use, using the law of motion to swing an arm forward rather than extra programming. The team also works to multi-task when programming by either reusing programs to complete additional missions, or by completing a number of tasks in one area before returning the robot to base. The students discovered one innovative shortcut by using the robot itself to be the wave turbine, having it end up in the ocean at the end of the 2½ minutes.

The Journey to the World Festival
The team has been busy with practices and fundraising but also finds time to play sports together to ease the pressure of competing on a global level. They also have been practicing some dance moves for a special show in Atlanta. Just last week the Transformers participated in a FLL Tri-State Tournament at the Javits Center in NYC where they not only got a chance for extra pratice, but they met Mayor Mike Bloomburg as well.

While all 18 team members are prepared to play the robot game at the World Festival, some will act as ambassadors and greet attending teams, some will work as team photographers, and others as the pit crew. We look forward to seeing this team in action at the Georgia Dome!

Team Transfromers includes: Alanna Bergstrom, Adrianno Corso, Katie Geraghty, Ian Grice, Thomas Grimaldi, Matthew Gulotta, Shannon Long, Joseph Maggio, James McKeon, Steven Milazzo, Judy Muller, Meagan O'Connor, Amanda O'Keefe, Michelle Pagano, Christopher Piccirello, Paul Piccirello, James Pugliese and Serena Zinsley, and Coachs Mary Lee and Barbara Grimaldi.Practice, practice, practice is what the St. Clare’s FIRST LEGO League (FLL) team, the Transformers from Staten Island, NY are doing to prepare for the FLL World Festival later this week at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The Transformers practice 5 to 6 times a week from 2 to 4 hours per session in the science lab at their school. They practice with multiple robots on multiple tournament tables while working toward that perfect 400 point score. ”The pizza delivery man knows us well, parents send in nourishment, and maintenance is ready to set up cots for us!” says their dedicated coach, Mary Lee.

The Transformers are a team of 18 students, ten boys and eight girls from 11-14 years of age. Most of the team has experience with LEGO MINDSTORMS, participating for 1-3 years in a minor league before joining the ”Majors” (which is the team at St. Clare’s that competes in FLL tournaments). All 18 team members along with their family, friends, and coach are attending the festivities in Atlanta.

”This is the second year that the Transformers are using a LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT robot. We now recognize the NXT as a more advanced machine with tremendous possibilities,” explains Coach Lee.

About FLL Events
Each year FLL teams embark on an adventurous challenge based on current, real-world issues. Students between 9 and 14 years of age build and program a robot to complete a set number of missions in 2½ minutes (the robot game), present research on a given topic (the research presentation), and share how they designed and programmed their robot (the technical presentation). This year’s FLL theme, “Power Puzzle” challenges teams to use robotics to understand and create solutions for one of today's most critical environmental issues: energy management and conservation.

The Robot Game
The Transformers found the solar panel mission to be the most difficult robot task in the Power Puzzle challenge. Four separate groups of students worked on troubleshooting the mission, each with their own robot. The biggest trouble was getting the solar panel to stay on. ”We finally tackled this by adding extra pieces to the panel that allowed it to hang, and we added little claws that helps it grab on to the roof if it starts to flip over.” Each group helped one other succeed by sharing ideas and building for each other. ”The frustration was high at times, but it brought us closer and taught us to battle together.”

The Transformers are excited that the robots they are taking to the World Festival can score 400 points provided the opposing team does not get the satellite challenge first. Let’s hope the Transformers make it!

The Research Project
The Transformers conducted extensive research in their community on alternative enery options. They visited a home with solar panels to see how they are setup and work. They investigated their school, local zoo, and a bakery, and then researched similar structures in different areas using alternative energy and energy providers. The team even went to the Fresh Kills Landfill in Staten Island to learn about a methane gas collection system and to explore the possibility of using the area as a wind farm. The team saw that fish were dying in a local pond, discovered that the oxygen levels were low and requested that a solar aerator pump be installed as part of the Department of Environmental Protection’s Adopt a Bluebelt program. They also held a public forum on alternative energy for the community and presented their findings on all our research and allowed special guests in the field to speak. The Transformers live up to their name in transforming their community in green ways!

