Index

Numbers

1/2 connector pegs, 16

2M axle pegs, 14

3D printing, 192-193

3M connector pegs, 12-13

3M cross axles, Backscratcher Bot project, 43

5M beams, Backscratcher Bot project, 47

5M cross axles, Backscratcher Bot project, 44

7M beams, Backscratcher Bot project, 46

15M beams, Backscratcher Bot project, 46

A

action figures (minifigs), 121

additional parts, finding

3D printing, 192-193

BrickLink website, 189

LEGO Education website, 189

Pick a Brick website, 189

third-party brick makers

Bricktronics website, 190

Omni Wheels website, 190

Tetrix Robotics website, 191

Alpha Rex robot, building, 7-8

angle beams, 24-25

Backscratcher Bot project, 45

stronger models, building, 124

angle elements, 26

arrow buttons (NXT bricks), 59

artwork, LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 box, 9

axles

2M axle pegs, 14

3M cross axles, Backscratcher Bot project, 43

5M cross axles, Backscratcher Bot project, 44

cross-axle connectors, 27

cross axles, 17

building stronger models, 125-126

cross axles with end stops, 18-19

rubber axle connectors, 28

B

Backscratcher Bot, building, 37

batteries, 38-39

NXT bricks

adding batteries to, 38-39

connections, 93

programming, 49-55, 92-93

required parts list, 40-42

running, 56

step-by-step build instructions, 42-48

balls, 21

Barometric sensors, 140

batteries and NXT bricks, 38-39, 58, 77

BayLUG website, 185

beams

5M beams, Backscratcher Bot project, 47

7M beams, Backscratcher Bot project, 46

15M beams, Backscratcher Bot project, 46

angle beams, 24-25

Backscratcher Bot project, 45

building stronger models, 124

beams with pegs, 22

M numbers, 23

Bionicle teeth, 21, 43

blocks

Bluetooth blocks, 152

Constant blocks, 149

creating, 154-156

cross blocks, 27-28

Backscratcher Bot project, 45

building stronger models, 124-125

Display blocks, 152

Keep Alive blocks, 150-151

Light Sensor blocks, 151

Logic blocks, 153

Loop blocks, 88, 177-179

Move blocks, 89, 179-180

NXT-G blocks

Color Sensor blocks, 87

data hubs, 86

defining, 85

Loop blocks, 88

Move blocks, 89

NXT Buttons blocks, 89

programming blocks, 85

Switch blocks, 90

Ultrasonic Sensor blocks, 91

Wait blocks, 91

pallettes, 87

Random blocks, 150

Receive Message blocks (Bluetooth blocks), 152

Rotation Sensor blocks, 151

Send Message blocks (Bluetooth blocks), 152

Switch blocks, 90, 178

Variable blocks, 148-149

blogs (LEGO-related), 181

Bluetooth

Bluetooth blocks, 152

Bluetooth menu (NXT bricks), 73-77

connections, establishing, 77

NXT bricks, 58

box (LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0)

artwork, 9

creative licensing and, 7

opening, 9

varying part quantities in, 11

BrickCon, 186

BrickFair, 186

BrickJournal magazine, 188

BrickLink website, 189

brick makers (third-party)

Bricktronics website, 190

Omni Wheels website, 190

Tetrix Robotics website, 191

bricks

chassis bricks, building stronger models, 128

NXT bricks, 35, 57

adding batteries to, 38-39

arrow buttons, 59

Backscratcher Bot project, 48, 93

batteries, 58, 77

Bluetooth, 58, 73-77, 152

connector holes, 61-62

crashes, 78

Display blocks and, 152

Enter (orange) button, 59

firmware updates, 78-79

go back (gray) button, 59

gray (go back) button, 59

Keep Alive blocks and, 150-151

My Files menu, 63-66

naming, 58

NXT Datalog menu, 70

NXT Program menu, 66

NXT Version item, 72

orange (Enter) button, 59

ports, 59-60

powering, 77-78

reset button, 62-63

resetting, 78

Running icon, 58

Settings menu, 70-73

shutoff switch, 77-78

sleep feature, 72, 77

Try Me menu, 67

USB, 58

View menu, 68-70

System bricks

building stronger models, 126-127

original LEGO system bricks, 30

Technic bricks, 126-127

Bricktronics website, 190

BrickWorld, 186

broken connections, gray wires and, 146

build competitions, 186-187

build instructions (step-by-step)

