Brick Labs

Tetris-Bot is a Tetris-playing robot. Jay Leno would say “How lazy are we getting? Now robots play games for us!” Well, not exactly, but I agree, we are getting lazy. I made it in order to engage my kids in a fun and educational project. Tetris-Bot consists of a camera, a TI DM6437 DSP board (running my embedded vision and artificial intelligence algorithms), and a three-finger NXT robotic hand (that presses the keys on the computer keyboard). I was inspired by the NXT Rubik and Sudoku solvers and the Segway-like NXT robots. Unlike them, Tetris-Bot is not an NXT-only system, because the Brick has a limited input bandwidth. That’s why I use a TI DM6437 DSP board to analyze the images coming from the camera, recognize the new shape, and find the best place and orientation for it. The instructions are communicated to the NXT robotic hand via LEDs on the board. HOPE YOU LIKE IT !!!
Video Rating: 4 / 5

NXTway with a gyro sensor powered by nxtOSEK. lejos-osek.sourceforge.net NXTway-GS Simulation with MATLAB/Simulink : www.youtube.com You can download NXTway-GS Simulink models and documents describe the controller algorithm at www.mathworks.com

There are several available languages for programming the LEGO NXT MINDSTORMS brick. You can use C, Java, Lua, Assembly or one of the Graphical languages.

Steve Hassenplug has put together a pretty good list of the available languages, and some comparisons between them.

You can find the list here: NXT Programming Software

NXT-based 3D scanner, programmed with pbLua (www.hempeldesigngroup.com Scans assembled and processed with Meshlab (meshlab.sourceforge.net a tool developed with the support of the Epoch NOE Read full write-up here: philohome.com This thing kept me busy for a while… – Build a NXT based 3D scanner with a needle probe – program it using pbLua, debug it. – Scan top/back/front/side (each scan lasts several hours) – Learn the use of Meshlab, assemble the scans – Rebuild eyes and bottom tube. Final result here: www.ldraw.org
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Well, as I mentioned here, I bought the Seeedstudio  Electronic brick – Starter kit.  It includes a handy shield for working with the various components included with the Starter kit.

One of the components is the 16×2 LCD display.

While this is kind of handy… it was a real nuisance to get sorted out and working with the Netduino.  I think it’s a combination of many factors… 1 being that  there aren’t a lot of libraries ready yet for the Netduino… and 2, I’m not that handy with all this stuff yet.

But… I finally did manage to make it work.  After much poking, prodding, downloading of projects, tweaking of code, and fortunately, no burnt offerings (in the way of fried components).  It works!

To make this work…

First, go here, and download the MicroLiquidCrystal_20100905.zip file.  You can find it at the bottom of the post (from Szymon, a forum member here… Thanks!)

Then, load up your project.  Use the GpioLiquidCrystalTransferProvider as your provider.

Finally, setup your provider code as follows:

GpioLiquidCrystalTransferProvider lcdProvider = new GpioLiquidCrystalTransferProvider(Pins.GPIO_PIN_D10,
                                Pins.GPIO_PIN_D11,
                                Pins.GPIO_PIN_D12,
                                Pins.GPIO_PIN_D13,
                                Pins.GPIO_PIN_A0,
                                Pins.GPIO_PIN_A1,
                                Pins.GPIO_PIN_A2
               ); 

      LiquidCrystal lcd = new LiquidCrystal(lcdProvider);

And, you’ll end up with a screen like the one above…

Please keep in mind.  Due to the way this LCD works, you can’t control certain features.  For instance, I don’t think you can control the Backlight, or the On/Off status of the LCD from code (there are hard switches on the LCD board).

And the library doesn’t have all the cool features yet of an aged library (scrolling text, or blinking text, etc).  But… considering the Netduino has only been out for a short time… I’m happy for now!

6 robots now control this NXT pinball machine. 9 touch sensors score the points, two motors are used for the ball return and two for the spinners. You can see a few more details on the machine at sites.google.com

Using a LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT, this video shows how to put up a safe fireworks show for the whole family. How this robot can help people? ——————————- There has been a lot of concern lately about fireworks maiming and injuring the person igniting it and a few cases of fatalities. This autonomous NXT robot will light multiple fireworks in a sequence – while the family sits back and watch the display!! It uses a MINDSTORMS NXT, two light sensors (one for navigation and other to detect a lighted fuse) and an Ultrasonic detector (to adjust the torch arm height depending on the height of the fireworks fuse wire. It uses three motors – two for motion and and the third for the torch arm elvator.
Video Rating: 5 / 5

Well, I’m dabbling with the Netduino.  If you want to know where to buy one, or a bit about them, check out my prior post.

Today LED’s, tomorrow, the world!!!

Well, maybe servos.

Now, since the Netduino is compatible with many (or should I say… most) Arduino shields and kits… I also bought this kit to go with my Netduino.

 Arduino Compatible Electronic Brick Starter Kit

The shield plugs right into the Netduino, so now I have a large collection of “ready to go” sensors and inputs.

• Arduino/Seeeduino sensor Chassis V1.1
• LCD 16*2 Characters
• Rotary Angle Sensor (Analog)
• Big Button Switch
• Buzzer
• Tilt Switch
• Light Emitting Diode (2 of these)
• Light Sensor
• Temperature Sensor
• 2pin Plugable Terminal Module
• Fully Buckled 3 Wire Cable (5 of these)
• 10pin Colorful Ribbon Cable with 2*5 IDC Connector