LEGO mindstorms NXT User Manual
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LEGO mindstorms NXT User Manual

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Summary of Contents for LEGO mindstorms NXT

  • Page 1 NXT User Guide...
  • Page 2 In addition, local support is provided by our trade partners. If you are interested in a competitive challenge, check our website to fi nd out more about the FIRST LEGO LEAGUE. Start here. This User Guide provides an overview of the components and features in the LEGO MINDSTORMS Education NXT materials.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Introduction Table of Contents Introduction Software Build. Program. Test........Installing The Software ......Technology Your First Program ........Overview ............Software User Interface ......Installing Batteries In The NXT ....The Robot Educator ........Connecting The NXT Technology ... Programming Palette ........

  • Page 4: Introduction

    NXT Building Guide found in Download your program to the NXT brick the Base Set #9797 and in the Robot with the wireless Bluetooth connection Educator, which is part of the LEGO ® or the USB cable. MINDSTORMS ®...

  • Page 5: Technology

    Technology Overview NXT Brick An intelligent, computer-controlled LEGO® brick, the NXT is the brain of the LEGO MINDSTORMS Education robot. ® Touch Sensors Enable the robot to respond to obstacles in the environment. Sound Sensor Enables the robot to respond to sound levels.

  • Page 6: Interactive Servo Motors

    Technology Overview Lamps & Converter Cables Add lamps and then program fl ashing lights, or use them to activate the light sensor, or just for fun! Three Lamps and three Converter cables are included in the Base Set. Interactive Servo Motors Ensure that robots move smoothly and precisely.

  • Page 7: Installing Batteries In The Nxt

    Technology Installing Batteries In The NXT Rechargeable battery The rechargeable battery fi ts into the bottom of the NXT. To install the rechargeable battery, move the plastic tab on the side with your thumb to open the back. The NXT comes with an extra cover that is used when 6 AA batteries are used.
  • Page 8 Technology Installing Batteries In The NXT Other battery types The NXT also operates using six AA/LR6 batteries. • Alkaline batteries are recommended. • Rechargeable AA/LR6-type batteries can be used; however, the power performance of the NXT may be reduced. Batteries low When the battery power is low, this icon fl...

  • Page 9: Connecting The Nxt Technology

    Technology Connecting the NXT Technology Connecting Motors To connect a Motor to the NXT, plug one end of a black wire to the Motor. Plug the other end into one of the output ports (A, B, C). Connecting sensors To connect a Sensor to the NXT, plug one end of a black wire into the Sensor.
  • Page 10 Education NXT Software. Connecting the NXT to a Macintosh with a USB cable Make sure the LEGO MINDSTORMS Education NXT Software is installed before connecting your NXT to your Macintosh. (See the installation instructions on page 45.) Turn on your NXT.

  • Page 11: About The Nxt Brick

    NXT Interface download programs from your computer to the NXT (or upload data from the robot to your computer). You can also use the The NXT brick is the brain of the LEGO MINDSTORMS ® ® wireless Bluetooth connection for uploading Education robot.
  • Page 12 Technology About The NXT Brick Running icon When the NXT is turned on, the running icon spins. If the running icon stops spinning, the NXT has frozen and you must reset it. (See page 63 for Troubleshooting steps). Battery level The battery icon displays the NXT power level.

  • Page 13: Specifications

    Technology About The NXT Brick 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. Technical specifi...

