LEGO Mindstorms NXT Power
Programming: Robotics in C by John
C. Hansen
Empowering Resource For Nxt Fans
With fun projects, tips, instructions, illustrations, and programs, this
comprehensive companion to the powerful Mindstorms NXT robot kit will
help LEGO popularize robotics in the way that the iPod did for digital
music. This second edition to programming on the NXT helps users make
the most of the latest LEGO Mindstorms NXT release for further robot
enhancements. Included is an ingenious set of projects that explore the
complete arsenal of basic and advanced NXT functionality. At the heart of
these projects is Versa, a versatile mobile robot platform that utilizes
modular attachments.

Personal Review: LEGO Mindstorms NXT Power Programming:
Robotics in C by John C. Hansen
While the official NXT-G programming language included in the LEGO
Mindstorms NXT set works well for many people, what if you want to
increase your programming potential or simply prefer a text-based
language rather than a graphical one? John C. Hansen's book provides the
answer to both of these questions by teaching you how to program the
NXT in NeXT Byte Codes (NBC) and Not eXactly C (NXC).
The book begins with an introduction to some basic programming concepts
and then shows you how to set up NBC/NXC. Since these unofficial
languages are based on the standard firmware, you don't have to
download custom firmware to your microcomputer, making setup a breeze.
Chapters 2 through 4 discuss the NXT hardware, NXT firmware, and basic
construction concepts, respectively. If you're new to the NXT set, you'll find
these chapters helpful.
Chapter 5 covers the BricxCC IDE, which supports NBC, NXC, and a
number of other languages. This is definitely one of my favorite chapters.
BricxCC is an incredibly powerful but user-friendly program, and this
chapter shows how to effectively use and customize BricxCC. Perhaps the
most interesting chapter in the book is Chapter 6, which discusses free
NXT utilities that perform miscellaneous functions.
The real power programming begins in Chapters 7 and 8, which cover
NXC and NBC. If, like me, you've programmed the RCX microcomputer in
Not Quite C (NQC), you'll be glad to see that Hansen created NXC with a
lot of the same features and same "feel." Naturally, these chapters are
most easily understood if you have a background in C or programming in
general, but such knowledge is not required. The book assumes you are a
beginner and explains fundamental programming concepts. If you need
more information about a basic concept that the book doesn't discuss in
great detail (for example, using arrays), you could easily consult an online
resource.
Chapters 9 through 16 teach you how to build a basic robot (Versa),
program basic and advanced NXT outputs, program basic and advanced
NXT inputs, create an intruder alert robot, explore "games that people
play" on the NXT, and control an NXT robot remotely. It is through these
chapters that you get practical experience in using NBC/NXC.
In conclusion, if you're looking for an effective and user-friendly text-based
programming language for the NXT, then this book is for you. NBC, NXC,
and the BricxCC IDE are outstanding resources, and this book teaches not
only the basics but also quite advanced concepts (which will be of interest
to expert users out there). Bear in mind, however, that this isn't primarily a
book of building instructions. Its purpose is to teach you how to effectively
program robots--and it accomplishes that purpose very well.

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