Backscratcher Bot, 42-48

Clothesline Cruiser, 97, 102, 113, 119

Rebounder robot, 159-161, 166, 170, 173-175

bumps (Touch sensors), 132

bushings, 16

Backscratcher Bot project, 44

connector pegs with bushings, 13

C

CAD (computer-aided design) programs, LDD, 183-184

calibrating

blocks, 137

sensors, 136

cams, 28

car parts, 25

chassis bricks, building stronger models, 128

Clothesline Cruiser

parts needed, 96

programming, 119

setting up, 120

step-by-step build instructions, 97, 102, 113, 119

Touch sensors, 95

ultrasonic sensors, 95

uses for, 121

color

Color Sensor blocks (NXT-G), 87

color sensors, 31-33

availability of, 134

color lamps, 133

LEGO Mindstorm NXT 2.0 parts, 10

combination parts, building stronger models, 124-125

Common Pallette, 87

compass sensors, 138

competitions (build), 186-187

Complete Pallette, 87

Configuration panel (Mindstorms work area), 87

connections

broken connections and gray wires, 146

multiple connections, building stronger models, 123

connector holes, NXT bricks, 61-62

connector pegs, 11

1/2 connector pegs, 16

3M connector pegs, 12-13

Backscratcher Bot project, 45-46

connector pegs with bushings, 13

connector pegs with towballs, 15

Constant blocks, 149

conventions/gatherings

BrickCon, 186

BrickFair, 186

BrickWorld, 186

LUGs, 185

corners (reinforced), building strong models, 124

crashes (NXT bricks), resetting from, 78

Create My Block, 154

cross axles, 17, 27

3M cross axles, Backscratcher Bot project, 43

5M cross axles, Backscratcher Bot project, 44

cross axles with end stops, 18-19

stronger models, building, 125-126

cross blocks, 27-28

Backscratcher Bot project, 45

stronger models, building, 124-125

cross connectors, 14

cross holes, 14

Custom Pallette, 87

D

data hubs, 86

datalog files (NXT brick My Files menu), 66

data wires

connecting, 147

gray wires, 146

green wires, 144

orange wires, 145-146

physical wires vs., 143

yellow wires, 145

Delete Files option (NXT bricks), 73

deleting

files

replacing deleted files, 73

Settings menu (NXT bricks), 71

preflight files, 84

sound files, 65

diagnostics, View menu (NXT bricks), 68

dIMU (Inertial Motion) sensor, 140

Display blocks, 152

downloading programming, Backscratcher Bot, 94

E - F

end stops (cross axles with), 18-19

Enter (orange) button (NXT bricks), 59

figures (minifigs), 121

files (NXT brick My Files menu)