  • Page 14: Nxt Main Menu

    Technology NXT Main Menu My Files In the My Files [My Files] submenu you can store all the programs that you have made on the NXT or downloaded from your computer. There are three different subfolders: Software fi les [Software fi les] – NXT fi...
  • Page 15 Technology NXT Main Menu NXT Program You don’t need a computer to program a robot. Using the NXT Program [NXT Program] submenu, you can make many programs without your computer. Try this program to see how easy it is. Make the robot go back and forth when the Touch Sensor is pressed.
  • Page 16 Technology NXT Main Menu Select Touch [Touch] again. Now select Loop [Loop] to make the Now you can run the program. Simply program run again and again until you select Run [Run]. turn off the NXT. Try these programs as well.
  • Page 17 Technology NXT Main Menu Try Me Important Use the default port settings for the Motors, Lamps and Sensors as explained on pages 5-6. See pages 23-33 for specifi c examples using each of the Sensors and the Motor. The Try Me [Try Me] feature allows you to experiment with the Sensors and Motors using programs that are ready to run.
  • Page 18 Technology NXT Main Menu View In the View [View] submenu, you can do a quick test of your Sensors and Motors and see the current data for each. Connect Sensors or Motors to the NXT port(s). View [View] will help you select the right port or check the default settings.
  • Page 19 Technology NXT Main Menu Settings In the Settings [Settings] submenu, you can adjust the different settings of the NXT, such as Loudspeaker volume or Sleep [Sleep] mode. In this submenu, you can also delete the programs that you have stored in the NXT memory. Sleep [Sleep] mode: Change Volume: Delete all programs:...
  • Page 20 Technology NXT Main Menu Bluetooth - NXT main menu In the Bluetooth [Bluetooth] submenu, you can set a wireless connection between your NXT and other Bluetooth devices, such as other NXT units, mobile phones, and computers. You can use a wireless connection to download programs without using a USB cable.
  • Page 21 Technology NXT Main Menu My Files NXT Program [My Files] [NXT Program] Sound fi les Software fi les NXT fi les [Sound fi les] [Software fi les] [NXT fi les] Port 1: Touch Sensor [Touch Sensor] Port 2: Sound Sensor [Sound Sensor] Port 3: Light Sensor [Light Sensor] Port 4: Ultrasonic Sensor [Ultrasonic Sensor] Port B/C: L/R motors [Left/Right motors]...
  • Page 22 Technology NXT Main Menu View Bluetooth Settings Try Me [View] [Bluetooth] [Settings] [Try Me] Volume Sleep Delete fi les [Volume] [Sleep] [Delete fi les] Sound dB Sound dBA Refl ected light Ambient light [Sound dB] [Sound dBA] [Refl ected light] [Ambient light] Deleting all fi...

  • Page 23: Touch Sensor

    Technology Touch Sensor The Touch Sensor is a switch: it can be pressed or released. Pressed Released Bumped Suggestions for use You can add the Touch Sensor to an NXT model and then program the model behavior to change when the Touch Sensor is pressed or released.
  • Page 24 Technology Touch Sensor Try Me The Try Me [Try Me] feature (see page 17) includes several programs already prepared for experimenting with the NXT and a Touch Sensor. Using the programs available you can experiment with the following features. One Touch Sensor and the face on the display: Using the Touch Sensor you can activate behavior on the display face.

  • Page 25: Sound Sensor

    The Sound Sensor can measure sound pressure levels up to 90 dB – about the level of a lawnmower. Sound sensor readings on the LEGO ® MINDSTORMS ®...
  • Page 26 Technology Sound Sensor Try Me The Try Me [Try Me] feature (see page 17) includes several programs already prepared for experimenting with the NXT and a Sound Sensor. Using the programs available you can experiment with the following features. One Sound Sensor and the face on the display: Using the Sound Sensor you can make the mouth open and close on the display face.

  • Page 27: Light Sensor

    Technology Light Sensor The Light Sensor enables the robot to distinguish between light and darkness, to read the light intensity in a room, and to measure the light intensity on colored surfaces. This is what your eyes see. This is what your robot sees using the light sensor.
  • Page 28 Technology Light Sensor Viewing Ambient light Viewing ambient light turns off the fl ood light so that the sensor reads only the light around it.Connect the Light Sensor to the NXT. Select View in the NXT display. Select the ambient light icon. Select Test the Light Sensor’s ability to read the surrounding light by the port in which you have placed the measuring the light level in different places of the room.

  • Page 29: Ultrasonic Sensor

    Technology Ultrasonic Sensor The Ultrasonic Sensor enables the robot to see and recognize objects, avoid obstacles, measure distances, and detect movement. The Ultrasonic Sensor uses the same scientifi c principle as bats: it measures distance by calculating the time it takes for a sound wave to hit an object and come back –...
  • Page 30 Technology Ultrasonic Sensor Try Me The Try Me [Try Me] feature (see page 17) includes several programs already prepared for experimenting with the NXT and an Ultrasonic Sensor. Using the programs available you can experiment with the following features. One Ultrasonic Sensor and the face on the display: Using the Ultrasonic Sensor to measure distance from an object, you can make the display face become smaller or larger based on the distance from that...

  • Page 31: Interactive Servo Motor

    Technology Interactive Servo Motor The three Interactive Servo Motors provide the robot with the ability to move. Using the Move [Move] block automatically aligns their speed so that the robot moves smoothly. Built-in Rotation Sensor The Interactive Servo Motors all have a built-in Rotation Sensor.
  • Page 32 Technology Interactive Servo Motor Motor Core Hub with an axle hole for attaching Tachometer for a wheel Built-in Rotation Built-in gearing Sensor Try Me The Try Me [Try Me] feature (see page 17) includes several programs already prepared for experimenting with the NXT and the Motors.

