Author Topic: Lego mindstorms-what to do?  (Read 14063 times)

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Offline fb39ca4

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Lego mindstorms-what to do?
« on: February 20, 2011, 08:47:53 pm »
For a couple of years now, I have had a Lego mindstorms robotics set. However, the infrared transmitter for sending programs to the robot is broken, and I have Not been able to use it until now, when my friend gave me a transmitter he doesn't use anymore. Now that I can use it, could some one suggest to me a challengeing task I could get a robot to do?

Offline DJ Omnimaga

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Re: Lego mindstorms-what to do?
« Reply #1 on: February 20, 2011, 08:50:04 pm »
Programming a calculator game.

But seriously I don't have any clue. I unfortunately never had the chance to get a robot-type lego set back then, because my mom didn't want to spend money on batteries and stuff, and I don't know about new sets since I mostly played LEGO's around 1990-99 (Yay for Dark Knights and Blacktrons!)
« Last Edit: February 20, 2011, 08:50:30 pm by DJ_O »

Offline Builderboy

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Re: Lego mindstorms-what to do?
« Reply #2 on: February 20, 2011, 09:05:20 pm »
You are in luck :) I actually was *introduced* to the whole concept of programming by Lego Mindstorms.  Some good exercises when you are starting out is building a little car that moves forwards and then backs up and turns if it runs into something.

Offline thepenguin77

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Re: Lego mindstorms-what to do?
« Reply #3 on: February 20, 2011, 09:17:29 pm »
If you want a real challenge. (Depends on how good you are at it.) You could try to make a segway. I've seen it done so I know it's possible.
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Offline Builderboy

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Re: Lego mindstorms-what to do?
« Reply #4 on: February 20, 2011, 10:08:14 pm »
A line following segway :P

Offline jnesselr

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Re: Lego mindstorms-what to do?
« Reply #5 on: February 20, 2011, 10:09:55 pm »
Let's see, I'm assuming you are talking about those old RCX ones.  Personally, I have the NXT, but I would try and get it to talk to your calc over infrared.  Either that, or it's a 2 wire interface, I think (One is probably a safe bet to be ground) in which case, splice one of the cables, and talk to it via the link port.  That is assuming the RCX can talk via pull-up resistors, I'm not too sure about that part.

Offline Silver Shadow

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Re: Lego mindstorms-what to do?
« Reply #6 on: February 20, 2011, 10:23:34 pm »
Make a line-following robot. ;D
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Re: Lego mindstorms-what to do?
« Reply #7 on: February 20, 2011, 10:24:06 pm »
I had a course at school called "LEGO Blocks and Robotics" that used RCX sets. We were in teams of two (I was with my mom, somehow) and we had to make a bipedal walking robot. Of course, at first, the robot kept falling, but at the end it walked a good distance without falling and I had 100%. So, IMHO, that's a good challenge :)
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Offline Darl181

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Re: Lego mindstorms-what to do?
« Reply #8 on: February 20, 2011, 10:26:58 pm »
All I had was this cheap "micro scout" thing, with only an infrared sensor and a single output motor :P  So I wasn't able to do much with it...
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Offline fb39ca4

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Re: Lego mindstorms-what to do?
« Reply #9 on: February 20, 2011, 10:35:42 pm »
I actually have a micro scout too. I wonder if I could use the infrared link and make it a third motor. It would sure be bulky, though.

The Segway seems like a really good idea, except I don't know how I would get the robot to detect how much it is tilted.

Offline Darl181

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Re: Lego mindstorms-what to do?
« Reply #10 on: February 20, 2011, 10:39:24 pm »
I also have a spybotics (the purple one) but one of the wheel motors retired, so I haven't touched it in years :P
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Offline fb39ca4

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Re: Lego mindstorms-what to do?
« Reply #11 on: February 20, 2011, 11:24:33 pm »
Please don't even try to suggest something like this to me.
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Offline leafy

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Re: Lego mindstorms-what to do?
« Reply #12 on: February 20, 2011, 11:25:06 pm »
Didn't they make a lego robot a while back that could make more lego robots?
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Offline fb39ca4

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Re: Lego mindstorms-what to do?
« Reply #13 on: February 21, 2011, 11:13:49 am »
I've decided to try making a Segway robot. I've just built the actual robot, but I am waiting for my mom to finish using the computer so I can program it. Once it works, I will get a video up of it running. I may try to get the robot to turn, as well.

Offline Builderboy

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Re: Lego mindstorms-what to do?
« Reply #14 on: February 21, 2011, 01:00:35 pm »
All I have to say is good luck :) A segway might be one of the harder things you could choose to build and program, but I really hope you get it working :)