datalog files, 66

NXT files, 65

software files, 64

sound files, 65-66

finding

additional parts

3D printing, 192-193

BrickLink website, 189

Bricktronics website, 190

LEGO Education website, 189

Omni Wheels website, 190

Pick a Brick website, 189

Tetrix Robotics website, 191

Universal Connector Kit, 193

Technic bricks online, 127

firmware updates, NXT bricks, 78-79

Flex sensors, 139

FLL (FIRST LEGO League), 186-187

further reading

BrickJournal magazine, 188

Mindstorms website, 182

NXT STEP blog, 181

G

gatherings/conventions

BrickCon, 186

BrickFair, 186

BrickWorld, 186

LUGs, 185

gears, 20

gray (go back) button (NXT bricks), 59

gray wires, 146

green wires, 144

H

half bushings, 16

help

BrickJournal magazine, 188

LEGO Mindstorms User Guide, 10

Mindstorms User Guide, 49

Mindstorms website, 182

NXT STEP blog, 181

programming, troubleshooting, 94

Help window (Mindstorms work area), 87

holes

connector holes (NXT bricks), 61-62

cross holes, 14

Technic holes, 14

I

Inertial Motion sensors, 140

Infrared (PIR) sensors, 138

installing NXT-G

Mac installations, 84-85

PC installations, 83-84

instructions (step-by-step)

Backscratcher Bot, 42-48

Clothesline Cruiser, 97, 102, 113, 119

Rebounder robot, 159-161, 166, 170, 173-175

interactive servo motors, 32

J - K - L

joiners (peg), 29

Keep Alive blocks, 150-151

launchers (ShooterBot), 28

LDD (LEGO Digital Designer), 183-184

legged robots, Touch sensors, 132

LEGO Education website, 189

LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 box

artwork, 9

creative licensing and, 7

opening, 9

varying part quantities in, 11

LEGO Mindstorms User Guide, 10

length. See M numbers

Leopard (Mac OS 10.5), NXT-G installations, 85

liftarms, Backscratcher Bot project, 46

Light Sensor blocks, 151

Linux, NXT-G system requirements, 82

Logic blocks, 153

Logic data and green wires, 144

Loop blocks

NXT-G, 88

Rebounder robot, 177-179

LUGs (LEGO User Groups), 185

M

M numbers, 17

2M axle pegs, 14

3M connector pegs, 12-13

3M cross axles, Backscratcher Bot project, 43

5M cross axles, Backscratcher Bot project, 44

beams, 23

5M beams, Backscratcher Bot project, 47

7M beams, Backscratcher Bot project, 46

15M beams, Backscratcher Bot project, 46

cross axles

3M cross axles, Backscratcher Bot project, 43

5M cross axles, Backscratcher Bot project, 44

Macs, NXT-G installations

Leopard (10.5) installations, 85

preflight files, 84

Snow Leopard (10.6) installations, 85

system requirements, 82

magazines (LEGO-related)

BrickJournal, 188

ShooterBot, 28

Magnetic sensors, 139

menus (NXT bricks)