  • Page 33: Lamps

    Technology Lamps The Lamps can be turned on and off, creating fl ashing patterns of light. They can also be used to activate the Light Sensor or to show that a motor is on or to indicate the state of a sensor. You can also use them to liven up your robot “eyes”...

  • Page 34: Using Bluetooth

    Technology Using Bluetooth ® Bluetooth is a communication technology that makes it Once the Bluetooth connection is set up, you can use it for possible to send and receive data without using wires. these features: Using the Bluetooth features, you can set up a wireless •...
  • Page 35 Technology Using Bluetooth Before you set up a wireless Bluetooth connection, make sure that your computer has Bluetooth capability. If your computer does not have Bluetooth built-in, you must use a Bluetooth USB dongle. Make sure that you use the right type of Bluetooth USB dongle.
  • Page 36 Technology Using Bluetooth Click Scan [Scan]. Your computer automatically searches for Bluetooth devices. After a short interval, a list of devices appears in the window on the computer screen. Select the device to which you want to establish the connection and click the Connect [Connect] button.
  • Page 37 Technology Using Bluetooth Enter the passkey on your NXT and confi rm the connection by pressing the Orange [Enter] button. If you have chosen the default passkey, just click the Orange [Enter] button. In the NXT window [NXT window], the status of your NXT has now changed from Available [Available] to Connected [Connected].
  • Page 38 Technology Using Bluetooth Click Scan [Scan]. The Bluetooth device window pops onto the screen. A list of devices appears in the Select Bluetooth Device window on the screen. Select the device to which you want to establish the connection and click the Select [Select] button.
  • Page 39 Technology Using Bluetooth The Pair with a Bluetooth Device window pops up. Select the NXT. Click Pair [Pair]. When you connect to a device for the fi rst time, a Passkey [Passkey] window pops up. Enter the passkey to use with this device [the default passkey is 1234] and click OK.
  • Page 40 Technology Using Bluetooth Bluetooth Submenu On NXT Bluetooth Select the Bluetooth submenu on the NXT display. Search [Search] Search for other Bluetooth devices. After you have chosen the Search [Search] icon, the NXT will automatically start to search for other Bluetooth devices to which it can connect. Connections [Connections] My Contacts [My Contacts] This list includes all the devices to which your NXT is...
  • Page 41 Technology Using Bluetooth Bluetooth and the NXT Window You can also view the connection status in the NXT window [NXT window] in the software. There you can change the name of your NXT, check the battery and memory levels, and delete programs on your NXT.
  • Page 42 Technology Using Bluetooth Connecting Your NXT to Another NXT Select the Bluetooth submenu on the Select the Search [Search] icon to Depending on how many are detected NXT display. search for other Bluetooth devices. in the area, the Bluetooth devices will Your NXT automatically searches for appear in a list on the NXT display after Bluetooth devices in a range of 0-30...
  • Page 43 NXT display and Select the program you want to send. Your NXT then sends the fi le. Connecting your NXT to a mobile phone If you have a mobile phone with Bluetooth capability, you can use it with LEGO ® MINDSTORMS ®...

  • Page 44: Software

    The software has an intuitive drag anddrop interface and graphical programming environment that makes it easyenough for a beginner yet equally powerful for an expert. LEGO MINDSTORMS Education NXT software is an optimized version of theprofessional NI LabVIEW graphical programming software used by...
  • Page 45 Open the “LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT” CD-ROM and double- click Install. Select your preferred language. Follow the on-screen instructions. When the installation procedure is complete, click Finish. You are now ready to use the LEGO MINDSTORMS Education NXT Software and create programs to control robots!

  • Page 46: Your First Program

    Software Your First Program This simple program will make the NXT play a sound fi le. It will help you understand how to connect your computer to the NXT. Start the software on your PC or Macintosh by double-clicking the program icon. Type in the name of your fi...
  • Page 47 Software Your First Program Drag a Sound [Sound] block and drop it to the right of the Starting point in the work area. Your program is now ready to download and run. Make sure you turn on your NXT and connect the USB cable to both your computer and the NXT (see page 9, Connecting the NXT Technology).

  • Page 48: Software User Interface

    Software Software User Interface A quick overview Robot Educator 2. My Portal 3. Tool bar 4. Work area 5. Little Help window 6. Work area map Programming palette 8. Confi guration panel 9. Controller 10. The NXT window...
  • Page 49 Software Software User Interface Robot Educator Here you can fi nd building and programming instructions using the Robot Educator model. My Portal Here you can access www.MINDSTORMSeducation.com tools, downloads, and information. The tool bar The tool bar includes the most frequently used commands from the menu bar in an easy-to-reach location.

