Archive for Hacks & Experiments
My NXT Says Numbers Out Aloud!
Update on NXT Sound: Dexter Industries have taken on my suggestion of using a "Quadravox QV606M1 Sound Module" for an add-on Audio solution for the LEGO Mindstorms NXT kit! For further updates on developments please check www.rjmcnamara.com regularly. I've been working on a project where I was working with lots of numbers as part of [...]
Li-Po Batteries & LEGO Mindstorm NXT
Both the LEGO 7.4 Volt Rechargeable Batteries for Mindstorms NXT, are of Lithium-ion Polymer construction. Lithium-ion polymer batteries are light weight rechargeable batteries.
Does your NXT have a faulty display?
Do you own an NXT 'Intelligent Brick' with a flickering or non-working display? Steven Canvin, LEGO's Community Manager for LEGO MINDSTORMS, has asked us to pass on this message – Link to this post!
A Shinning Light for the NXTCam Camera
I've been experimenting with my new Mindsensor NXTCam. As most people are aware of the inherent issues associated with optical sensing, mainly due to changes in lighting level, can be very frustrating. In attempt to minimise this lighting issue, I decide to construct a stable light source for the NXTCam. To begin, I needed to [...]
Fast Resistor Sorting with LEGO
Still got that container on the bench with a pile of unsorted resistors left over from projects, or perhaps have purchased a mixed-lot of assorted resistors to begin with. Resistors have colour bands printed on them, rather than numeric values, which makes them more difficult to sort in you don't know the resistor colour-code of [...]
LEGO Mindstorms NXT Cable Checker
I needed a LEGO Mindstorms NXT Cable Checker to allow me to Verify my NXT Connector Cables for connectivity or faults. A tester is particularly useful for when you are crimping your own cables. I picked up a cheap Network Cable checker of eBay for $2.50, and hacked it to suite NXT Cables. Unfortunately it [...]
NXT Laser Range Finding Camera Theory
Below is Lego Mindstorms Compatible Laser Unit uses a 650nm 5mW (Red) laser module. I wanted to create a small compact Laser Unit that fitted in as small a footprint as possible. The Laser Module and other electronics fits easily into a standard LEGO '2×4 Brick', with a '2×3 plate' & Technics Connector attached to [...]
Mindstorms NXT Robots Meets the Xbox Kinect!
InThe Microsoft Xbox 360 Kinect sensor, is a horizontal bar connected to a small base with a motorized pivot, and is designed to be positioned lengthwise below the video display. The device features an “RGB camera, depth sensor and multi-array microphone running proprietary software”, which provides full-body 3D motion capture, facial recognition, and voice recognition [...]
PF Battery Box with Li-Poly Rechargeable
I decided to modify a Lego Power Functions Battery Box and fit with an 11.1 Volt Li-Poly Rechargeable Battery Pack & use a Regulator I.C. to provide the regulated 9Volts required by Power Functions type Devices. The modification was easy, but time consuming to remove the excess plastic in order to get the Li-Poly Rechargeable [...]
Technics Mount for RC type Servo Motors
I have tried a number of methods of mounting Radio Control type Servo Motors to Lego Technics models over the years. Non were overly successful, mostly due to alignment issues. Then in the wee hours this morning, whilst trying to sleep, the answer hits me. Out of bed I jumped (tip-toed), because finally there was [...]
Use a Wii-Nunchuk as an NXT Sensor!
The Wii Nunchuk is designed to work together with the Wii Remote on the Wii console. Contoured to fit perfectly in your hand, the Nunchuk adds extra buttons, an analogue joystick, and additional motion-sensing control to expand the game play possibilities. It is also an I2C type device which makes interfacing to the Lego Mindstorms [...]
Lego NXT 240V A.C. Appliance Controller
This Lego Mindstorms NXT Appliance Controller allows you to turn on-and-off your Household mains powered equipment such as lights, radios, heaters, etc. All via your Robot. Using this Controller in conjunction with a Lego Temperature Sensor you can control your aquarium, and even as a incubator control to hatch out bird eggs. This [...]
NXC Library for ‘RCX Touch Sensor Mux’
I have built a Lego Mindstorms NXT, 8 Input RCX Touch Sensor Multiplexer for use with the old style RCX Touch Sensors with full construction details Here in an Earlier Post. I finally got around to nutting out a Driver Library for use with John Hansen’s Lego Mindstorms NXT Programming Language NXC: Not-eXactly-C.
NXT – 8 Input RCX Touch Sensor Mux
The NXT RCX_TS_Mux: NXT – 8 Input RCX Touch Sensor Multiplexer Unit with Sensors attached I have built a Lego Mindstorms NXT, 8 Input RCX Touch Sensor Multiplexer for use with the old style RCX Touch Sensors. I personally think these retro Touch Sensors are far, far easier to use in models due to their [...]
Mindsensors’ Motor Mux Modifications
For ease of use I have modified my Mindsensors' NXT & RCX Motor Multiplexers with the following Power Supply Modifications. This method finishes the issues associated with the external power supply leads fraying, braking and in the case of the RCX Motor Mux, shorting to the PCB Components on occasions. Which is not at all [...]
Lego Mindstorms – NXT Zamor Cannon
I purchased on of Mindsensors' 8 Channel Servo Controller for NXT (NXTServo-v2). I found 6 x 9gram Micro Servos for around $20 on eBay. I am quite amazed with the amount of torque out of something half the size of a matchbox. The next thing was to come up with a method of interfacing the [...]
