Automating testing of an iPad App

Not exactly NXT, but it's younger sibling the RCX (who remembers those?)

These guys needed to test their iPad app by taking 10,000 photos.  Either it's an *incredibly* boring job, or you build a robot to do it for you :)

Interfacing Android with LEGO NXT: Compass

Here is another example for using Android with your NXT

Here is another proof of concept to show Bluetooth communication between Android phone and NXT. It used the accelerometer and magnetic field sensors on the Android phone to calculate its compass heading, and used Bluetooth to send that information to the NXT. While this is not as stable as Brian Davis' Jenn Too, mostly due to magnetic interference from the NXT messing with the compass, it definitely shows the potential Android phones have acting as on-board sensors for autonomous robots.

NXT Claw Crane Game

As a pre-season project, FLL team BEBO made a Claw Crane Arcade Game using LEGO® MINDSTORMS NXT:

Pan and Tilt Time Lapse rig

A really nice way of pan and tilt setup for the camera.

First video shows how it works and the second video gives a example of what it collected.

LEGO MINDSTORMS Mac Software Available Online

Some Mac users may have problems installing the LEGO MINDSTORMS software for their NXT 2.0 robot from the CD included in the package, so we have the software available for download.
This article is from the mindstorms website
MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 DOWNLOAD (642MB)


The link above will allow you to download a copy of the software for your set. You can either use your computer’s burning software to make a copy of the .ISO – the software should automatically recognize and prompt to burn it to a CD – or follow the steps below this link to proceed.

If you are on a Windows based machine:

1. Download Microsoft Virtual CD software here: http://goo.gl/rX4t

2. Run the VCdControlTool.exe program.

3. Select the downloaded .ISO image that you want to mount, and then click Open.

4. In Select Mount Options, click Ok.

5. The Autorun window should pop up and you can install normally by following the on screen instructions.

If the Autorun does not appear, open the virtual CD drive in My Computer and double click the “setup.exe”


If you are on an Apple Macintosh based machine:

1. Double click the downloaded file.

2. Right/Alternate click the .ISO file select ‘open with’

3. Browse to Disk Utility to mount disk image.

4. Run the Snow Leopard script file and the software will install automatically.


INSTALLING THE LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT SOFTWARE
Before you install LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Software, please uninstall any previous version installed.

Administrator privileges are required when installing the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Software.

Microsoft Windows

To install the Software run "Autorun.exe" on the CD-ROM and follow the on-screen instructions.

When installed you may need to restart your system. When the system has been restarted, double click the MINDSTORMS NXT Software icon on your desktop. This will start the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Software.


Apple Macintosh

If you’re running on Leopard or Snow Leopard, please download the appropriate patch from:

http://mindstorms.lego.com/en-us/support/files/default.aspx#Patches

To install the Software double-click "Install" on the CD-ROM and follow the on-screen instructions.

When installed select Applications->LEGO Mindstorms NXT and click Mindstorms NXT. This will start the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Software.


The first time you start the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Software may take a couple of minutes. The start-up time will decrease the next time you launch the application.

LEGO MINDSTORMS featured in Megafactories

Megafactories, the TV channel of National Geographics in the United Kingdom, features a small footage on LEGO® MINDSTORMS that was filmed at LEGOWORLD 2010 in Zwolle:

Moonbots winners.

Hello,
The Moonbots Challenge has finished and here are the top three winners..
FIRST place: LegoAces
and their run:


SECOND place: Team Just Ducky
and their run:



THIRD place: Lunar Lords
and their run: