LEGO Mindstorms robots - entertaining robotics

The constructor of LEGO Mindstorms is a set of electronic units and mating parts designed to create a programmable robot. LEGO introduced the first Mindstorms kit back in 1998, and 8 years later, in 2006, the first version of the LEGO Mindstorms NXT 1.0 kit was released, after another 3 years, in 2009 the second version of the kit - LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0, was released. and finally, in 2013, the LEGO Mindstorms EV3 set went on sale.

The LEGO Mindstorms kit includes both standard LEGO parts, such as axles, gears, beams, wheels and servomotors, as well as motors, sensors, and a programmable unit. These sets are divided into resource and basic.

The base set of LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT has three versions:

• The 8527 LEGO MINDSTORMS contains 577 parts, manufactured in 2006. This is the first version of the commercial suite;

• 9797 LEGO MINDSTORMS Education NXT Base Set contains 431 parts, 2006 release. This is a basic set for training, an educational set;

• The 8547 LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 contains 619 parts manufactured in 2009. This is the second version of the commercial kit.

Each of the three sets includes an NXT smart unit of the same version. The firmware is different, but it is easily updated, so the sets can be considered equivalent in principle.

The LEGO MINDSTORMS Education Resource Set has two versions:

• 9648 LEGO MINDSTORMS Education Resource Set;

• 9695 LEGO MINDSTORMS Education Resource Set.

Resource kit 2010 release contains 817 parts, they are more diverse.

The 2013 LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 3.0 base kit comes in one version 31313, and contains 601 parts. "EV" stands for Evolution.

LEGO Mindstorms kits are equipped with control units on microcontrollers of several versions of RCX, NXT and EV3. At the moment there are three of them, in addition there are modifications 1.0; 2.0 and 3.0.

The huge number of sensors that come with the LEGO Mindstorms sets open up great opportunities for creativity. Sensors are also available from third-party manufacturers such as Mindsensors and HiTechnic. Here are just a few examples of standard sensors for LEGO Mindstorms NXT: NXT servo motor tachometer, NXT ultrasonic distance sensor, NXT touch sensor, NXT sound sensor, NXT light sensor. In general, the list is quite extensive.

Let’s take a look at what the LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 Kit is.

As for the EV3 stuffing, the smart unit is equipped with a 300 MHz MHz Sitara AM1808 (ARM9) processor from Texas Instruments, has 64 MB of RAM, 16 MB of Flash memory, and there is also a microSDHC slot for memory cards up to 32 GB. In the presence of a USB host and Bluetooth, Wi-Fi via USB dongle is possible, Apple devices are supported. The unit is also equipped with a monochrome LCD-display, a resolution of 178x128. All motors and NXT sensors are fully compatible with the EV3 unit. By the way, the NXT block can be programmed for EV3, but some functions will not be available.

The box with the designer can be deployed into the track with multi-colored zones, and color sensors will perfectly interact with them. The parts in the box are initially laid out in several separate bags. In addition, there is a set of stickers and instructions.

The EV3 Intelligent Box is the heart of the designer. Power is provided by 6 finger batteries. There are 6 buttons for control, and the backlight has three color display modes. There are 4 input ports for connecting sensors, there are also 4 command output ports. To connect the unit to a computer - a miniUSB socket, a USB host port for organizing connections, a built-in speaker and, as mentioned earlier, a memory card slot. The program interface allows you to create and configure programs directly from the block.

In addition to the smart unit, the kit includes:

2 large servomotors equipped with precise rotation sensors and capable of developing 170 rpm with a maximum torque of 40 Ncm.

There is also one medium servo motor, the torque is less - up to 12 Ncm, however, the speed can reach 250 per minute.

Color and light sensor with the ability to distinguish 8 colors with a sampling rate of up to 1 kHz.

Touch sensor capable of detecting a click, touch, release and counting their number.

IR distance sensor, applicable for remote control, capable of receiving a signal even from 2 meters, with a range of distance measurement in a radius of up to 70 cm. 4 channels are available for individual reception of signals, control commands.

Infrared beacon for IR sensor, can work as a remote control. On the case there is a green indicator LED and a channel selector. Can betray in 4 separate channels within a radius of 2 meters. Automatically shuts down after an hour of inactivity. It is powered by two pinky batteries.

Wires.

In addition to the sensors included in the kit, other sensors can be used:

Gyroscopic sensor for measuring the rotational movements of the robot with an accuracy of 3 degrees, sensitive to moments up to 440 degrees per second. Polling frequency up to 1 kHz.

An ultrasonic sensor for measuring distances by transmitting and receiving reflected waves. It can work as a sonar and as a receiver of sound waves as control signals. Able to measure distances up to 2.5 meters with an accuracy of 1 cm.

Not only LEGO sensors and accessories are supported, but also third-party models such as Mindsensors and HiTechnic. It can be joysticks, compasses, accelerometers, etc. The range of various solutions is very, very wide.

To program the robot, you can use the LEGO Mindstorms EV3 Home Edition software for Windows or OS X, which can be easily downloaded on the official LEGO website. There is also an abundance of firmware, training materials on programming, videos, interactive instructions, mission descriptions.

Of course, EV3 can be controlled from a smartphone on Android or iOS, there are separate applications for this. Programming is possible in Java and in many other languages: ASM / C / C ++ / Perl / Python / Ruby / VB / Haskell / Lisp / Matlab / LabVIEW.

On the official LEGO website, you can find 17 models with instructions for assembling different robots from the EV3 kit. These models are:

TRACK3R is a high-cross-tracked crawler robot with four interchangeable tools.

SPIK3R is a scorpion robot, it can turn around sharply, grab objects with a claw-crusher, and a lightning tail will repulse everything that gets in its way.

R3PTAR - a 35 cm tall cobra, can slide on the floor, attack objects with fangs at high speed.

GRIPP3R - this robot is capable of lifting weights, can grab, lift and throw a can.

EV3STORM is a tracked robot with many missions.

BOBB3E - Bobcat® robot loader with the ability to remotely control using the IR beacon buttons, can move or lift various objects.

BANNER PRINT3R - a robot printer. He can draw with a regular marker, drawing lines. You can set your own drawing.

RAC3 TRUCK - a remote control racing truck. You can add a trailer.

DINOR3X - The Triceratops Robot walks and turns on four legs.

KRAZ3 - The robot reacts to the infrared beacon of its bug friend. You can also control the robot using a custom program or program so that it moves exclusively behind the bug;

EV3D4 - created based on the “Star Wars”, can follow the owner, move around the infrared beacon, communicate. It supports an extensive set of scripts that can be programmed and expanded using the new EV3 software.

EL3CTRIC GUITAR - Hitting one string, fingering the fretboard neck, using the tremolo system, you can play incredible solos on this guitar!

EV3MEG is an assistant robot that can move precisely along lines of a certain color, thanks to a light sensor. Detects obstacles in the way and reacts to them. It is able to move both independently and controlled using an infrared beacon.

Game EV3 - the robot can hide the ball under the cup, then change the cups in places, and you have to guess where the ball is. Using the IR beacon, you can set the level.

MR.B3AM - measures the length of LEGO® Technic beams, determines the color and size of the beams.

ROBODOZ3R - a robot bulldozer. It can move independently or be controlled remotely.Clears his way, falling off and pushing objects that are in the way.

Due to the fact that these kits make you think, model, invent, generally encourage creativity and development, it is not at all surprising that in many countries college and school education using LEGO Mindstorms kits is widely implemented.

Robot competitions have become quite popular, in which each educational institution can put their robotics teams to competitions. Such competitions are held in Russia, the most famous of such events - RoboFest. The best of the best go to the World Robot Olympiad - WRO (World Robot Olympiad).

Where to buy LEGO Mindstorms EV3?

The price of LEGO Mindstorms EV3 depends on the package bundle. Various LEGO Mindstorms configurations, its educational versions, are available from specialist LEGO Education retailers.

See also on our website:Device and programming microcontrollers for beginners