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Robotics Invention System RCX First-generation RCX programmable brick. The first generation of Lego Mindstorms was built around a brick known as the RCX. It contains a 8-bit Renesas H8/300 microcontroller as its internal CPU.It also contains 32K of RAM that stores the Firmware and User Programs. The brick is programmed by uploading a program (written in one of several available programming languages) from a Windows or Mac computer to the brick's RAM via a special infrared (IR) interface. After the user starts a program, an RCX-enabled Mindstorms creation may function totally on its own, acting on internal and external stimuli according to the programmed instructions. Also, two or several more RCX bricks can communicate with each other through the IR interface, enabling inter-brick cooperation or competition. In addition to the IR port, there are three sensor input ports and three motor output ports (also usable for lamps, etc). There is also an LCD that can display the battery level, the status of the input/output ports, which program is selected or running, and other information. Version 1.0 RCX bricks feature a power adapter jack to allow continuous operation instead of the limited operation time when using batteries. In version 2.0 (as well as later 1.0s included in the RIS 1.5), the power adapter jack was removed. Power adapter-equipped RCX bricks are popular for stationary robotics projects (such as robot arms) or for controlling Lego model trains. In the latter context, the RCX needs to be programmed with Digital Command Control (DCC) software required for automated model train operation. The IR interface on the RCX is able to communicate with Spybots, Scout Bricks, Lego Train, and the NXT (using a third-party infrared link sensor.) The RCX 1.0 IR receiver carrier frequency is 38.5 kHz, while the RCX 2.0 IR carrier frequency is 76 kHz. Both versions can transmit on either frequency. The carrier signal is generated by one of the RCX's internal timers. The RCX communicates with a computer using a Serial or USB IR tower. The tower is supported by Windows 98, Me, and XP (32-bit). A patch is available for hyper-threading/multi-core CPUs. There is no formal support for Windows Vista (32-bit), but there are reports of correct functionality. The tower does not work at all on 64-bit OSes. All versions of the RCX have a unique number printed on it, necessary for technical support and used as the ID number of the RCX for your Lego Mindstorms account on the now-defunct Lego Mindstorms RCX website. The first RCX produced is marked "000001" and was on display at the Mindstorms 10th Anniversary event. Programming languages Lego-supplied languages: RCX Code (included in the Mindstorms consumer version sold at toystores) ROBOLAB (based on LabVIEW and developed at Tufts University) Popular third-party languages: Ch interpreter, a C/C++ Interpreter Ch Ch Mindstorms NXT Control Package C and C++ under BrickOS (formerly LegOS) C and Assembler under the GCC open source firmware kit NXTGCC Java under leJOS or TinyVM NQC ("Not Quite C") pbFORTH (extensions to the Forth programming language) Visual Basic (Through the COM+ interface supplied on the CD) RobotC (New Language and NXT Compatible) Interactive C (Language similar to C used in robotics competitions.) XSLisp an implementation of Lisp for the RCX (1 + 2) and NXT Not eXactly C An open source C like high level programming language. The compiler can be downloaded from: http://bricxcc.sourceforge.net/nxc/ Lego camera The Lego camera on its own is technically not a robotic toy; rather, it is a normal webcam (a Logitech Quickcam Web) packaged into a Lego shell. Being a normal webcam, the Lego Camera is, unlike most Mindstorms products, not programmable and is only usable connected to a PC or some other device that supports USB webcams. The Lego camera is meant to be used with the included Vision Command software which can also interface with an RCX and thus enables creating robots with "vision". The software is capable of detecting different lightings, motion, and colors. It can also be used with any other software that uses a webcam. The webcam is capable of recording up to 30 frames per second. It also contains a microphone to record sound for videos. Cybermaster Lego Cybermaster Cybermaster was mainly sold in Europe and Australia/New Zealand, but was available for a short time in America via the Lego Club magazines. It was aimed at a younger audience as an early attempt of merging computer gaming with robotics and Lego. The Pbrick shares many, especially software, features with the RCX but differs in appearance and technical specifications: 1 output (plus 2 