The Technical Presentation
The Transformers played with different robot designs including a horizontal design that they found on NXTLOG. The team played with different attachments, including a big lasso type piece that swings down over the corn and later the uranium to gather those pieces before coming back to base (after it hits the rail car and brings the coal to base). Other attachments include a big box for catching the oil and a flat piece to push objects like the dam and the power line.

For the programming, the team relies on motor rotations and time rather than sensors. Although the robot has a third motor, the team tries to limit its use, using the law of motion to swing an arm forward rather than extra programming. The team also works to multi-task when programming by either reusing programs to complete additional missions, or by completing a number of tasks in one area before returning the robot to base. The students discovered one innovative shortcut by using the robot itself to be the wave turbine, having it end up in the ocean at the end of the 2½ minutes.

The Journey to the World Festival
The team has been busy with practices and fundraising but also finds time to play sports together to ease the pressure of competing on a global level. They also have been practicing some dance moves for a special show in Atlanta. Just last week the Transformers participated in a FLL Tri-State Tournament at the Javits Center in NYC where they not only got a chance for extra pratice, but they met Mayor Mike Bloomburg as well.

While all 18 team members are prepared to play the robot game at the World Festival, some will act as ambassadors and greet attending teams, some will work as team photographers, and others as the pit crew. We look forward to seeing this team in action at the Georgia Dome!

Team Transfromers includes: Alanna Bergstrom, Adrianno Corso, Katie Geraghty, Ian Grice, Thomas Grimaldi, Matthew Gulotta, Shannon Long, Joseph Maggio, James McKeon, Steven Milazzo, Judy Muller, Meagan O'Connor, Amanda O'Keefe, Michelle Pagano, Christopher Piccirello, Paul Piccirello, James Pugliese and Serena Zinsley, and Coachs Mary Lee and Barbara Grimaldi.

University Students Design Innovative MINDSTORMS NXT Robot for the Human-Robot Interaction Conference

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 08:00:00 GMT
National Instruments (NI) and LEGO MINDSTORMS teamed up to show their products at the Human-Robot Interaction Conference (HRI) in Amsterdam. HRI is an annual conference that seeks to showcase the very best in human-robot interaction. This year's theme was "Living With Robots."

One highlight of the conference was an international design competition for university students. Students were given one MINDSTORMS NXT set and a CODATEX RFID sensor with tags and were challenged to build a model demonstrating human-robot interaction.

A RFID Sensor (Radio-Frequency IDentification) is used with RFID tags (or transponders) and can be useful in all kinds of applications. For example, if your robot moves along a line, you can place the RFID tags along the line to help the robot locate points along the path. If you put the tags into containers, your robot can identify them easily.

The University of Amsterdam team took first place with Phobot, a robot designed to help children overcome their fears. The Phobot uses RFID tags to detect other frightening robots. When Phobot detects a larger robot, it reacts by spinning around in a gesture of anxiety. Then with gentle guidance from human interaction through voice and touch, the robot overcomes its phobia. By allowing children to watch as the robot gradually overcomes its fear of bigger machines, they too can learn to cope with their own phobias. Phobot overcame its fear for Alpha-Rex and danced with joy!

Second place in the competition went to PotBot, a flower robot that is designed to live in harmony with nature. PotBot was a collaborative effort between Carnegie Mellon University (USA) and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.

Other highlights of the conference was a Labview powered Segway that Andy Bell from NI brought from the United States. Daniel Wittenaar and Martyn Boogaarts of the MINDSTORMS Community Partners (MCP), and Steven Canvin from LEGO were also on hand showing off their Labview powered MINDSTORMS robots.

Check out these links for more information on these robots and HRI 2008:
HRI 2008
Phobot
Pot Bot video
CODATEX RFID Sensor
National Instruments National Instruments (NI) and LEGO MINDSTORMS teamed up to show their products at the Human-Robot Interaction Conference (HRI) in Amsterdam. HRI is an annual conference that seeks to showcase the very best in human-robot interaction. This year's theme was "Living With Robots."

One highlight of the conference was an international design competition for university students. Students were given one MINDSTORMS NXT set and a CODATEX RFID sensor with tags and were challenged to build a model demonstrating human-robot interaction.

