Robotics
So I’ve tried to install the LEGO Mindstorms NXT software on Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit. It’s definitely a disappointment so far. I didn’t even want to install at first. That was easily enough remedied though. Be sure to run setup.exe as Administrator and run it in Vista compatibility mode. As it installs it warns about an unknown Bluetooth driver. I’m just using the built-in Microsoft stack. The install completely successfully after that warning. Upon launch of the application, all is well. I can perform all operations related to programming. I can create a program, save it, and load...
Before the end of the school year (a few weeks ago already!) I took the kids from my Robotics Club to the National Advanced Driving Simulator in Coralville, Iowa. This is a pretty amazing place with the coolest driving game you'll ever see! We went through the control room and there were eight monitors displaying the various views around the vehicle. The vehicle itself is an actual car body inside of a half-dome with six projectors creating a seamless view around the car. Speakers, cameras, and instruments are everywhere to create a perfect simulation and capture every element of the...
As a father with two boys who are both interested in science and technology, it seemed a natural choice to check out the LEGO Mindstorms NXT set when it came out. Stepper motors with integrated rotation sensors, sensors for ultrasound, touch, light, and sound, USB and Bluetooth connectivity... well, you get the point! When my boys saw the NXT, they were very excited about it. When the box arrived it was like Christmas and birthday combined! We built the model in the book first. A fun start. Then we built the models included on the CD. Very...