Brick Labs

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Ever wanted to control some RC Servos with your NXT?  Such as for making your own UAV? How about 10 Servos per sensor port! 

In 2008, Lattebox a hi-tech company located in Taiwan, launch a new kind of NXT device, NXTe. NXTe allows controlling RC servos easily. NXT brick has 4 sensor port inputs to control NXT sensors as Ultrasonic Sensors, Compass Sensors, NXTCam Sensors, etc.

If you connect Lattebox NXTe in any free input sensor port, you could manage until 10 RC Servos with your NXT brick with an unique NXTe kit.

Read more about the leJOS implementation here.

Here is the company making the Lattebox NXTe . 

Link courtesy of The NXT Step.

If you’re like me, you fight with a Rubik’s Cube.  So why not let your LEGO Mindstorms NXT kit do the dirty work?

Hans Andersson has built a Rubik’s Cube solver.  “But this has been done before” you say.  True… except for this solver is built entirely from a stock NXT Retail Kit.  That’s right.  No extra parts.

The only extra thing you have to do, is replace some of the stickers on the cube with special ones so the NXT Light Sensor can differentiate between the colors.

You can download the LDD directions here, or read more about the NXT Retail Kit Rubik’s Cube Solver here.

Link courtesy of The NXT Step.

I was cleaning up some boxes yesterday in my office, and I found the original registration card for the LEGO Mindstorms RCX units (v 1.0 I think).  This RCX list is copyright LEGO.

Here is what it says:

Top 5 Things NOT To Do With Your RCX

5. Don’t give your RCX your credit card number.  It will just order more friends.

4. Don’t take your RCX to scary movies.  Especially ones involving vacuum cleaners.

3.  Don’t get into debates with your RCX about artificial intelligence not being as good as real intelligence.  You won’t win.

2.  Don’t let your RCX go on tour with ain Irish Step Dancing troupe.  Things could get ugly.

1. No matter how many times it asks you, never, never let your RCX drive.  Trust Us.

If you have any ideas for a “Top 5 Things NOT To Do With Your NXT” or a “Top 5 Things NOT To Do With Your VEX”, let me know.  I’ll compile a list and post them here.

Reasonably Clever is running a competition right now.  It’s to create a custom Iron Man specialty suit. 

Personally, I think this model of Iron Man is one of the best I’ve seen.  But… it’s a little larger than a standard LEGO Mini fig… so it doesn’t qualify for the contest.  :)

click image for high-res picture.

Part of the rules state:

At a minimum, your entry MUST contain a mech/hardsuit/armor worn or operated by a standard LEGO mini-figure.

Pumping Iron Link found via The Brothers Brick.

So far, I haven’t found anything to show that the .NET Micro Framework will work on the NXT brick. The processor on the NXT brick will support the Micro Framework, but it looks like there isn’t enough memory. If anyone has proof of this being done (or of it failing), please contact me.

I did find this post by Guy Ziv (from nxtasy.org):

he says (and I quote from Lugnet):

The .NET Micro Framework documentations
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/embedded/bb278106.aspx
says it requires at least 256K RAM and 512K Flash.

The NXT processor has 64K RAM and 256K Flash….

So, it looks like my fears are true. I was really looking forward to using .NET to program on the NXT. I’ll have to see what sort of controller I can find, and make some interface cables to use the NXT motors and sensors.

Microsoft has released an update to their .NET Micro Framework. This framework allows developers to use Visual Studio to develop for small devices.

New in the 2.5 Update:

• Web Services on Devices technology preview. Version 2.5 of the .NET Micro Framework includes a Web Services on Devices implementation compatible with the implementation built into Windows Vista and supported by the other Microsoft Windows Embedded platforms. With Web Services on Devices, devices can discover and communicate with Windows-based PCs or with other devices on the network with no user configuration.
• Native TCP/IP stack support. Version 2.5 of the .NET Micro Framework adds a native TCP/IP stack to the platform, making it easier than ever for original equipment manufacturers to build platforms with network connectivity.

You can read the Press Release for the .NET Micro Framework 2.5 Update here.

I’ve bought several kits from Hobbytron. I’ve been very happy with their customer service, and the speed of shipping.

They normally have the LEGO MINDSTORMS Retail Kit on sale for $249 US. Sometimes they offer a special sale for around $234 or so.

In progress, please be patient.