Saturday, February 28, 2009

Other People - Ogre, The Black NXT Tank

Well, today I have a special treat. You may or may not have seen the video over on The NXT Step, but Brian Davis released Ogre, a robot designed around the limited edition Black NXT Brick. It is one of the coolest robot's I've seen in a really long time. See for yourself:



Pretty cool, huh?

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Clgfive & Bryce - New Peices Ordered

Our FLL team has just ordered a few new Lego things. We have ordered:
1 Lego Mindstorms NXT Education Version
2 Extra Motors
Some More Pins (Not sure how many)
1 New Lego Software 2.0 (Newest Version)

We should be better prepared for next year, hope all this helps.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Clgfive & Bryce - The Battle Is Here!

Here's the video of our vicious battle. Sorry for the delay, apparently my message failed to get through on email, and I just got home. Sorry! Stay tuned for more battles!

Clgfive & Bryce - Sorry...

I apologize for the delay, for whatever reason Bryce (who has the video) hasn't posted it yet. Hopefully it will still be released tonight.

Clgfive & Bryce - Battle Tonight!

Just a reminder that our battle will be released tonight at 6:00 EST. We had a load of fun making it and can't wait to have more challenges. Feel free to post a comment displaying your prediction of the winner (obviously we already know). Remember, we have open comments now!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Bryce - Dog Bone Taker

I have decided to make a dog bone taker. Just for laughs. It should be up in..maybe a few days to a week. There's the video of it (that someone else made).

Clgfive - My Video Contest Ideas

Hey everyone! There's been a slight change in plan and I have decided that I am going to go right to the video contest project. Now what I need is some ideas. I started working on one project, but with the supplies I had the gearing was nearly impossbile, and It could get enough torque to run. So I need you guys to help me come up with an idea! Post your idea as a comment to this post if you want a say in what I do! Remember that I have pneumatics, and the link to the contest rules can be found here.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Tutorial - NXT VS RCX Motors

Hey Guys,
I finally got the video edited and uploaded, and here it is, its a demonstration of the speeds, and strength of the NXT and RCX motors.

Bryce - NXT Remote Demonstration

Hey Guys,
I've been waiting to test this for a while, now that I have Bluetooth, I can. I made a video of my NXT using the Remote Control. This program is easy to use!
P.S. A video of NXT VS RCX motors coming soon...hopefully tonight.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Clgfive - CrossBot Final

Alright, everybody. It is official: I am done with the CrossBot. I completed posting the Project Archives page which can be found here. I will start a new project this week, and hopefully it will be quick so I can start my Video Challenge Project!

Bryce - Bluetooth Dongle

Hey Guys,
Sorry for not posting, I've been away for a while, but upon my arrival back at home, I found the Bluetooth Dongle that I had ordered was here. After playing around with it for a while, I got it to work with the NXT remote control (posted earlier by Clgfive). For 3 dollars, it works great, I also took some pictures and will post them. I'll make a video demonstrating the remote control (hopefully today). (You can buy it Here or Here).




Clgfive - I Am Entering the Video Contest!

Hey everyone! Just wanted to let you know that I am going to enter the NXT Log Video Challenge! I haven't decided what I will build yet, but I'd love it if you guys gave me some ideas! Just post a comment to this video to be heard!

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Clgfive - The CrossBot

It is finally here! My CrossBot is complete, just stay tuned for building instructions and programs this week!

Other - Search Mindstorms!

Hey everybody! I have added a custom Google search box to the sidebar which uses the keywords of things that have to do with LEGO Mindstorms. Want some new Mindstorms stuff but can't find a specific? Search something and check out the advertisements on the right of your results. Want some LEGO or robotics stuff? Click around on the advertisements on the sidebar!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Bryce - Forklift Updates

Hey,
I've been working on my forklift, and have made some updates, and made a new demonstration.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Other People - NXT to RCX Communications

Here is a video of some NXT to RCX and vice-versa communications. It really should be a lot easier than this (hint, post a comment if you know how to make it easier).

News - Custom NXT Cables

Hey Guys,
Do you find that you have a lot of time on your hands? Well, then this project is just right for you, making your own cables of custom length! It may take a while, but it's well worth it, because now, you don't have cables getting in the way of your building. Here are some instructions.
PHILO Method
More Details Here

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Other People - Self Parking Car

EDIT- I now have information that there are directions for this comercially available in one of the Mindstorms books. Credit for the design should not go to the maker of this video.

