The Wifi Experiment is now closed. Check out the video if you missed it. Thanks for participating!
Segway Driver Update: Support for Microinfinity Cruizcore 
MinuteBot Base – The Technic Baseplate 
Tutorial: NXT Segway with NXT-G 
First Tech Challenge – Dutch Finals 
Tutorial: Manty 
Command My Robot
I blogged about a new WiFi sensor earlier. So what do you do with a Wifi sensor? The cool thing about the internet is that you can involve anyone with a computer that has internet access. So that’s where you come in. You can control my robot. From your the comfort of your chair, whether you’re in Alaska, Madagascar or cruising the ISS.
Check it out here. Credits for the original idea go to Xander Soldaat, who made a similar set up with his NXT.
The controls are very straight forward. Keep in mind, though, that there’s some lag between your control and the response you see. Also, if a lot of people try to control Alpha Rex at the same time, only one person is lucky to see his commands being obeyed. Just be patient. There’s a field for a text message that will appear on the NXT screen.
It’s hard to see from the webcam, but I will occasionally read what’s being said if I’m around. I’d love to see where you’re from, so perhaps just put your country in the text field.
This will run for a limited time only, so try now or never…
Wifi for NXT with Humarobotics WifiBlock
WifiBlock by HumaRobotics on the Anyway!
Robotic Recycling Center
Students from Crabapple Crossing elementary school have used the Snatcher for their “Robotic Recycling Center”. They’ve added a color sensor to be able to track lines, too. It’s always nice to see adaptions from the standard design to add more functionality. Well done kids!
If you’ve done something special with the Snatcher, let me know in the comments…
Printer à la Evil Danny
This is what I like about the Mindstorms community. It’s also why I publish building instructions for my robots. Beginning users will enjoy the printer as an advanced project, but advanced users like Daniele Benedettelli, take the existing design to the next level. Danny wrote a Java program to enable the printer to draw not just straight lines, but also curves and even a vectorized picture! Check it out below.
But what it really tells me… I need a more evil looking logo for my website! 
Segway Driver Update: Support for Microinfinity Cruizcore
Microinfinity Cruizcore Gyroscope
I’ve also made some changes to the balancing robot driver for all sensors:
- Changed how sensors are set up in sample programs. This means your custom made programs change slightly too. Check the updated tutorial
- Further clean up of driver code for easier customizing
- Added support for gearing down between NXT motors and wheels
- PID constants are now the same, regardless of which gyro sensor you use
MinuteBot Base – The Technic Baseplate
MinuteBot - A Technic baseplate
If you’ve ever wondered why there isn’t a baseplate for Technic structures, you’re not alone. They’re useful especially for stationary robots, including but not limited to brick sorters or scientific set ups. Two Danes (of course) came up with the idea to design and manufacture such Technic Baseplate. Their project, Minute Bot Base, is currently running on Kickstarter to raise funding.
Here’s how kickstarter funding works
Kickstarter is a way for entrepreneurs to raise initial funding for their business. For this particular project, the designers need to have a specialized plastic mould specially manufactured for them — which is very expensive. On the other hand, once up and running, the production cost per plate is relatively low. This means that if they know upfront that enough baseplates will be sold, the price per product can be kept low. So, if enough people pre-order the product, production can start.
You pre-order the baseplate by making a pledge to the project. This means you support the business, allowing them to purchase the expensive mold and start making baseplates. In return for your support, you get one of the produced baseplates. Note that you only pay once production really starts, so there is no risk for you as the buyer. If funding doesn’t succeed, the project fails, but no money changes hands.
In short — To get one of those base plates, pledge (pre-order) to the project here, and you only pay if production starts (and you get the product).
Now, let’s have a look at the spec’s
HispaBrick Magazine 13 is out
The thirteenth issue of HispaBrick Magazine is out! HispaBrick (In English and Spanish) is a fan-made LEGO magazine with articles on all things LEGO. It frequently features MINDSTORMS and TECHNIC related topics and it’s no different this time.
You’ll find coverage of several MINDSTORMS events, including the Mobile World Congress (So many Snatcher‘s!), and an interview with the designer of FLL tables. You’ll also find and article about building sturdy structures with Technic and pneumatic sequencing.
View the magazine below (free), or download the english PDF (free) here or here.
If you can’t fly, you jump
Flying is fun, but if you can’t fly, you jump. The NXT is a bit on the heavy side, though. If you know of a jumping NXT bot, share in the comments! Find more info here, and and the Boston Dynamics webpage.
NXT2WIFI Crowd funding project
Sample from the sensor data sheet
One of my readers told me about a new WiFi NXT sensor crowd funding project by Daniele Benedettelli. Below you can see a video, but here’s what it does in short:
“NXT2WIFI is a miniature web server module featuring a fully integrated 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi interface, giving your LEGO® MINDSTORMS® creations access to any Wi-Fi network. You can use the NXT2WIFI adapter to control everything on your robot from your iOS device (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch), or Android device! You can make swarm of mobile robots sharing data in a wireless network. You can give your robot social abilities, by enabling it to post on Twitter, or sharing data on ThingSpeak.
NXT2WIFI provides your NXT robot with a powerful Internet engine to a browser-based interface over a LAN, Internet or GPRS network, in a small footprint, at low power and low cost. Real time data can be both displayed and/or updated from a standard web browser, on computers, netbooks, Androidpowered smartphones and tablets, Apple iOS devices, because the module supports dynamic web pages.”
Read more about the sensor here, and read a nice document with an overview of what you can use the sensor for. If you want to help this project become reality (and get a cheaper sensor), support the project.
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