built-in) and 3 sensors. It uses RF (27 MHz R/C band) instead of IR for communication. It has two built-in motors with integrated tachometers and speedometers. It is limited to passive sensors (a simple A/D with internal pull-up resistors). The sensors shipped with it are color coded and have internal resistors in their open state (allowing the Pbrick to sense which sensor is attached to which port). It has a fixed firmware (so it cannot be upgraded or replaced). It has limited RAM for programs and only one program slot. Despite its obvious limitation it has a number of advantages over its 'big brother', the RCX. The RF link has greater range and is omnidirectional. The built-in tachometer and speedometer sensors on the internal motors provides the same function as the external rotation sensor to the RCX, but without using up sensor ports. This makes it very useful for various mobile platforms and performing basic motion/positioning tasks. It talks the same protocol as the RCX but cannot communicate directly to it (due to IR vs RF) but with a repeater (a computer with 2 serial ports and a simple program) they can be integrated. Codepilot Sold as part of the Barcode Truck kit. This unit was the first programmable brick (or Pbrick). It features a single motor, a single touch sensor and a light sensor. It is programmed by setting it to 'learn' and using the light sensor to feed barcoded commands. The command set is very limited. Since barcode is just a series of variances in light, this form of command entry was dubbed VLL (Visual Light Link) and has been used in several later Lego models. Scout Lego also released a blue computer called the Scout, which has 2 sensor ports, 2 motor ports, and a built in light sensor, but no PC interface. It comes with the Robotics Discovery Set. The Scout can be programmed from a collection of built-in program combinations. In order to program the Scout, a user must enable "power mode" on it. The Scout can store one program. There was a plan for Lego to create a booster set that allows you to program the Scout from a computer with a software such as RCX code. However, due to the complexity of this project, it was abandoned. The RCX can control the Scout brick using the "Send IR Message" program block. The RCX does all of the controlling, and therefore can be programmed with the PC, while the Scout accepts commands. The Scout brick must have all of its options set to "off". The Scout is also capable of using VLL to control a Micro Scout. Micro Scout The Micro Scout was added as an entry level to Lego robotics. It is a very limited Pbrick with a single built-in light sensor and a single built-in motor. It has seven built-in programs and can be controlled by a Scout, Spybotics or RCX unit using VLL. The unit was sold as part of the Droid Developer Kit (featuring R2D2) and later the Darkside Developer Kit (featuring an AT-AT Imperial Walker). Spybotics Main article: Lego Spybotics Spybotics is a robotics package. It consists of four colour-coded robots called Spybots, a programming language with which to control the Spybots, and ten simulated missions. Lego Mindstorms NXT Logo of Lego NXT. "Golf bot" a robot built with the NXT set. Main article: Lego Mindstorms NXT Lego Mindstorms NXT is a programmable robotics kit released by Lego in July 2006, replacing the first-generation LEGO Mindstorms kit. The kit consists of 519 Technic pieces, 3 servo motors, 4 sensors (ultrasonic, sound, touch, and light), 7 connection cables, a USB interface cable, and the NXT Intelligent Brick. The Intelligent Brick is the "brain" of a Mindstorms machine. It lets the robot autonomously perform different operations. The kit also includes NXT-G, a graphical programming environment that enables the creation and downloading of programs to the NXT. Lego Mindstorms NXT 2.0 Main article: Lego Mindstorms NXT 2.0 The Lego Mindstorms NXT 2.0 was launched on August 5, 2009. It contains 619 pieces (includes sensors and motors), the new Color Sensor, two Touch Sensors and an Ultrasonic Sensor. It costs around USD 280. The new Color Sensor. Programming languages Further information: Lego Mindstorms NXT#Programming Name Language type(s) Notes URL Actor-Lab Custom flowchart-like language Ada Ada Requires nxtOSEK Ada Interface to MindStorms Ada brickOS C/C++ Ch C/C++ Interpreter Control Lego Mindstorm in C/C++ interactively without compilation FLL NXT Navigation Uses NXT-G and .txt files http://fllnxtnavigation.codeplex.com/ FLL NXT Navigation GCC C/C++, Objective C, Fortran, Java, Ada among others , GNU Toolchain for h8300 C/C++, ASM jaraco.nxt Python Python modules providing low-level interfaces for controlling a Lego NXT brick via Bluetooth. Also includes code