1. Navigating the transition to NXT
ORTOP
NXT Delta Workshop 2006
Navigating the transition to NXT
“Opening doors to the worlds of science and technology for Oregon’s youth”
12/8/2018
ORTOP NXT Delta

2. Goals Audience: Experienced Coaches & Mentors
Provide Material That Is Immediately Usable With Your Team
Gain Mindstorms NXT Programming Experience
You should have already attended RCX workshops I, II, & III and/or coached a team in a 2005 tournament.
12/8/2018
ORTOP NXT Delta

3. Instructor Contacts Ken Cone kcone@hevanet.com 503-292-0920
Leroy Nuckles
Jim Ryan
Scott Stanko
Roger Swanson
Cathy Swider
12/8/2018
ORTOP NXT Delta

4. Agenda Introductions (5 min) Slide Review (20 min) Break into Teams
Add sensors to an NXT robot
Do NXTBasics 3 lab exercises (90 min)
Review References (10 min)
12/8/2018
ORTOP NXT Delta

5. Agenda Handouts for this workshop: ORTOP NXTDelta.ppt (this slide set)
NXTBasics2006.doc 3 lab exercises
WorkshopCD2006
version 3.1 includes NXT Delta workshop and MindstormsNXT Tutorial by Dale Yocum
INSciTE NXT Programming manual, from High Tech Kids
High Tech Kids, see references slide
12/8/2018
ORTOP NXT Delta

6. Our Mission
FLL is not just about building robots and competing in tournaments
Develop team member skills
technical
team building
research & presentation
Technical problem solving can be fun
The youngsters do the work
Introduce possibility of a technical career
12/8/2018
ORTOP NXT Delta

7. NXT Basics LEGO Parts Identification Technic Liftarm 2x4 L shape
Technic Liftarm 1x5, 1x7
Technic Liftarm 3x5 L shape
Technic Liftarm 1x9 Bent
Technic Pin Joiner Dual
Axles & Pins
Have kids inventory your NXT kit & get to know the parts
Important to have all team members become familiar with robot parts.
Build small sub assemblies, e.g. gear trains & grabbers
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ORTOP NXT Delta

8. NXT Basics
Note how NXT parts are all pinned together using Technic parts
There are no plates with bumps
Motors are strong enough for direct drive – turn a wheel on your robot to feel the gears
Motors have built in rotation sensors – programmed in degrees or rotations
Take a minute to examine the NXT parts and motors
12/8/2018
ORTOP NXT Delta

9. NXT Basics – Parts Pinned Together
Note use of pins and axles that hold the pieces together
Note direct drive, motor to wheels
12/8/2018
ORTOP NXT Delta

10. NXT Basics - Brick 3 Output ports on top USB port on top
4 Input ports on bottom
Enter button (orange)
Back button (black)
Left & Right cursor buttons (grey)
Screen shows program icons
Push the Enter button, what happens?
Take a minute to examine the NXT brick
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ORTOP NXT Delta

11. NXT Basics - Brick
Back
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ORTOP NXT Delta

12. NXT Basics - Brick
Firmware & programs stored in flash (like photos on a digital camera)
Default inputs:
touch = 1, light = 3, Distance = 4
Allowed: 2 touch, 2 light, 1 Distance
Default outputs:
Left motor = C, right motor = B
Allowed: 3 motors (rotation sensors built in)
Allowed: (3 - number of motors) rotation sensors
12/8/2018
ORTOP NXT Delta

13. NXT Basics - Brick 12/8/2018 ORTOP NXT Delta - 2006
The complete set of motors and sensors
FLL competition uses only touch and light sensors
12/8/2018
ORTOP NXT Delta

14. NXT Basics - Brick The NXT Screen Shows My Files after power on
Orange “Enter” button
“Back” button below Enter
Left & Right “Cursor” buttons
Take a minute now, press the enter key, then navigate through the files
Turn the NXT off by pressing Back several times until NXT asks “turn off”
Confirm with Enter
More of the NXT brick controls in the lab
Take a minute to turn your NXT on, off
12/8/2018
ORTOP NXT Delta