Bluetooth menu, 73-77

My Files menu, 63

datalog files, 66

NXT files, 65

software files, 64

sound files, 65-66

NXT Datalog menu, 70

NXT Program menu, 66

Settings menu, 70

Delete Files option, 73

Volume menu, 71

Try Me menu, 67

View menu, 68-70

Volume menu, 71

Mindstorms software

Clothesline Cruiser, programming, 119

Mindstorms User Guide, 49

Mindstorms website, 182

Rebounder robot, programming, 176-180

welcome screen, 82

work area, 86-87

minifigs, 121

models (virtual), LDD, 183-184

motion sensors (Inertial), 140

motors, 31

Backscratcher Bot project, 46

interactive servo motors, 32

NXT brick ports, 60

sensors as, 135

Move blocks

NXT-G, 89

Rebounder robot, 179, 180

multiple connections, building stronger models, 123

multiple pegs, building stronger models, 123

My Files menu (NXT bricks), 63

datalog files, 66

NXT files, 65

software files, 64

sound files, 65-66

My Portal (Mindstorms work area), 87

N

naming NXT bricks, 58

NCLUG website, 185

NELUG website, 185

Number data and yellow wires, 145

NXT bricks, 35, 57

arrow buttons, 59

Backscratcher Bot project, 48, 93

batteries, 38-39, 58

Bluetooth, 58, 73-77, 152

connector holes, 61-62

crashes, resetting from, 78

Display blocks and, 152

Enter (orange) button, 59

firmware updates, 78-79

gray (go back) button, 59

Keep Alive blocks and, 150-151

menus

Bluetooth menu, 73-77

My Files menu, 63-66

NXT Datalog menu, 70

NXT Program menu, 66

Settings menu, 70-73

Try Me menu, 67

View menu, 68-70

naming, 58

NXT Version item, 72

orange (Enter) button, 59

ports, 59-60

powering

batteries, 77

shutoff switch, 77-78

sleep feature, 77

reset button, 62-63

Running icon, 58

sleep feature, 72, 77

USB, 58

NXT Buttons blocks (NXT-G), 89

NXT controller (Mindstorms work area), 87

NXT Datalog menu (NXT bricks), 70

NXT files (NXT brick My Files menu), 65

NXT-G

Backscratcher Bot, programming, 92

blocks

data hubs, 86

defining, 85

Clothesline Cruiser, programming, 119

Color Sensor blocks, 87

Linux system requirements, 82

Loop blocks, 88

Macs

installing on, 84-85

Leopard (10.5) installations, 85

Snow Leopard (10.6) installations, 85

system requirements, 82

Move blocks, 89

NXT Buttons blocks, 89

PCs

installing on, 83-84

system requirements, 82

programming blocks, 85

Rebounder robot, programming, 176-180

Switch blocks, 90

Ultrasonic Sensor blocks, 91

Wait blocks, 91

NXT Program menu (NXT bricks), 66

NXT STEP blog, 181

NXT Version item (NXT bricks), 72

O - P

Omni Wheels website, 190

orange (Enter) button (NXT bricks), 59

orange wires, 145-146

pallettes

Common Pallette, 87

Complete Pallette, 87

Custom Pallette, 87

parts (additional), finding

3D printing, 192-193

BrickLink website, 189

LEGO Education website, 189

Pick a Brick website, 189

third-party brick makers

Bricktronics website, 190

Omni Wheels website, 190

Tetrix Robotics website, 191

PCs, NXT-G installations, 82-84

peg joiners, 29

pegs

2M axle pegs, 14

3M connector pegs, 12-13

beams with pegs, 22

connector pegs, 11

1/2 connector pegs, 16

3M connector pegs, 12-13

Backscratcher Bot project, 45-46

connector pegs with bushings, 13

connector pegs with towballs, 15

cross connectors, 14

multiple pegs, building stronger models, 123

permissions, NXT-G PC installations, 84

Pick a Brick website, 189

pins (Technic), 28

PIR (Passive Infrared) sensors, 138

ports (NXT bricks), 59-60

powering NXT bricks

batteries, 77

shutoff switch, 77-78

preflight files, deleting, 84

presses (Touch sensors), 132

printing (3D), 192-193

programming

Backscratcher Bot, 49-55

creating programming, 92

downloading programming, 94

NXT brick connections, 93

calibrating blocks, 137

Clothesline Cruiser, 119

Rebounder robot, 176-180

troubleshooting, 94

programming blocks (NXT-G), 85

R

Random blocks, 150

reading

BrickJournal magazine, 188

BrickLink website, 189

