Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Clgfive - My Organization

I don't usually complain, but I have become desperate. Below you will find a picture of all my parts and all my storage containers. The tackle box is full, even with all the other parts on my robot and in the box, and my other containers are fairly pointless. I also have another box with all my wheels, pneumatic tubing, etc. And the biggest problem is that I can't afford any new storage containers! Do you want to help? If you do, you can do so by clicking at the advertisements on the side bar! All you have to do is click the link in the blue boxes on the sidebar, and it will cost you nothing but a few seconds of your time! It will not harm your computer or anything like that, either, it will only improve the site! Do it multiple times and I may even be able to afford a third NXT! Don't worry, I do split the money 50/50 with Bryce! So please help the blog and click on the ads!

Monday, March 30, 2009

Bryce - Robot Preview

Hey Guys,
Just a little preview of the robot that I built for our battle...

Clgfive - FLL Gathering Attachment

Over the past couple days I have built a gathering attachment that uses no motors! Here is a video of it:

Friday, March 27, 2009

Bryce - New Parts

Hey Guys,
So sorry for not posting, things have been crazy around here, and Clgfive and I have been up to our necks in schoolwork. So, while wondering around in Tek-Kids closet, I found some old bionicle sets. I found many useful parts that I would like to have, and politely asked him if I could have them. To my amazement, he said yes! Check out all the parts That I got, over 100! Plus, 2 new weapons, a dart shooter, and a ball shooter, (ball shooter ships with Mindstorms 2.0!) (I also have the extra Bionicle peices, which are not shown in the picture because I cannot use them with Mindstorms.)



Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Clgfive & Bryce - FLL Team on the Off Season

Here is a video documentary of our FLL team on the off season... this is what we do almost every day!

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Clgfive & Bryce - New Peices Are Here!

Today a big order arrived for our FLL team. Along with our 4th LEGO Mindstorms NXT Edu kit, we also had ordered NXT-G 2.0, two extra motors for attachment tests and expirements, and some extra connector parts. Sadly all this good news comes with a catch- we have to organize it! I guess it was coming anyway, since our cabinets filled with buckets filled with trays of parts are a complete disaster, and our team's coach has already said we need to have it all organized by next season. Anyway, here is a picture of the extra parts we got:


Sunday, March 22, 2009

Clgfive - BlueTooth Programming Success!

Finally, after days of playing around with programs and awkward sensor techniques, I finally have a working programming system for NhexT! Using the "wait" block, I have sucessfully gotten the legs to spin the right way, but with only one problem- for whatever reason the Port A motors spin less than the other motors. Does anyone know why? Post a comment if you do!

Bryce - Tek-kid's Design

Well, Tek-kid had yet again redesigned his robot, now he has it remote controlled, it looks like a house, and has something like helicopter blades on top that spin around. I'm getting worried.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Bryce - Treads Have Arrived

Hey Guys,
My treads finally got here, in a huge box! After I took them out, I thought, wait, I just took my robot apart! Perfect, now I can use them in my Battle Bot!


Clgfive - Some FLL BCR 1000 Updates (Part 1)

Today I added some stuff to my FLL BCR 1000. For one, me and Bryce built a new ball caster which doesn't allow the ball to fall out but can easily be pulled out. Also, I added a bunch of beams to the side of it so that I can easily put attachments on the robot and they can easily come off, which is key for FLL. I will probably post a picture tommorow (that will be Part 2).

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Bryce - Battle Bot

Hey Guys,
Tek-kid has insisted that he has more time to work on his robot, so I have decided to take advantage of that opportunity. I am redesigning my robot, hopefully like a tank this time. Back to the drawing board (again). Stay tuned!