15. NXT Basics - Motor Forward is Clockwise on an NXT motor
Note holes for Axles and Cams
A Move block in the program controls both motors
The robot moves straight - motors will adjust speed as the robot moves
Recommend programming tests for straight and curved movements, single and multiple Move blocks
Motors can be part of the framework for the robot
Motors adjust speed to run straight, they have position and rate feedback
12/8/2018
ORTOP NXT Delta

16. NXT Basics - Sensors Light Sensor
Reads reflection from a built-in IR emitter - (the sensor responds to visible light and into the IR spectrum) (default mode)
Or, reads light intensity from surroundings with emitter turned off
A “follow the light” program would use the emitter off feature
A Calibration procedure is available for more precise light sensing
We will go through the calibration procedure in the lab.
Note the light sensor is IR sensitive, e.g. it responds to heat.
12/8/2018
ORTOP NXT Delta

17. NXT Basics - Sensors Default calibrate Program readings View White
1023
588
95%
57%
Green
22%
34%
Black
271 0%
26%
We will go through the calibration procedure in the lab.
Note the light sensor is IR sensitive, e.g. it responds to heat.
12/8/2018
ORTOP NXT Delta

18. NXT Basics - Sensors Touch sensor
Responds to being pressed, or released, or bumped (pressed then released)
Note axle slot for extending sensor capability
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ORTOP NXT Delta

19. NXT Basics – Programming
Open Mindstorms NXT, Close the Robo Center
Find “Start New Program” – type “move1” and “Go>>”.
Click the Move block (gears) – note white box
Move mouse so white box is in Start square
Click to drop the Move block in Start square
Click hour glass Wait block, slide mouse to right and click Touch sensor – move to position to right of Move block.
Use Esc key to undo a command
Use Delete key to delete a block
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ORTOP NXT Delta

20. NXT Basics – Lab Exercises
Lab Sections
Learning Objectives
New Information
Discussion
Lab Exercises
___Be sure to check off each lab step as you complete it
12/8/2018
ORTOP NXT Delta

21. NXT Basics – Lab Exercises
Introduce yourself to other team members
Begin with Lab1 exercise
Continue with Labs 2 & 3
90 min to complete the labs
Ask questions, chances are someone else has the same question
Have fun!
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ORTOP NXT Delta

22. NXT Basics – LAB Conclusions
Each team briefly explain a section of what you learned
Explaining to others helps learning
What advice would you have for a team starting out with NXT?
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ORTOP NXT Delta

23. NXT Basics Next Steps Test tracks NXT Delta slides NXTBasics labs
Mindstorms NXT tutorial (show tutorial)
INSciTE tutorial
Build and test some robots
Test tracks
Oval track with hill
Make up your own exercises – stress basics
12/8/2018
ORTOP NXT Delta

24. Programming Resources
Tutorials, Dale Yocum
On ORTOP CD or download from
takes time, go through in sections
NXT Tutorial is also available online:
Requires Adobe Macromedia Shockwave Player and high speed download connection
12/8/2018
ORTOP NXT Delta

25. Programming Resources
ROBOLAB 2.9 for NXT
ROBOLAB 2.9 is good where there are a mix of RCXs and NXTs 
Mindstorms NXT is auto-formatting (no wiring)
ORTOP will not teach ROBOLAB 2.9 at this time
12/8/2018
ORTOP NXT Delta

26. Information Resources Inscite www.hightechkids.org
Look for FLL programming 101 nxt g .pdf
This file is on the NXT workshop CD
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ORTOP NXT Delta

27. Review & Wrap-up Engineering is designing to constraints
Allow your teams the experience of developing a creative solution to solve a problem
12/8/2018
ORTOP NXT Delta

28. Review & Wrap-up Please give us your input
Let ORTOP know how we can improve the program
Thanks for volunteering, your effort makes learning possible!
Restore sensors to default location, put robots back in boxes
12/8/2018
ORTOP NXT Delta

29. Our Mailing Lists Totally voluntary, and you can opt out ortopvol
All volunteers
One way from ORTOP to our volunteers
We add you when you volunteer
ortopcm
Coaches and mentors
Communication among that group and with ORTOP
We add you when you complete a workshop
12/8/2018
ORTOP NXT Delta

30. Contact Us Website: www.ortop.org
Scott Stanko answers the questions
Phone: (Cathy Swider) or (Bruce Schafer)
12/8/2018
ORTOP NXT Delta