LEGO® MINDSTORMS NXT®— An Innovative Approach to Introducing Students to Engineering Concepts

LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT offers educators a project-based solution for introducing engineering concepts in a classroom environment. Sample labs are provided to assist the introduction of engineering to students by offering opportunities for them to do the following:

• Solve engineering challenges through troubleshooting tactics
• Learn basic engineering models for design and test with a MINDSTORMS robot
• Explore the function of sensory devices including touch, rotational, light, ultrasonic, and sound sensors.
• Gain graphical programming experience

The labs progressively build on the student’s understanding of the programming software, and gradually increase in difficulty. Each lab introduces a different technology and application for that technology.  

The lab topics include:

1. Motion basics and the use of rotational encoders
2. Object avoidance using ultrasonic and touch sensors
3. Controlling a robot using only a sound sensor
4. Mimicking movement between robots using Bluetooth wireless technology
5. Line follower application using a closed loop feedback motion control algorithm

NOTE: A LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT retail kit is required for all of the labs with the exception of Lab 4 which will need at least two kits to demonstrate the exercise.  The Tribot hardware design is recommended for all of the labs.

Each lab consists of three main parts:

Part A:  A sensor is introduced to a student.  The student will explore its functionality, and gain an understanding of its purpose and limitations.

Part B:  The student will follow a script to write an example application that employs the technology.  This will build their programming skills, and reinforce the purpose of the technology.  Once the program is finished, it can be tested with the robot to see the end result.

Part C:  A challenge is offered to give the student a chance to use their imagination.  Generally the challenge objectives are an extension to the application from Part B.  Guidelines and tips are provided to ensure that the student stays focused on the correct task, and completes it within a reasonable amount of time. 

Questions are asked throughout all of the labs to test their understanding, and to reinforce the concepts. 

Getting Started:

• Download the attached sample_mindstorms_labs.zip file
• Unpack the contents
• Inside the unzipped folder is a folder for each lab that will contain the relevant script and solutions that are saved as .doc and .rbt files respectively

130 ratings | 1.49 out of 5

Print

Reader Comments | Submit a comment »

The best people to ask about technical issues are our Applications Engineers. You can contact an Applications Engineer by using the Request Support page (http://www.ni.com/ask/). This page saves you time by remembering your system information and allowing us to ask important configuration questions up front. This eliminates the need for multiple clarification e-mails and makes the support process more efficient on both sides. After you have submitted your new request, subsequent correspondence for that request is handled through e-mail. Please let me know if you have any problems using this system.
- Efrat S., National Instruments. - Sep 9, 2008

Questions
I found your labs tutorial quiet helpfull I would rate it with a 4.9; I been going trough the labs and learned the basics; Is it possible to ask some basic specific questions?
- adelpech@dcf.pemex.com - Sep 3, 2008