Index

Symbols

3D printers, 170-174

5x3 bricks, 157-158

8-channel servo controller, 241

80/20 interface, 173

A

absolute IMU-ACG (accelerometer), 250-251

accelerometers, 250-251

alternatives to EV3. See controllers

aluminum bricks, 166-167

Arduino

Ball Counting Robot project, 117-118

Bricktronics shield, 107-108

components of, 106-107

Mini Tank project, 115-116

resources for information, 151-152

Robot Flower project, 150-155

building instructions, 153

parts list, 152

programming instructions, 154-155

Arduino-to-LEGO interface pieces, 169

B

backlights, 239

Ball Contraption project, 177

building instructions, 179-223

creating bricks, 225

baseplate, 226-232

gear, 233-237

parts list, 178-179

programming instructions, 224-225

Ball Counting Robot project, 117-118

baseplate, creating (Ball Contraption project), 226-232

BeagleBone Black (BBB)

components of, 110-111

EVB cape, 112

Gyro Boy project, 119-120

beams, curved, 161-162

black wires, 53

blue wires, 53

Bluetooth controls

explained, 57-58

Remote-Controlled Crane project, 98-103

Book Reader project, 114-115

breadboard-to-PF hybrid wires, 55-56

breakout boards, 54

BrickPi

installing, 292-294, 297-301

mounting plates, 169-170

shield, 62, 110

Book Reader project, 114-115

bricks, creating, 157-158

Ball Contraption project, 225

baseplate, 226-232

gear, 233-237

designing parts, 158

dimensions, 159

output and iteration stages, 161

software for design files, 160

finding designs, 161-164

parametric 3D models, 175

tools for output, 164

3D printers, 170-174

CNC mills, 164-167

laser cutters, 167-170

Brickstuff

light strands, 245

proximity sensor, 247-248

Bricktronics, 240

shield, 3, 107-108

Mini Tank project, 115-116

Budel, Tristram, 166-167

building instructions

Ball Contraption project, 179-223

Flagpole Climber project, 262-287

Plotter Bot project, 9-43

Raspberry Pi and BrickPi installation, 294-298

Remote-Controlled Crane project, 65-92

Robot Flower project, 125-146

Arduino version, 153

C

C programming language, RobotC, 121

cables. See wires

Cailliau, Robert, 159

cameras, Pixy, 248-249

capes, 111

Cartesian coordinates, 43-44

changing wire length, 53-54

Chocolate Milk Maker project, 116-117

Chronodot, 113-114

CNC (computer-numerically controlled) mills, 164-167

Commander app, 57

Remote-Controlled Crane project, 98-103

connections

wireless

Bluetooth controls, 57-58

BrickPi shield, 62

IR (infrared) controls, 56-57

PlayStation controllers, 60-61

RC (radio control) technology, 59-60

Wi-Fi dongles, 61

XBee modules, 58-59

wires

breadboard-to-PF hybrid wires, 55-56

breakout boards, 54

changing length of, 53-54

components of, 52-53

length of, 51-52

controllers, 105

Arduino

Bricktronics shield, 107-108

components of, 106-107

resources for information, 151-152

Robot Flower project, 150-155

Ball Counting Robot project, 117-118

BeagleBone Black

components of, 110-111

EVB cape, 112

Book Reader project, 114-115

Chocolate Milk Maker project, 116-117

Gyro Boy project, 119-120

Mini Tank project, 115-116

PlayStation controller interface, 257

programming environments, 120

LeJos, 121

Monobrick, 121

RobotC, 121

Raspberry Pi, 291

BrickPi shield, 110

components of, 108-109

installing, 292-294, 297-301

instructional overview, 292

reasons for using EV3 alternatives, 112-114

relay drivers, 256

Rolling Alarm Robot project, 118-119

sBrick, 256-257

XBee modules, 258

crane project. See Remote-Controlled Crane project

Creative Robotics, Hub-ee wheels, 242

curved beams, 161-162

Customizable Technic Hub, 175

D

dCompass module, 3-4

designing bricks, 158

dimensions, 159

finding designs, 161-164

output and iteration stages, 161

parametric 3D models, 175

software for design files, 160

tools for output, 164

3D printers, 170-174

CNC mills, 164-167

laser cutters, 167-170

Dexter Industries

BrickPi installation, 292

dGPS, 246-247

dLights, 244-245

dPressure, 251

NXTBee, 58

thermal infrared sensor, 252

XBee modules, 258

dGPS sensor, 246-247

dimensions, designing bricks, 159

dLights, 244-245

dPressure sensor, 251

drawing pens. See Plotter Bot project

E

ecosystems for hardware and code, 113

Education set. See LEGO Education