A RFID Sensor (Radio-Frequency IDentification) is used with RFID tags (or transponders) and can be useful in all kinds of applications. For example, if your robot moves along a line, you can place the RFID tags along the line to help the robot locate points along the path. If you put the tags into containers, your robot can identify them easily.

The University of Amsterdam team took first place with Phobot, a robot designed to help children overcome their fears. The Phobot uses RFID tags to detect other frightening robots. When Phobot detects a larger robot, it reacts by spinning around in a gesture of anxiety. Then with gentle guidance from human interaction through voice and touch, the robot overcomes its phobia. By allowing children to watch as the robot gradually overcomes its fear of bigger machines, they too can learn to cope with their own phobias. Phobot overcame its fear for Alpha-Rex and danced with joy!

Second place in the competition went to PotBot, a flower robot that is designed to live in harmony with nature. PotBot was a collaborative effort between Carnegie Mellon University (USA) and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.

Other highlights of the conference was a Labview powered Segway that Andy Bell from NI brought from the United States. Daniel Wittenaar and Martyn Boogaarts of the MINDSTORMS Community Partners (MCP), and Steven Canvin from LEGO were also on hand showing off their Labview powered MINDSTORMS robots.

Check out these links for more information on these robots and HRI 2008:
HRI 2008
Phobot
Pot Bot video
CODATEX RFID Sensor
National Instruments

FIRST LEGO League World Festival, 17-19 April

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 08:00:00 GMT
Meet members at the LEGO MINDSTORMS Team!

The FIRST LEGO League (FLL) World Festival is held annually at the Georgia Dome and the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The festival marks the conclusion of the past season’s round of competitions around the world, with a tournament celebration of this year’s theme, Power Puzzle, where the children on the teams have been challenged to use robotics to understand and create solutions for one of today's most critical environmental issues: energy management and conservation.

At the World Festival you will also have an opportunity to meet members of the LEGO MINDSTORMS team from the LEGO headquarters, who will be showing fun models from the new LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT robotics toolset, together with expert users. You can find us in the Pit Area.

On the agenda:

- Quizzes - where you can win prizes!
- Cool MINDSTORMS models to play with, made by the expert users!

Presentations:

- 'Using 3-D programs to build LEGO MINDSTORMS models' - by Fay Rhodes and Jim Kelly
- 'Open Source and alternative programming for LEGO MINDSTORMS' - by Ralph Hempel, creator of pbLua
- 'Taking LEGO MINDSTORMS to the Sky - The LEGO Autopilot' - by Chris Anderson

Celebrating 10 years of LEGO MINDSTORMS:

- Kick-off for the LEGO MINDSTORMS Global Roadtrip - we will send off two robots across the planet - come and sign up - so one of them might visit your FLL team!

And much more.

See you there!
The LEGO MINDSTORMS Team
Meet members at the LEGO MINDSTORMS Team!

The FIRST LEGO League (FLL) World Festival is held annually at the Georgia Dome and the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The festival marks the conclusion of the past season’s round of competitions around the world, with a tournament celebration of this year’s theme, Power Puzzle, where the children on the teams have been challenged to use robotics to understand and create solutions for one of today's most critical environmental issues: energy management and conservation.

At the World Festival you will also have an opportunity to meet members of the LEGO MINDSTORMS team from the LEGO headquarters, who will be showing fun models from the new LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT robotics toolset, together with expert users. You can find us in the Pit Area.

On the agenda:

- Quizzes - where you can win prizes!
- Cool MINDSTORMS models to play with, made by the expert users!

Presentations:

- 'Using 3-D programs to build LEGO MINDSTORMS models' - by Fay Rhodes and Jim Kelly
- 'Open Source and alternative programming for LEGO MINDSTORMS' - by Ralph Hempel, creator of pbLua
- 'Taking LEGO MINDSTORMS to the Sky - The LEGO Autopilot' - by Chris Anderson

Celebrating 10 years of LEGO MINDSTORMS:

- Kick-off for the LEGO MINDSTORMS Global Roadtrip - we will send off two robots across the planet - come and sign up - so one of them might visit your FLL team!

And much more.

See you there!
The LEGO MINDSTORMS Team