LEGO Mindstorms User Guide, 10

Mindstorms User Guide, 49

NXT STEP blog, 181

ShooterBot magazine, 28

Rebounder robot, 157

Loop blocks, 177-179

Move blocks, 179-180

parts needed, 158

programming, 176-180

step-by-step build instructions, 159-161, 166, 170, 173-175

Switch blocks, 178

tank treads, 175

Receive Message blocks (Bluetooth blocks), 152

rechargeable batteries, NXT bricks, 77

reinforced corners, building stronger models, 124

releases (Touch sensors), 132

replacing deleted files, 73

reset button (NXT bricks), 62-63

resetting NXT bricks, 78

rims and tires, 19

RoboCenter (Mindstorms work area), 87

Rotation Sensor blocks, 151

rubber axle connectors, 28

Running icon (NXT bricks), 58

S

Send Message blocks (Bluetooth blocks), 152

sensors, 131

Barometric sensors, 140

calibrating, 136-137

Color sensors, 31-33

availability of, 134

color lamps, 133

compass sensors, 138

dIMU, 140

Flex sensors, 139

Inertial Motion sensors, 140

Magnetic sensors, 139

motion (Inertial), 140

motors as, 135

NXT brick ports, 60

PIR sensors, 138

Sound sensors, 134

Touch sensors, 31-32, 95, 132

Ultrasonic sensors, 31, 95, 133

voltage sensors, 140

VoltMeter, 140

Wi-Fi sensors, 138

sequence beams (Mindstorms work area), 87

servo motors (interactive), 32

Settings menu (NXT bricks), 70

Delete Files option, 73

Volume menu, 71

ShooterBot magazine, 28, 49

shutoff switch (NXT bricks), 77-78

sleep feature (NXT bricks), 72, 77

Snow Leopard (Mac OS 10.6), NXT-G installations, 85

software files (NXT brick My Files menu), 64

sound files

NXT brick My Files menu), 65-66

Volume menu (NXT bricks), 71

Sound sensors, 134

starting point (Mindstorms work area), 87

steering links, 26

stronger models, building techniques

angle beams, 124

chassis bricks, 128

combination parts, 124-125

cross axles, 125-126

cross blocks, 124-125

multiple connections, 123

multiple pegs, 123

reinforced corners, 124

System bricks, 126-127

Technic bricks, 126-127

Switch blocks

NXT-G, 90

Rebounder robot, 178

System bricks

original LEGO system bricks, 30

stronger models, building, 126-127

system requirements (NXT-G)

Linux, 82

Macs, 82

PCs, 82

T

tank treads, 19, 175

Technic bricks

stronger models, building, 126-127

web resources, 127

Technic holes, 14

Technic pins, 28

teeth (Bionicle), 21, 43

Tetrix Robotics website, 191

Text data and orange wires, 145-146

third-party brick makers

Bricktronics website, 190

Omni Wheels website, 190

Tetrix Robotics website, 191

tires and rims, 19

toolbar (Mindstorms work area), 87

tooth gears, 20

ToroLUG website, 185

Touch sensors, 31-32, 95, 132

towballs, connector pegs with, 15

treads, 19

troubleshooting programming, 94

Try Me menu (NXT bricks), 67

TwinLUG website, 185

U

ultrasonic sensor, 31

Ultrasonic Sensor blocks (NXT-G), 91

Ultrasonic sensors, 95, 133

Universal Connector Kit, 193

updating NXT brick firmware, 78-79

USB

NXT brick ports, 59-60

NXT bricks, 58

USB cable, 31, 34

user profile (Mindstorms work area), 87

V

Variable blocks, 148-149

versioning, NXT Version item (NXT bricks), 72

View menu (NXT bricks), 68-70

virtual models, LDD, 183-184

voltage sensors, 140

VoltMeter, 140

Volume menu (NXT bricks), 71

W

Wait blocks (NXT-G), 91

web resources, Technic bricks, 127

websites

BayLUG, 185

BrickLink, 189

Bricktronics, 190

LEGO Education, 189

NCLUG, 185

NELUG, 185

Omni Wheels, 190

Pick a Brick, 189

Tetrix Robotics, 191

ToroLUG, 185

TwinLUG, 185

Universal Connector Kit, 193

welcome screen (Mindstorms software), 82

wheels, 19, 190

Wi-Fi sensors, 138

Windows. See PCs

wires, 31, 35

Backscratcher Bot project, 48

data wires, 143

connecting, 147

gray wires, 146

green wires, 144

orange wires, 145-146

yellow wires, 145

Mindstorms work area, 87

physical wires, 143

work area (Mindstorms), 86-87

X - Y - Z

yellow wires, 145