for controlling motors with an Xbox 360 controller using pyglet. LabVIEW National Instruments LabVIEW Visual programming language (G code) Core language used to develop Mindstorms NXT software. Can use available add-on kit to create and download programs to NXT, create original NXT blocks or control robot directly via USB or Bluetooth using NXT fantom.dll Lego.NET Anything that can compile to .NET, works best with C# Does not come with a compiler, converts bytecode to machine code Lego::NXT Perl Set of Perl modules providing real-time low-level control of a Lego NXT brick over Bluetooth. LegoNXTRemote Objective C Remote control program for remotely operating and programming a Lego NXT Brick. Supports NXT 2.0 and 1.0, sensors, all 3 motors, automatic "steering" control, and running preloaded programs. leJOS Java A java based system for advanced programmers can handle most sensors and things like GPS, speech recognition and mapping technology. Can be interfaced with the Eclipse IDE or run from the command line NXTGCC Assembler, C, makefiles, Eclipse, etc. The first GCC toolchain for programming the Lego Mindstorms NXT firmware. nxtOSEK C librcx C/C++ A library for GCC Logitech SDK Visual Basic, Visual C++ Can be combined with an RCX control library such as spirit.ocx from the MindStorms SDK to make use of the Lego Cam [dead link] MicroWorlds EX Robotics Edition This is a program in the MicroWorlds series that allows students to control the NXT. NQC NQC, a C-like language This is the most widely used unofficial language NXT++ C++ Allows you to control the NXT directly from any C++ program, in Visual Studio, Windows. NXT_Python Python NXT_Python is a package for controlling a LEGO NXT robot using the Python programming language. It can communicate using either USB or Bluetooth. NXT-Python Python NXT-Python is a newer version of NXT_Python, and has some extra capabilities. The svn repository is at Google code. Anyone can contribute, just ask. Lestat C++ Allows you to control the NXT directly from any C++ program in Linux. OCaml Mindstorm OCaml Module to control LEGO NXT robots using OCaml through the Bluetooth and USB interfaces. Mindstorms SDK Visual Basic, Visual C++, MindScript, LASM You do not need VB to use the VB features as MS Office comes with a cut down version of VB for making macros Unofficial Site. The LEGO Company no longer offers technical support to advanced users on the historical MINDSTORMS range, specifically those using the SDK 2.5 (RCX and Scout), and Spybotics range. Related tools and documentation were removed from the Official LEGO MINDSTORMS website in 2008. OnScreen A custom language which can be programmed directly on the RCX pbForth Forth PBrickDev PBrickDev, a flowchart based language. Has more functionality than the RIS language, such as datalogs and subroutines/multithreading. PRO-BOT A kind of Visual Basic/spirit.ocx-based language Designed for robots which are in contact with the workstation at all times QuiteC C A library for use with GCC and comes with GCC for Windows. RCX Code RCX Code, a custom flowchart-based language Included in the Mindstorms consumer version sold at toystore [dead link] ROBOLAB A flowchart language based on LabVIEW This is the programming environment offered to schools who use MindStorms, supports the Lego Cam RoboRealm A multi-platform language that works with IRobot Roomba, NXT, RCX, VEX, and many other popular robotic sets. This language is also capable for video processing using a webcam, this gives your robot excellent vision since it can filter out certain colors, lock-on to a certain area of color, display variables from the robot or computer, and much more. The software works with keyboard, joystick, and mouse. This software is freeware. ROBOTC A multi-platform C programming language designed for the programmer in need of powerful debugging tools for the NXT, RCX, VEX, and soon-to-be FIRST Controller (for FRC). ROBOTC gives the ability to use a text-based language based on the C programming language. It includes built-in debugger tools, as well as (but not limited to) code templates, Math/Trig operations (sin, cos,tan, asin,acos... etc), user-friendly auto-complete function built into the interface, built-in sample programs ruby-nxt Ruby Provides low-level access to the NXT via Bluetooth as well as some preliminary high-level functionality. RWTH Mindstorms NXT Toolbox MATLAB Interface to control the NXT from MATLAB via Bluetooth or USB (open-source). SqLego Squeak TclRCX Tcl Terrapin Logo LOGO TinySoar Soar An implementation of the Soar artificial intelligence architecture that runs on the RCX brick. Soar incorporates acting, planning, and learning in a rule-based framework. TinyVM Java