Friday 2 May 2008

The latest NXTLOG competition has just been released. It requires 2 NXTs for all entries whether the 2nd NXT comes as a joystick or just as extra processing space.

"NXT NXT...? Are you seeing double? Yes! We are presenting a doubly fun building challenge where you create a robot that uses 2 NXT bricks! We are also giving you double the amount of time to enter this challenge (projects must be entered by June 30, 2008).The 2 NXT's can be onboard the robot or the 2 NXT's can be separate (for example if 1 NXT is used as a remote controller for the 2nd NXT). The NXT's must communicate with each other. Don't have 2 NXT's? Why not enter the challenge with a friend!There's no limit on amount of LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT sensors, motors, HiTechnic sensors, or Bluetooth communication you can use on your MINDSTORMS NXT NXT Robot."

As you can see; it is a bit unfair in my opinion for those with no NXTing friends and only one robot. But I suppose it will bring out some super huge robots that will have larger capabilities and more complex functions. Also there is twice as long to build it.

Please comment on your opinion,

RjbsNXT

This is my entry for the Earth Day Building Challenge.

It consists of 1 NXT to control it, 2 motors to drive the robot around the garden and 3 sensors for robot guidance.

The name suggests what it says, pollinates plants. I chose this because it is shaping the landscape with colourful flowers, taking the place of dying out bees and helping convert CO2 into oxygen by reproducing plants.

Okay, now for how it works. It works by searching for a flower to pollinate with the UltraSonic sensor.
Then the robot turns back 5 degrees to align with the symmetry of the robot.
The program then directs the robot towards and over the flower to pollinate. The pollen then sticks to the pegs on the underside of the robot whatever size of flower the robot works from about 3cm to 10cm.
When the robot drives over the next flower, it will be pollinated and more pollen will be picked up.

The Program
1• Clap start
2• Spin to find a flower
3• Drive towards flower / Drive forward
4• Collect pollen
5• Repeat 2, 3 and 4 until...
6• Clap finish

Details
Time to build: 1 day.
Time to design: ≈ 2 weeks
Lego pieces used: ≈ 150 from my count.

By RjbsNXT

There is an extra motor on the front of the tribot for accessories, but what accessories are there? Well other than the claw the possibilities are endless... here we go again with the fact that you can build LEGO as you wish. But its true...almost.



So here are some ideas for the tribot.

  • A saw
  • A gatling gun
  • A stair climbing attachment
  • Some stabilisers
  • A basket with openable front
  • A sound seeker (with the sound sensor)
  • Or a moveable US sensor.

If you do try any of these please let me know and post some pictures,

RjbsNXT