Lego mindstorms NXT-G Programming Guide

I read the first two chapters of Lego mindstorms NXT-G Programming Guide.
This guide book tells me how the robots work, and more advanced programming.

In first two chapters, it was about what makes a robot a robot, and not a toaster.
Why is program structure important?
What are the steps the book suggest for you to follow if you are going to write a program?

First of all, a robot is not a toaster, because a robot is able to S.P.A (Sense, Plan, Action)
A robot is able to move and complete a task by itself, and without human's hand.
Which is significant difference with a toaster.

However, a robot most needs a program in order to move and do task. Programming is really important for the robot, or the robot will not know what to do.
The structure of the programming also has to be detailed, clean, and organized, then finally the robot will move perfectly.

Last of all, the book tells readers a suggestion to follow, when we are writing a program.

1. Write a pseudo code
   
2. Transfer it to the NXT-G program

Full Speed Ahead

On Wednesday, January 21st, 2009, it was my first time to program robot, and complete task by taskbot.

Before, doing programming, my task was to build a taskbot. When I am making a taskbot, by using the NXT-G software, I was very careful about stableness. This taskbot contains NXT, therefore, NXT should not fall during a task, and be very stable on the taskbot. Of course, there was an instructions for how to build taskbot, I really paid closed attention to instructions, and try not to do anything wrong. If I made taskbot, which has a problem, then I will not be able to complete a task, and also break some parts.

After, I build perfect taskbot, I started to the first mission 'Full Speed Ahead'. In this mission, I learned how to program a robot, to move certain action. The programming was very easy for me, as there was an instruction, and also programmer was easily made.

During a programmming, I was very careful about the line, functions for each icon. I needed to distinguish about start icon, wait icon, and stop icon. I first made left motor (C port) to start, and then made right motor (B port) to start. After that, I put wait icon, of wait for tire to roll 720 degrees. Finally, I put stop icon for each left and right motor.

As I expected, during a completing a mission, my taskbot went forward for just 720 degree rotations and stopped.

Close attention: Programming

I used LEGO Robots Programming system to program my taskbot.
This programmer is very easy, and everybody can use easily.

This programmer uses icons, to program a task. There are many types of icons (for example, move, wait, stop), and I choose what I want. I drag my favorable icon to a programming sheet. The icons on the programming sheet are connected by chain, and when chain gets broken, it will mean that the mission will stop, where the chain is broken. The robot will do what the icon orders from left icon to right icon. Finally, manage functions for each icon (ex. forward, backward, rotates for 720 degrees, go for 20 sec), and download to a robot by connecting a cable.
It is really easy, and quickly done.

Chapter 1: Understanding LEGO Geometry

What are the advantages and techniques for using the TECHNIC construction instead of traditional bricks?

From Chapter 1 "Understanding LEGO Geometry" I learned that, LEGOs I used to play has huge gap between LEGO TECHNIC. When I was about 6 or 7 years old, I used to play with LEGO a lot of time. I built castles, cars, and all other stuffs. However, this LEGO TECHNIC is very different to my LEGO.

Even though, all LEGOs require creativity, this LEGO TECHNIC offers you more advanced and thougutful creativity. LEGO TECHNIC lets you build more funtional, and complex LEGO, for example, the brick will have unique beams and holes, which allows us (builder) to build in less pieces and less weights. Moreover, because of unique bricks, we can make unbelieval shape, which is almost impossible for original LEGO to build. LEGO TECHNIC can make any angles and shapes, therefore, it requires more creativity, and also lets you build your complexed creativity.

In conclusion, I believe there are more advantages and techniques for using the TECHNIC constructions thant the traditional bricks. It is because, there are more unique and functional bricks in the LEGO TECHNIC. It will make impossible to possible, by allowing bulider to build more complexed, stronger, and functional bricks.

What defines a robot?

I think a robot is a machine (a chunk of technology), which is able to operate a mission, commanded by human, and operate by using S.P.A

S.P.A stands for:
S ense
P lan
A ct

A robot is able to perfome like a human, because of the S.P.A
A robot, first takes information about surroundings, and about a mission. Secondly, a robot plans how to complete a mission, with a information, taken before. Lastly, it will act as it planed, and complete it's misison.

A robot also has an ability to complete a different tasks and at different atmosphere. It will sense differently, and takes a different information. Moreover, because of the different information, it will plan a different plan, and finally, act differently.


For example, on Thursaday's class (on January 15th, 2009), I made a robot, consists of NXT, 4 wheels, and sound sensor. NXT is a programmer, and it will plan a mission, and makes wheels to move. NXT will take a information from sound sensor, act an action, which was commanded by me. When I made it, this robot moved faster, when there was a sound (which means that sensored sound).

My robot, first took a information by sound sensor. Then when the sensor sensored a sound, the information went to NXT. Secondly, NXT started to plan an operation, which was operated by me to move faster, when there was sound. Therefore, lastly, the NXT made a wheel to roll faster, as it planed, and completed a mission.