A predecessor to the lejos language. An open source Java based replacement firmware for the Lego Mindstorms RCX microcontroller. The Transterpreter Occam Gostai URBI for Lego Mindstorms NXT URBI, C++, Java, Matlab Easy to use parallel and event-driven script language with a component architecture and opensource interfaces to many programming languages. It also offers voice/speech recognition/synthesis, face recognition/detection, Simultaneous localization and mapping, etc. Vision Command RCX Code The official programming language for use with the Lego Cam, that allows you to control your robot with color, motion, and flashes of light. [dead link] XS Lisp LegoLog Prolog Uses an NQC program to interpret commands send from the PC running the Prolog code Microsoft Visual Programming Language (VPL) Graphical flowchart, based on .NET With the Microsoft Robotics Studio, it uses a native NXT program msrs to send and receive messages to and from a controlling program on a computer via Bluetooth DialogOS Graphical Flowchart for voice controlled robots DialogOS combines speech recognition and speech synthesis with robotics, enabling you to build talking robots that react to your voice commands. Processing Java (Simplified / programmed C-style) Processing (programming language) is an open source programming language and environment for people who want to program images, animation, and interactions. It is used by students, artists, designers, researchers, and hobbyists for learning, prototyping, and production. To control the NXT with Processing you can use the NXTComm Processing library developed by Jorge Cardoso. , Interactive C C-style language. Language developed for the Botball robotics competition pbLua API for the Lua programming language for the Mindstorms NXT, text-based pBLua: ... is written in portable C, with minimal runtime requirements; can be compiled on the fly on NXT; is a small, easy to read, and easy to write language; has extensive documentation available online and in dead-tree format, and a very friendly newsgroup pbLua, Lua.org Community There is a strong community of professionals and hobbyists of all ages involved in the sharing of designs, programming techniques, and other ideas associated with Lego Mindstorms. The Lego Mindstorms system/website is organized much like a wiki, harnessing the creative potential and collaborative efforts of participants. Lego also encourages sharing and peering by making software code available for downloading and by holding various contests and events. See also Robotics portal FIRST Lego League RoboCup Junior Legoscript Vex Robotics Design System Big Trak iRobot Create LabVIEW Robofest Actor Lab The Robotic Workshop URBI Lego Logo, an earlier use of Lego bricks with computer control. Robotics suite Notes ^ "LEGOsheets". LEGOgang. http://l3d.cs.colorado.edu/systems/legosheets/Home.html. Retrieved 2008-12-03. ^ http://lcs.www.media.mit.edu/groups/el/projects/programmable-brick/[dead link] ^ "Programmable Bricks". Projects. MIT Media Lab. http://llk.media.mit.edu/projects.php?id=135. Retrieved 2008-12-03. ^ http://www.ceeo.tufts.edu/[dead link] ^ The Origins of Mindstorms from Wired ^ http://osdir.com/ml/hardware.lego.robotics/2007-08/msg00017.html ^ http://flickr.com/photos/brickjournal/3079324996/in/set-72157610670686416/ ^ "What NXT? LEGO Group Unveils LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Robotics Toolset at Consumer Electronics Show". Press Release. LAS VEGAS: LEGO Company. January 4, 2006. http://www.lego.com/eng/info/default.asp?page=pressdetail&contentid=17278&countrycode=2057&yearcode=&archive=false. Retrieved 2008-12-03. ^ "jaraco.nxt Download". jaraco.com. http://www.jaraco.com/projects/jaraco.nxt. Retrieved 2008-12-03. ^ "nxt sensor value viewer". Diegobaca.co.uk. http://www.diegobaca.co.uk/NXT/nxt.html. Retrieved 2008-12-03. References Bagnall, Brian. Maximum LEGO NXT: Building Robots with Java Brains Variant Press. 2007. ISBN 0-9738649-1-5 Bagnall, Brian. Core LEGO Mindstorms Prentice-Hall PTR. 2002. ISBN 0-13-009364-5 Baum, Dave. Definitive Guide to LEGO MINDSTORMS, 2nd ed. Apress. 2002. ISBN 1-59059-063-5. Erwin, Benjamin. Creative Projects with LEGO Mindstorms (book and CD-ROM). Addison-Wesley. 2001. ISBN 0-201-70895-7. Ferrari et al. Building Robots with LEGO Mindstorms: The Ultimate Tool for Mindstorms Maniacs. Syngress. 2001. ISBN 1-928994-67-9. Gindling, J., A. Ioannidou, J. Loh, O. Lokkebo, and A. Repenning., "LEGOsheets: A Rule-Based Programming, Simulation and Manipulation Environment for the LEGO Programmable Brick," Proceeding of Visual Languages, Darmstadt, Germany, IEEE Computer Society Press, 1995, pp. 172179. 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