Sorry I haven't posted much the past few days, been real busy. As I said in my last post, some final CrossBot stuff should come out on Sunday, and I will wrap it up with the finished Project Archives page some time next week. Anyway, after some YouTube searching I came across this: The Self Parking Car (SPC for short). I guess by using the Ultrasonic sensor it can detect its limits and squeeze its self in. This would be a helpful program for a lot of my four-wheelers!

Monday, February 16, 2009

Bryce - Forklift

Hey Guys,
It's finaly here! My NXT Forklift has been completed, and after many modifications, here it is.

Bryce - Bluetooth Dongle

Hey Guys,
I have just purchased a Bluetooth USB Dongle, It should make working with the robots easier, and faster. I will inform you and show you pictures when it gets here (about a week or so). My Forklift is complete! I am now in the programing proccess and will put up a video in a few hours (hopefully).

Clgfive - CrossBot Update

I apologize for this, but, for those of you waiting for videos and what not, my CrossBot programming has been having some problems downloading. So, do to commitments, I won't be able to work on it again until around saturday/sunday/monday. But I will continue posting until then you just won't be getting and CrossBot updates or anything.

Bryce - Forklift

Hey Guys,
Sorry for not posting, I've been working on a Mindstorms Forklift. It should hopefully be ready for today.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Bryce - Smooth Follow

Finally got the video to upload to Youtube, here it is.

Bryce - Many Demonstrations

Hey Guys,
I've been working hard, and I've just finished editing a few videos. (Sorry no NXT fight yet). I have modded (cut) some NXT Pieces, made a video of the Smoothe Follow program and line follower robot (Program and building instructions can be found Here), and I have broadcasted my NXT base, which I use in most of my creations. (Sorry, Smooth follow coming soon, I'm having trouble uploading it)



Friday, February 13, 2009

Clgfive - CrossBot v1

Today I finished the CrossBot v1, which transports and fires the crossbow you have seen in past posts. Probably tomorrow I will have the Search/Destroy program and NXT Remote settings as well as video of the robot! Here are some pictures I took (sorry they don't look to0 good, I had little time to edit them):

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Bryce - Transporter Bot

A quick video of my latest build, the transporter bot. It moves things around for you. Fairly easy to make. Enjoy.
P.S. Stay tuned for our NXT battle, we filmed it today, and are currently in the editing process.

Clgfive - Goodbye, SegCar GS

After looking at the polls and my gut feeling, I have decided to disassemble my SegCar GS, for now that is. I wrote an LDD file and notes for it, which you can find here, though, so at some point I can come back to it. But, for now, you can be expecting to see my Cross Bow robot fairly soon!


Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Other People - Tank

Hey Guys,
Check out this tank! It stabs, shoots, and cuts. Imagine what you could do with this thing!

Clgfive - SegCar GS...

Hey everyone! The SegCar GS, the project I had such high hopes for, has problems. I just can't get the programming right, and with my current knowledge of only NXT-G, it has been really hard. So recently my robot has been gathering dust, and I don't want that. I feel like I want to take it apart and come back to it another time, but I just don't know. So I am going to let you guys help. Post your opinion in the survey on the sidebar by Saturday at 11:00 AM EST to be heard!

Clgfive - CrossBow With Pneumatics

A few days ago I posted some pictures of my crossbow hooked up to all the pneumatics. Here is a video:

Other - Battle

Hey everyone. Sorry about the confusion, but the battle discussed in the last post will actually be posted on Wendsday, February 25 at 6:00 PM EST (Eastern Time). Be ready- we began the building today and it should turn out really well!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Other - Battle Coming Soon

Hey,
Clgfive and I have decided to have a battle between our 2 robots. We are starting the building process tonight, and will develop a wide array of weapons in the next few days. The video will be coming Tuesday- stay tuned!

Other People - iPhone Controlled NXT

Hey Guys,
I've seen a lot of things while working with the NXT Mindstorms. I've seen a robot solve a Rubik's Cube, and I've see a robot sort different colored Lego's then put them away. But I've never seen anything like this. This is a remote controlled NXT...from an iPhone! Apparently, some guys figured out how to use safari, and the light sensor on the NXT, to make the two communicate. Check out this video!!

News - NXT Log Video Challenge

Recently a new NXT Log challenge was announced- The Video Challenge! It seams to ask you to build a robot that stars in a sort of "show". Then you film it and post it with a certain tag. Sounds fun! Here is the intro to what LEGO posted:

Lights, camera, action! We want you to make your LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT robot the star of the show. This NXTLOG contest challenges you to direct the most creative and innovative video that shows off your NXT creation!
Post a comment about any robots you may enter into the competition!

