2. What is a Robot?
A robot is simply a machine that is programmed to
operate a task on its own.
3. Changing Views
When you’re building a robot, you have to think of it as a
machine to serve a function. Understand how computers
think with algorithms when you program. And become very,
very patient.
4. Stage 1: Building
We will learn more about programming in stage 2, but the first
steps to making our Lego NXT robot is the building phase.
Building is usually the most fun, as with any Lego model, but
there are a few things to learn about building an NXT robot.
5. Watch the Base!
Actually watch the NXT brick!
The main brick in building our robot is the
NXT brick. It is the programmable
computer that will tell our robot what
to do. This also means it has to be the
base of our robot, we must build
everything around the NXT brick for
our robot to function.
(Be sure not to block access to the control
buttons on the NXT brick)
6. But you can see that the NXT brick doesn’t limit what you can
design for your robot!
7. Movement and Sensors
We use servos any time we are building something that needs
to move. Servos are simply small motors.
They are the only power source of the robot, and become just
as essential as the NXT brick in our robotic system.
8. There are various sensors that the Lego Mindstorm sets use.
Sensors are not essential to every creation we make, but they
can serve valuable functions depending on what we want our
robot to do. Realize that robots don’t have senses like
organic creatures, they have to rely on sensors to see, touch,
or hear. So there might be times that you will want to use
the Touch, Sound, Light, or Ultrasonic sensor.
9. Time to Start
We have just seen the basic components of the NXT system, so
now is the time to jump right in and Build!
Let’s take a look at the Build Ins tio Ha o
ing truc ns nd ut
You will now be grouped into teams to begin making your first
robot. Once you have been grouped you can make a name
for your team if you like.
10. Keep in Mind
This is just Stage 1. We will learn how to program our robots
in Stage 2. And Stage 3 we will have a friendly obstacle
course competition to test out your robotic design prowess.
But don’t forget the basics of how you need to design your
robots, because after stage 3 your teams can design whatever
you like to be creative!
