Lego Mindstorms NXT 2.0
Features
ProgrammingVery simple programs can be created using the NXT Intelligent Brick itself. In order to create larger, more complex programs, programming software on a PC is required. The standard programming software is NXT-G, which is included in the package. Third-party programming software is also available, some of which is listed below:
NXT-GNXT-G is the programming software included in the standard base kit. It features an interactive drag-and-drop environment. It is useful for writing programs that are not very long as the software tend to crash when writing long programs and it also runs sluggishly, even on powerful PCs.
LabVIEW ToolkitNXT-G is powered by LabVIEW, an industry standard in programming. Created by National Instruments, LabVIEW uses data flow programming to create a virtual instrument. To allow for more advanced programming, in the graphical sense, National Instruments released a Toolkit for the NXT. Version 1.0 came out in December 2006. Since its release, several bugs have been found and new sensors have been created. While the toolkit does allow for the creation of new sensors, National Instruments is yet to formally release an update.
Lego::NXTLego::NXT provides an API between Perl and NXT.
AdaA port of GNAT is available for the NXT. It requires nxtOSEK to run. The port includes Ada bindings to the NXT hardware and nxtOSEK.
Next Byte Codes & Not eXactly CNext Byte Codes (NBC) is a simple open-source language with an assembly language syntax that can be used to program the NXT brick.
(NXC) is a high level open-source language, similar to C, built on top of the NBC compiler. It can also be used to program the NXT brick. NXC is basically NQC for the NXT.It is the most widely used third-party programming language.
RobotCRobotC is another programming-language based on C for Vex, FIRST Tech Challenge, and Lego Mindstorms. It requires custom firmware in order to run.
NXTGCCNXTGCC is a GCC toolchain for programming the NXT firmware in C.
URBI is a parallel and event-driven language, with interfaces to C++/Java and Matlab. It also has a component architecture (UObject) for distributed computation. Urbi is compatible with many robots, including Nao (cf Robocup), Bioloid or Aibo.
leJOS NXJ NXJ is a high level open source language based on Java that uses custom firmware developed by the leJOS team.
nxtOSEKTo be able to write in C (programming language)/C++, nxtOSEK can be used, but that requires custom firmware too.
MATLAB and Simulink
Lua is a part of the Lua programming language, a general purpose scripting language, for Lego Mindstorms.
FLL NXT Navigation An open source program to help navigation on the FLL competition table. Uses NXT-G and .txt files to write programs.
ruby-nxt is a library to program the NXT for the Ruby programming language. Unlike the other languages for the NXT the code isn't compiled to a binary file. Instead the code is directly transmitted to the NXT via a bluetooth connection. This method of execution is significantly slower than executing compiled code directly.
Robotics.NXT is a Haskell interface to NXT over Bluetoooth. It supports direct commands, messages and many sensors (also unofficial). It has also support for a simple message-based control of a NXT brick via remotely executed program (basic NXC code included).
Features
- The most innovative is the new software that has a sound editor, this may record any sound and then program the NXT Brick to play the sound previously recorded.
- With the image editor you can upload a picture to the NXT Brick and when you download the picture to your NXT this will appear on the screen.
- Includes 619 pieces (Including motors and sensors), 613 (Excluding motors and sensors)
- 1 Color Sensor RGB: Allows the robot to distinguish between six colours: White, black, yellow, red, green and blue.A Color Sensor included in the NXT 2.0 retail kit.
- Includes 2 Touch sensors: Lets the robot react to touch
- Includes 1 Ultrasonic sensor: Allows the robot to judge distance up to eight feet
- Includes 3 servo motors: Allows the robot to interact with the environment
- Includes the NXT Brick: The programmable core that reads the sensors and controls the motors
- Capable of bluetooth connections with a computer or up to three other NXT Intelligent Bricks
- Robogator: Like an alligator, it snaps its jaws at objects in the way.
- Shooter Bot: A robot that launches balls quickly if it detects movement.
- Color Sorter: Separates the different colors of balls in to different trays.
- Alpha Rex: A humanoid robot that can walk forward, backward, turn, talk, grab things, and can see. This robot was redesigned for this release.
ProgrammingVery simple programs can be created using the NXT Intelligent Brick itself. In order to create larger, more complex programs, programming software on a PC is required. The standard programming software is NXT-G, which is included in the package. Third-party programming software is also available, some of which is listed below:
NXT-GNXT-G is the programming software included in the standard base kit. It features an interactive drag-and-drop environment. It is useful for writing programs that are not very long as the software tend to crash when writing long programs and it also runs sluggishly, even on powerful PCs.
LabVIEW ToolkitNXT-G is powered by LabVIEW, an industry standard in programming. Created by National Instruments, LabVIEW uses data flow programming to create a virtual instrument. To allow for more advanced programming, in the graphical sense, National Instruments released a Toolkit for the NXT. Version 1.0 came out in December 2006. Since its release, several bugs have been found and new sensors have been created. While the toolkit does allow for the creation of new sensors, National Instruments is yet to formally release an update.
Lego::NXTLego::NXT provides an API between Perl and NXT.
AdaA port of GNAT is available for the NXT. It requires nxtOSEK to run. The port includes Ada bindings to the NXT hardware and nxtOSEK.
Next Byte Codes & Not eXactly CNext Byte Codes (NBC) is a simple open-source language with an assembly language syntax that can be used to program the NXT brick.
(NXC) is a high level open-source language, similar to C, built on top of the NBC compiler. It can also be used to program the NXT brick. NXC is basically NQC for the NXT.It is the most widely used third-party programming language.
RobotCRobotC is another programming-language based on C for Vex, FIRST Tech Challenge, and Lego Mindstorms. It requires custom firmware in order to run.
NXTGCCNXTGCC is a GCC toolchain for programming the NXT firmware in C.
URBI is a parallel and event-driven language, with interfaces to C++/Java and Matlab. It also has a component architecture (UObject) for distributed computation. Urbi is compatible with many robots, including Nao (cf Robocup), Bioloid or Aibo.
leJOS NXJ NXJ is a high level open source language based on Java that uses custom firmware developed by the leJOS team.
nxtOSEKTo be able to write in C (programming language)/C++, nxtOSEK can be used, but that requires custom firmware too.
MATLAB and Simulink
- MATLAB is a high-level programming language for numerical computing, data acquisition and analysis. It can be used to control LEGO NXT robots over a Bluetooth serial port (serial port communication is part of the base functionality of MATLAB) or via a USB connection; for example using the RWTH - Mindstorms NXT Toolbox (free & open-source).
- Simulink is a MATLAB-based environment for modeling and simulating dynamic systems. Using Simulink, a user can design control algorithms, automatically generate C code for those algorithms, and download the compiled code onto the LEGO NXT.
Lua is a part of the Lua programming language, a general purpose scripting language, for Lego Mindstorms.
FLL NXT Navigation An open source program to help navigation on the FLL competition table. Uses NXT-G and .txt files to write programs.
ruby-nxt is a library to program the NXT for the Ruby programming language. Unlike the other languages for the NXT the code isn't compiled to a binary file. Instead the code is directly transmitted to the NXT via a bluetooth connection. This method of execution is significantly slower than executing compiled code directly.
Robotics.NXT is a Haskell interface to NXT over Bluetoooth. It supports direct commands, messages and many sensors (also unofficial). It has also support for a simple message-based control of a NXT brick via remotely executed program (basic NXC code included).