Clgfive - My New Robot

Alright, I can't keep a secret any longer. I am currently working on a new robot I like to call NheXT, which will be a LEGO version of the famous Boston Dynamics robot, Rhex. I am currently encountering some problems with weight control and leg width as well as Bluetooth connections, but that's hopefully nothing I can't take care of. This will hopefully be ready in time for the video contest, but if not there will always be other NXTLOG contests. Check out this picture of my design:

Monday, March 16, 2009

Clgfive - FLL BCR 1000!

Hey guys! Today I build v2 of the FLL BCR 500, it's the FLL BCR 1000! I focused on a sturdier robot, with more areas for attachments. Also, I modified the old ball castor so that the ball was looser and the castor bas tighter to the robot for zero-radius turns. Here is a video:

Bryce - Tek-kid

Hey Guys,
From now on, my brother is Tek-kid. Our robots are both further progressing, and I am working on armor for my robot right now, he is still trying to build his. I don't know what hes going to build, but its going to have to be good! The battle will hopefully happen tonight, stay tuned!
P.S. He seems to have quite a mess to clean up afterwords! (See picture below)



Sunday, March 15, 2009

Bryce - New Parts

Hey Guys,
I have just ordered NXT caterpillar treads and hubs. (Can be found here). I have a few creations in mind for these treads... Also, my brother is being very slow building his creation for our battle, though he assures me that its going to beat me. I guess we'll just have to see.



P.S. This is Mindstorms Worlds 100th Post!

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Clgfive & Bryce - The Battle 2!

It's finally here! Bryce vs. Clgfive Battle #2 with Tm4040 is finished, and I have finished editing! This video has all the elements we wanted to use last time - and more! Here are the credits: Supplies - Courtesy of FLL Team, Titles - Windows Movie Maker, Editing - Pinnacle Ultimate, Editor - Clgfive, Camera - Clgfive, Music (In Order) - No You Girls (Franz Ferdinand), Out of Exile (Audioslave), Fell In Love With a Girl (The White Stripes).

Friday, March 13, 2009

Bryce - Battle Preview

Hey Guys,
I have a picture of my robot, completed, unfortunately, my brother is still building his robot, battle soon!

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Bryce - Battle Bot

Hey Guys, I am currently building a robot to compete, (and hopefully win) against my brothers power functions. We are both still building, and when we do have a battle, I will record it, and upload it to Blogger for us all to see!
P.S.
Bryce VS TM4040 VS Clgfive Battle coming soon, very soon, stay tuned!

Opinion - Top 5 Tools Needed When Working With NXT

Hey Guys,
Today, I'm going to show you some of the top things that I often use when working with my NXT.

First, you always need a knife, a good sharp knife, for if you need to cut a piece to make it fit somewhere, make sure the knife is sharp, and that you KNOW how to use it.

Second, you need pliers. These are always great for pulling pieces out of something, and they are a lifesaver.

Third, you need a flash drive/jump drive. This is always the best tool for carrying around your programs, videos and pictures of your NXT.


Forth, have a Bluetooth dongle. You can get one for about 5 USD online, and they work great, way better than connecting the USB cable every time you need to update your program, it saves you a lot of time.

And last, you will want to have extra pieces. I know, its very easy to lose peices, and when you don't have enough, it ruins working with the NXT, because you have to downsize, and that's no fun! Always be sure to have your extra pieces on hand, they come in handy!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Tutorial - More Modded Legos...

Hey Guys,
Sorry for not posting, I've been discovering the wonders of modding Lego pieces. I have made changes to pins, and to a gear. Check out these videos showing how.



Clgfive - My Second NXT!

Today I got a second NXT! As an early birthday present, I actually got a second NXT kit today! You guys can expect bigger and better creations then ever before! I am finishing up on a surprise Video Contest project right now, and I think I may start a LEGO version of RHex right after that (you can search RHex in Google for more). Maybe I will even finish it in time for the video contest!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Tutorial - How to Get a Gear Inside the Turntable!

I have finally succeeded in getting the 24t gear inside the turntable gear! check out this video I made to see how! And yes, this is a new title topic!

Monday, March 9, 2009

Clgfive & Bryce - Battle #2!

