Introduction to Lego Mindstorms

1. Lego Mindstorms
in Education
Dennis Wilson

2. Lego Space Launch
http://legospace.com/en-
us/Games/LegoSpaceLaunch.aspx?icmp=COUSGa
mesGLCitySpaceLaunch

3. What is Lego Mindstorms?
• Kits for designing and programing robots.
• 1998 – Lego introduces the Robotics Invention
System (RIS).
• 2006 Lego Mindstorms NXT
• 2009 NXT 2.0

4. The Brick
• The brain of the Mindstorms robot
• USB port to interface with PC/Mac
• Upload programs to the robot.

5. Interfacing with the Brick
• Touch Sensor: enables the robot to feel and
react to its environment
• Sound Sensor: enables the robot to react to
sound
• Light Sensor: can detect light and color
• Ultrasonic Sensor: allows the robot to measure
distance and react to movement
• Servo Motors: ensures the robot moves with
precision

6. Endless Possibilities

7. What’s in the Box?
• 619 building elements, gears, wheels, tracks
and tires
• 1 Brick
• 2 Touch Sensors
• 1 Ultrasonic Sensor
• 1 Color Sensor
• 3 Interactive servo motors
• 7 connector cables
• User Guide
• CD with easy-to-use
• Test Pad

8. NXT-G Programing Language
• Drag-and-drop programming language
• Easy to use
• Good introduction to programming robots

9. Steps for Building a Robot
• Build it
• Program it
• Activate it

10. Web Site
• http://mindstorms.lego.com
• Instructions for building robots
• Support forums

11. Fun Zone

12. Educational Benefits
• Creativity
• Interest in science and technology
• Computer skills
• Problem solving
• Working in teams at Lego competitions

13. FIRST
• FIRST – Nonprofit organization
• Created in 1989 by Dean Kamen
• Inventor of the Segway.

14. FIRST’s Mission
“To transform our culture by creating a world
where science and technology are celebrated and
where young people dream of becoming science
and technology heroes”
- Dean Kamen
Inaugural robotics competition held in 1992 in a
high school gym in New Hamshire.

15. FIRST Lego League
• Born in 1999
• Students between ages of 9 and 14
• Teams of no more than 10 students

16. Themes
• 2012 Theme – Senior Solutions
• Past Themes
– Mission Mars
– Power Puzzle
– Ocean Odyssey
– Nano Quest

17. The Project
Project
• Find a senior partner
• Learn about problems facing seniors
• Develop an innovation solution
• Present your solution to the judges
• Science Fair – Non-robotic part of the
competition

18. Robot Competitions
• Robot Design
• Teamwork
• Gracious Professionalism
• Problem Solving/Team Dynamics
• Enthusiasm/Participation
• Team Challenge

19. Completing Missions

20. Competition Explained

21. Scoring

22. www.animationfactory.com
Questions?