1. Xander Soldaat BotBench.com

2. Topics  What is Mindstorms?  How can you build with it?  What can you build with it?  Programming the NXT  What’s inside the brick?  Sensing the world

3. Topics  My activities  Why do I do it?  Books  Communities  Questions

4. What is Mindstorms?

5. How can you build with it? NXT brick Motors Sensors Lego (Technic) parts Parts in other Technic sets Parts available online through webshops

6. What can you build with it?

8. LEGOWORLD2009LEGOWORLD2009

9. LEGOWORLD2010LEGOWORLD2010

10. LEGOWORLD2011LEGOWORLD2011

11. Programming the NXT  NXT-G Graphical programming using blocks and lines Comes with the set when you buy it Easy to get started with it Very suitable for children

12. Programming the NXT  ROBOTC C-like environment 100x faster than NXT-G Debugger More difficult to learn Not free

13. Programming the NXT  NXC/BrixCC C-like programming language/IDE Can use standard LEGO firmware or enhanced firmware Free (MPL)  Lejos Java on your brick! Very complete API, really great classes Free (MPL)

14. What’s inside the brick? 1. Bluetooth module 2. AT91SAM7s256 @ 48 MHz 3. Atmega8 @ 8MHz 3 x Motor ports 4 x Sensor ports 1 x USB

15. Sensing the world

16.  Sense: colour, light, sound, pressure flex, touch, shapes, distance rotation, acceleration, temperature position, altitude, velocity  Control: servos, motors, lights, relays  Communicate: USB, XBee, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RS485, IR

17. Sensing the world  LEGO: <10 sensors  Mindsensors: > 20 sensors  HiTechnic: >15 sensors  Dexter Industries: 8 sensors  MicroInfinity, Codatex, Vernier, POB

18. My activities  Software tester for Robotics Academy (Carnegie Mellon University)  Part of the LEGO MCP4  Hardware tester for all major sensor companies.  Develop and maintain a ROBOTC driver suite, 50+ devices supported, 4500+ downloads

19. My activities  Co-owner Mindboards community  Maintainer of BotBench.com (300-500 visitors/day)  Contributor on official ROBOTC site  Give workshops and presentations (like this one)  Attend big LEGO events (LEGO World)

20. Why do I do it?  It’s nice to help people  Keeps you mentally fit  Recognition within the Mindstorms community  “Thank you” emails from FTC teams, professors, teachers and users.  Most of all, because it’s FUN!

21. Books  Countless books available For beginners For advanced programmers  Many different core subjects Building Programming Electronics; “hacking” Themed books

22. Some examples Just a few of the 65 results in Amazon.com

23. Communities  Massive online LEGO communities Lego User Groups (LUGs) (Belug, LowLug)  Mindstorms communities and blogs NXT Step Mindboards BotBench.com Many other personal websites

24. Additional URLs  HiTechnic: hitechnic.comhitechnic.com  Mindsensors: mindsensors.commindsensors.com  Dexter Industries: dexterindustries.comdexterindustries.com  ROBOTC: robotc.netrobotc.net  NXC: bricxcc.sourceforge.netbricxcc.sourceforge.net  Lejos: lejos.sourceforge.netlejos.sourceforge.net

25. Additional URLs  Laurens Valk’s websites: laurensvalk.com (personal) discovery.laurensvalk.com (book site) laurensvalk.com discovery.laurensvalk.com  Mindboards: sourceforge.net/apps/phpbb/mindboards sourceforge.net/apps/phpbb/mindboards  The NXT Step: thenxtstep.blogspot.comthenxtstep.blogspot.com  Mindstorms site: mindstorms.lego.commindstorms.lego.com  De Bouwsteen: debouwsteen.eudebouwsteen.eu  LowLug: lowlug.nllowlug.nl

26. Questions? http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/251311

27. Xander Soldaat BotBench.com