Good call but it doesn't meet one of the requirements that i failed to mention, must not contain small pieces. Plus i want something that once its built will stay together so something that screws or bolts together.
Good call but it doesn't meet one of the requirements that i failed to mention, must not contain small pieces. Plus i want something that once its built will stay together so something that screws or bolts together.
Screws or bolts are going to be as small as the technic pins used to hold NXT models together though, surely? And if you've ever tried using one you'll know they really don't come apart easily.
I honestly think you'd be hard pressed to find an all-in-one solution that competes with the NXT.
There is a degree of compatability between new-style 'studless' Lego Technic and the more traditional brick built System and old-style Technic sets, but the NXT sets themselves are entirely focused around the newer system. Models are constructed out of plastic liftarms and held together by pins, the end result is incredibly sturdy - far more so than, for example, Meccano sets.
Youtube is probably disproportionately filled with videos where Lego fans have integrated NXT functionality into models built from the full Lego range, hence the brick-built appearance. Also the previous Mindstorms 'RIS' tech was based on the older Lego style, so you may see some of those (which can be recognised by the yellow control brick).
Sounds good i will look into thanks very much. I assume that this sort of thing sells for quite a lot even secondhand off ebay for example. Am i better of buying new, does lego have a website that sell individual components.
You can buy extra parts, but the best way to get started is with the actual set. Usually the controller on its own sells for nearly as much as the set.
If you can get the controller brick cheaply (and occasionally LEGO or the Brand Stores do a sale on parts), the firmware for it is open-source so you can download and update that. The official desktop programming tools aren't free, and only come with the set.
People have developed alternate programming frameworks that you can get for free, but you'll be throwing yourself in at the deep end by not having gone through the standard tutorials that come with the set.
Modern studless Technic LEGO is much more complicated to build with than just plain old LEGO, but when done right it is very rigid and reliable. To expand your set you'd need to look at other recent LEGO Technic sets rather than just general piles of bricks.
What were you expecting, in terms of robotics?
Back in the 90s, that sort of capability was exclusive to the most prestigious universities, now it's in Toys'R'Us.
The only option that comes in any cheaper is a PIC chip programming kit, but for that you'll need to get a generic control board or build your own circuit, buy your own motors, gearboxes, servos (those are the pricey bits), etc, and it will start to add up and take a very, very long time before you get anything to move. And you'll be forever stuck with trundling turtle-bots.
The motors in the NXT double as both drive motors and angular servos. I've even built a force-feedback joystick that uses the angular control for forcing and centreing.
Anyway, it's cheaper than that Imperial Shuttle model they're selling...
There's a NXT 2.0 box that came out a few years ago. Sets of the first NXT may still be around. It's still the same core unit and three motors, but with 2.0 the firmware is upgraded, there's a different set of sensors (two touch switches instead of one) and the desktop software is far less prone to locking up when you try and edit things on the visual programming grid.
I did submit some updates to the 'open-source' firmware code myself, but LEGO pretty much ignore submissions and do their own issues. There's nothing to stop you hacking the firmware yourself though and doing your own releases. John Barnes' release of his 'NBC' and 'NXC' language tools comes with firmware containing my updates.
Worse, I picked up that lovely Space Shuttle set that's supposed to be ?80 and took it to the till in the Bluewater shop, and someone had stuck an 'Imperial Shuttle' price sticker on it, over 3 times that price! I had a bit of a heart (among other valves) failure when the total came up on the till.
There are lots of places that sell cheap single-purpose robotic kits, or a single robot with options for programming, but few will turn out to be any smarter than a Big Trak.
LEGO have been meddling with similar controller gizmos for about 15 years now, but the NXT is way ahead of them. It's a full 32 bit ARM processor with a 100x64 mono pixel display and FLASH storage. Of course, it'd be a grey-scale display with proper sprites if they'd taken my updates...
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Screws or bolts are going to be as small as the technic pins used to hold NXT models together though, surely? And if you've ever tried using one you'll know they really don't come apart easily.
I honestly think you'd be hard pressed to find an all-in-one solution that competes with the NXT.
I got stung buying some of the modern mechano sets the plastic ones and they dont stay together at all.
I will have a proper look at this nxt stuff.
Youtube is probably disproportionately filled with videos where Lego fans have integrated NXT functionality into models built from the full Lego range, hence the brick-built appearance. Also the previous Mindstorms 'RIS' tech was based on the older Lego style, so you may see some of those (which can be recognised by the yellow control brick).
http://mindstorms.lego.com is probably the best place to get a feel for what NXT is.
If you can get the controller brick cheaply (and occasionally LEGO or the Brand Stores do a sale on parts), the firmware for it is open-source so you can download and update that. The official desktop programming tools aren't free, and only come with the set.
People have developed alternate programming frameworks that you can get for free, but you'll be throwing yourself in at the deep end by not having gone through the standard tutorials that come with the set.
Modern studless Technic LEGO is much more complicated to build with than just plain old LEGO, but when done right it is very rigid and reliable. To expand your set you'd need to look at other recent LEGO Technic sets rather than just general piles of bricks.
- IONIAN-GAMES.com -
Back in the 90s, that sort of capability was exclusive to the most prestigious universities, now it's in Toys'R'Us.
The only option that comes in any cheaper is a PIC chip programming kit, but for that you'll need to get a generic control board or build your own circuit, buy your own motors, gearboxes, servos (those are the pricey bits), etc, and it will start to add up and take a very, very long time before you get anything to move. And you'll be forever stuck with trundling turtle-bots.
The motors in the NXT double as both drive motors and angular servos. I've even built a force-feedback joystick that uses the angular control for forcing and centreing.
Anyway, it's cheaper than that Imperial Shuttle model they're selling...
- IONIAN-GAMES.com -
It looks like they sell the NXT set at work for ?200 so with a bit of dizzy gets it down to ?150.
This is the one
http://mindstorms.lego.com/en-us/history/default.aspx
I did submit some updates to the 'open-source' firmware code myself, but LEGO pretty much ignore submissions and do their own issues. There's nothing to stop you hacking the firmware yourself though and doing your own releases. John Barnes' release of his 'NBC' and 'NXC' language tools comes with firmware containing my updates.
- IONIAN-GAMES.com -
http://www.active-robots.com/products/robots/
http://www.amazon.co.uk/b?ie=UTF8&node=364200031
http://www.superdroidrobots.com/shop/category.aspx?catid=18
There are lots of places that sell cheap single-purpose robotic kits, or a single robot with options for programming, but few will turn out to be any smarter than a Big Trak.
LEGO have been meddling with similar controller gizmos for about 15 years now, but the NXT is way ahead of them. It's a full 32 bit ARM processor with a 100x64 mono pixel display and FLASH storage. Of course, it'd be a grey-scale display with proper sprites if they'd taken my updates...
- IONIAN-GAMES.com -
and thanks jamajup i will take a look at those sites.