That's right; we really are releasing a new battle! Today our construction process finished and we will be filming the battle on Wednesday. This time there is a catch- we have a third participant! FLL team member Tm4040 is going to be the third member of this battle! So here's how it will work: all three robots will be remote controlled like last time, and will fight using their two weapons which can be switched out in between rounds. The goal will be to push the opponents outside the tape, sort of like a sumo competition. Some early practice rounds have proved that casualties will be high and parts will be flying. The addition of RCX motors has also added a new element. This battle WILL use the green screen we promised last time (we have figured out how to use it) and more surprises. We want to make this one perfect, so it will be released some time next week as long as everything goes well on Wednesday. Sadly I can't set a firm date and time at this point because of problems we had last time. Here are pictures of the three robots, they go in order Clgfive, Bryce, Tm4040.

Friday, March 6, 2009

Opinion - NXT VS NXT 2.0

Hey Guys,
I have been reviewing the NXT and the NXT 2.0, (the one coming out soon). Here are some features of both.

NXT:
Same NXT stuff
Light sensor, US sensor, Hearing sensor, Touch sensor
3 motors
NXT - G software

NXT 2.0
Comes with small extra balls, and a ball holder for projects
COLOR SENSOR, US Sensor, 3 Touch sensors, No light, (color replaces that) no hearing sensor, (does not work well)
3 motors
NXT - G 2.0 Software

All in all, I think its best to wait for the 2.0, you get the color sensor, you can buy the light sensor if you want for an extra 20, instead of buying the NXT original package, and buying the color sensor for 54.99 USD. Also, the NXT - G 2.0 software, (included)so you don't have to buy it separately, that's about 50 USD.
Hearing sensor is not worth buying the old NXT kit for, Buy the NXT 2.0. You get the most out of your money.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Bryce - Crane

Hey Guys,
I finished uploading the NXT Crane video, and here it is. I'm now working on something special, it should be up soon, maybe tomorrow or the next day.

Opinion - Power Functions Connections

Today I have more of a call to action than an opinion post. So, I was looking at the Power Functions part of LEGO.com and I noticed that the extension cable is in 9V format. So does this mean it can hook up to the NXT? So, since I don't personally have Power Functions, I want you guys to try it. Here is what I want you to do: take a PF motor, a PF extension cord, a RCX/NXT converter cable, and an NXT and hook it all up! Post a comment below (remember, open comments!) with your result and/or a link to a video you made of this to either prove or disprove the theory. I will post the best video on this blog! So get commenting!

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Bryce - Crane

Hey Guys,
I have just finished my NXT Crane. I am editing the video, and it should be up soon. In the mean time, I am working on something special, stay tuned to see what.
P.S. It's going to be awesome.

Other People - Tilted Twister

This is an amazing Rubik's Cube solving robot that I found which doesn't use a seperate computer for creating a solve algorithm! The entire process is done from the NXT! Here is the video:

Monday, March 2, 2009

Bryce - Clawbot, Dog Bone Taker, and NXT Sound Sensor

Hey Guys, I have just successfully made a video of a Claw-bot, that I made today. I have abandoned my dog bone taker, because that had already been made many times by other people. And my experiences with the NXT sound sensor weren't that good, it works with sounds, like piano keys, but it does not work with voice very well. If you are going to use it, do not speak, use specific sounds.
A video of the Claw-Bot:

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Bryce - NXT Length Calculator

My NXT Length Calculator, I Got this project, and the program from NXT Programs. All credit goes to them.

A video:

Opinion - Black NXT Brick

Hey Guys,
I want to know, whats all the fuss about the Black NXT Brick. It's the same thing as the regular NXT Brick, but its in black. I know its for Mindstorms 10th anniversary, but for 20 dollars more? I'll Pass! Both Bricks are the same thing, and while it would be cool to have a Black brick, I'll keep my money and buy another sensor, or motor.