Monday, February 9, 2009

Bryce - Tread Bot

Hey Guys,
I've recently been working with the Treads that can be purchased from Lego Education. These can go over almost anything, and have a lot of strength. Here I show them going over rubber wheels. Enjoy.

Other - Welcome!

For anybody who found this blog through The NXT Step, welcome! We are a regularly updated blog (about a post or two a day) which started last month. I am Clgfive and my co-author is Bryce. We blog about FLL, other peoples creations, our creations, NXT news, and more! You can look to the sidebar for any information you may need, and stay tuned for lots of great posts! Oh yeah, and check out our old posts, too. They are just as great! (You may notice that before the title of this post it says other. This is because of a sorting system we have. See the sidebar for more.)

P.S. Feel free to follow our blog! Just hit the button on the sidebar!

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Clgfive - My 2008-2009 FLL Robot

For any one who is interested, here is a picture of my Climate Connections robot. Sorry it is so blurry, I never thought to take a picture of it before I took it apart, so this is zoomed in from a picture taken of me holding it. Our team had three robots, and this was the one that I, with the help of another teamate, built. It was called C-Bot


News - First look Mindstorms 2.0

I was browsing Youtube today, and happened to come across a video on the new Lego Mindstorms 2.0. Here's a video that will explain it.

Clgfive - Pneumatic Cross Bow

Here are some pictures of the finished pneumatic cross bow. All I need to do is mount it to a rover and use the third motor to activate the switch.

Other People - Safe

Find that your little brother or sister is always getting into your stuff? Well, this guy had had it, and he built a complex Lego safe. You are required to put in 5 codes to open the safe, check out this awesome video of the Lego NXT safe in action.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Clgfive - CrossBow Update

I kind of wanted to make a post about SegCar GS updates, but sadly I have none today (so please leave a comment with any ideas or programming examples!). So, instead I have a Mobile CrossBow update. So it can easily be activated by the NXT I have replaced the trigger with a pneumatic cylinder, which pulls out the axle holding the arrow in place. Here is a picture:

Other People - BlueTooth Printer

This is very impressive, to the point that I question it's reality. I mean, it can only write in black and white but still, this thing would have taken a lot of effort to program. See for yourself:

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Other People - Explorer


Hey guys, sorry for not posting for a while, but on my countless hours of searching the web, i found this: NXT Explorer, it's a robot, that has 6 treads on it, all of which move! This requires countless hours of thinking, and countless hours of building to make, think of all the gears that go into this!

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Other People - Dog Treat Dispenser

This is a cute little robot that dispenses a dog treat when somebody IMs the dog. See for your self:

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Other People - LEGO V8 Engine

Um... this is pretty insane. I've seen a lot of LEGO V8 replicas, so I just picked one but man, how is it possible? A lot of time and effort must go into these...

Monday, February 2, 2009

News - Smart Moves

Although I have known about the 2009/2010 FLL topic, Smart Moves, but I have just decided to document what FIRST has said about it:

Can FIRST LEGO League teams transform the way we look at transportation? The key to the 2009 “Smart Move” Challenge is accessing people, places, goods and services in the safest, most efficient way possible. In this journey, teams will consider many modes of transportation beyond their daily routine and streamline their options by making smart moves! - (Taken from http://www.usfirst.org/community/fll/content.aspx?id=11256)


I can't wait to compete in it! Should be a great season!

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Clgfive - NXT Handheld Crossbow- Without the NXT

Here is a video of the handheld cross bow "pistol" I built. Yes, I am shooting it, but I plan to put it on a mobile vehicle in the future. It is single action and does take some time to reload, but other than that it is quite good at shooting. It even hurts pretty bad! (I have shot myself by accident)

News - NXT 2.0

It has been announced that the NXT 2.0 will be sold later this year in the UK for 200 Euros, or about $285. But is it worth it? The few improvements I see are: NXT - G 2.0 with RC built in, and the color sensor. Sure there are some other perks; new models, some new pieces. But the the models don't mean much to me, I mean, I never use them. I think LEGO is living up to its expectations of the new product- appeal to younger children. As for the new pieces there hasn't been a set list but I have noticed some orange beams, that plastic plate on new Alpha-Rex's head, and those colored balls. I guess we all better stay tuned!