  • Page 50: The Robot Educator

    Software Robot Educator The Robot Educator is a series of tutorials that shows how to program a two-Motor robot using the main features of the LEGO ® MINDSTORMS ® Education NXT Software. Click to see a list of challenge examples for the palette.
  • Page 51 Software Robot Educator Follow the building instructions to build the Robot Educator model. Over in the workspace, drag and drop the blocks to match the program shown in the Programming Guide. Download the sample program to your robot and see how the robot responds! In the Common palette are many program examples using the seven Common blocks.

  • Page 52: The Robot Educator

    To see a list of examples for specifi c NXT Technology, click an item under Select. Go to My Portal to fi nd useful information and updates related to the LEGO ® MINDSTORMS ®...

  • Page 53: Programming Palette

    Software Programming Palette The programming palettes contain all of the programming blocks that you need to create programs. Each programming block includes instructions the NXT can interpret. You can combine the blocks to create a program. When you are done creating a program, you download it to the NXT.
  • Page 54 Software Programming Palette Common Palette To simplify its use, the programming palette has been divided into three different palette groupings: the Common palette, the Complete palette and the Custom palette (containing blocks that you create or download from the web). The Common palette is recommended as a starting point.
  • Page 55 Software Programming Palette Complete Palette Common blocks The Common blocks are the same blocks available in the Common palette. Action blocks The Action blocks allow you to control specifi c types of behavior related to various output devices: the Interactive Servo Motor, NXT Sounds, NXT Display, Bluetooth (Send), Motors* and Lamps* Sensor blocks...
  • Page 56 Software Programming Palette Complete Palette Data blocks Set up Boolean logic, random conditions, ranges and threshold for sensors and logical comparisons using these blocks. Advanced Use these blocks to add text, convert data to text, control the sleep function of the NXT, save fi les on the NXT, calibrate sensors, and reset motors.

  • Page 57: The Confi Guration Panel

    Software The Configuration Panel Each programming block has a confi guration panel in which you can adjust the settings of the selected block. When a block is selected in the work area, its confi guration panel becomes visible and active at the bottom of the screen. By changing the parameters on each confi...

  • Page 58: Parts List For Base Set #9797

    ® LEGO Bricks Parts List For Base Set #9797 The LEGO ® MINDSTORMS ® Education NXT set #9797 is the main set for building NXT robots. Here is a list of the building elements included in the set. 4119589 448521...
  • Page 59 ® LEGO Bricks Parts List For Base Set #9797 4211445 4285634 4210751 Plate, 1X4, grey Gear, 40-tooth, grey Beam, 3-module, dark grey 4211444 4211440 4210686 Plate with holes, 2X4, grey Studded Beam, 1X2, grey Beam, 5-module, dark grey 4211542 4211441...
  • Page 60 ® LEGO Bricks Parts List For Base Set #9797 74880 4263624 Axle, 5½-module, dark grey Lamp, 1X2, white 4142865 Axle, 2-module, red 4211815 Axle, 3-module, grey 4297008 4296825 Interactive Servo Motor, NXT 4211639 Axle, 5-module, grey 370526 Axle, 4-module, black...

  • Page 61: Useful Information

    Useful Information Download to Multiple NXTs This function allows you to download one or more programs to multiple NXTs. This is especially useful if you need to load a number of NXTs with the same program(s) for a competition or classroom assignment. Before using this function, make sure that all of the programs you would like to download are open in the software.
  • Page 62 Useful Information Download to Multiple NXTs Note: If you do not see an NXT on the list, close the Download to Multiple NXTs window and open the NXT window. Make sure that all the NXTs have been confi gured in this window before opening the Download to Multiple NXTs window.

  • Page 63: Troubleshooting

    Follow these steps to reset the NXT: Make sure that the NXT is turned on. 2. Press the reset button that is located on the back of your NXT in the LEGO ® Technic hole in the upper left corner.
  • Page 64 Useful Information Troubleshooting Managing NXT Memory You can download other fi les to the NXT until the memory is full. When the memory is full, you can select programs to delete in order to make space. Clicking Delete All removes only your programs, not your system fi...
  • Page 65 Raccorder l’équipement sur une sortie appatenant à un circuit différent de celui auquel le récepteur est connecté. Consulter le revendeur ou un techicien radio-télévision expérimenté pour obtenir de l’aide. The LEGO Group hereby declares that the LEGO MINDSTORMS Education Base Set ®...
  • Page 66 BLUETOOTH is a trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and licensed to the LEGO Group. LEGO, the LEGO logo and MINDSTORMS are trademarks of the LEGO Group. ©2006 The LEGO Group. Other product and company names listed are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies...

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