education usage, 113

EV3, alternatives to. See controllers

EVB cape, 112

Gyro Boy project, 119-120

F

finding brick designs, 161-164

Flagpole Climber project, 259-260

building instructions, 262-287

installing ultrasonic sensor, 289

parts list, 260-261

programming instructions, 288

programming ultrasonic sensor, 290-291

Raspberry Pi and BrickPi installation, 292-301

troubleshooting, 301

Flexi-Cables, 52

Flower project. See Robot Flower project

G

gear, creating (Ball Contraption project), 233-237

GoPro camera mount, 171-172

green wires, 53

Grove Sensor Adapter, 246

Gyro Boy project, 119-120

H

hacking suggestions

Plotter Bot project, 49

wireless controls

BrickPi shield, 62

PlayStation controllers, 60-61

RC (radio control) technology, 59-60

Wi-Fi dongles, 61

XBee wireless modules, 58-59

wires

breadboard-to-PF hybrid wires, 55-56

breakout boards, 54

changing length of, 53-54

HiTechnic NXT Extended Connector Cable Set, 52

Hub-ee wheels, 242

I

infrared (IR) controls

Remote-Controlled Crane project, 98

sensors and beacons, 56-57

Inkscape, 160

installing

BrickPi, 292-301

Raspberry Pi, 292-301

ultrasonic sensor (Flagpole Climber project), 289

interface pieces

80/20 interface, 173

Arduino-to-LEGO pieces, 169

PlayStation controller interface, 257

Universal Connector Kit, 172

IR (infrared) controls. See infrared (IR) controls

iteration stage (designing bricks), 161

J-L

Janssen, Jorg, 157

Java, LeJos programming environment, 121

Klann linkage, 165-166

laser cutters, 167-170

LazerStorm mounting plates, 168

LDraw, 163

LEGO bricks. See bricks, creating

LEGO Education, 252

NXT temperature sensor, 253-254

pneumatics add-on set, 252-253

LeJos, 121

length of wires

changing, 53-54

standard lengths, 51-52

libraries, 107

lighting

backlights, 239

Brickstuff light strands, 245

NXT light sensor, 253

RGB LED modules, 244-245

linear actuators, 242-243

Linux, 112

M

Makeblock building set, 4

Makeblock Constructor, 170

McFarlan, Stuart, 169

mechanum (omni) wheels, 174, 240-241

Medwin, Steve, 161-162, 175

Meno, Joe, 239

microcomputers. See controllers

Mindsensors

8-channel servo controller, 241

absolute IMU-ACG (accelerometer), 250

Flexi-Cables, 52

Grove Sensor Adapter, 246

mux (multiplexer), 249

Pixy camera, 248

PlayStation controller interface, 257

relay driver, 256

servo-actuated pneumatic valve, 243

Mini Tank project, 115-116

Monobrick, 121

Motor Driver, 240

motors

8-channel servo controller, 241

Hub-ee wheels, 242

linear actuators, 242-243

Motor Driver, 240

moving (Plotter Bot project), 44-47

pneumatics add-on set, 253

servo-actuated pneumatic valves, 243-244

stepper motors, 7

mounting plates

BrickPi, 169-170

LazerStorm, 168

moving motors (Plotter Bot project), 44-47

mux (multiplexer), 249-250

N

NetGear WNA1100 dongle, 61

NXT, 252

light sensor, 253

sound sensor, 254

temperature sensor, 253-254

ultrasonic sensor, 255

Flagpole Climber project, 289-291

NXT Extended Connector Cable Set, 52

NXTBee, 59

O

omni wheels, 174, 240-241

output stage (designing bricks), 161

outputting bricks, tools for, 164

3D printers, 170-174

CNC mills, 164-167

laser cutters, 167-170

P-Q

parametric 3D models, 175

parts, creating. See bricks, creating

parts list

Ball Contraption project, 178-179

Flagpole Climber project, 260-261

Plotter Bot project, 8-9

Raspberry Pi and BrickPi installation, 294

Remote-Controlled Crane project, 64

Robot Flower project, 124-125

Arduino version, 152

pens, drawing. See Plotter Bot project

PF (Power Functions), breadboard-to-PF hybrid wires, 55-56

Pi. See Raspberry Pi

Pixy camera, 248-249

PlayStation controllers, 60-61

interface for, 257

Plotter Bot project, 7

building instructions, 9-43

parts list, 8-9

programming instructions, 43-44

hacking suggestions, 49

motor movement, 44-47

resetting X axis, 47-48

pneumatics

dPressure sensor, 251

LEGO add-on set, 252-253

servo-actuated pneumatic valves, 243-244

printers, 3D, 170-174

programming environments, 120

LeJos, 121

Monobrick, 121

RobotC, 121

programming instructions

Ball Contraption project, 224-225

Flagpole Climber project, 288

ultrasonic sensor, 290-291

Plotter Bot project, 43-44

hacking suggestions, 49

motor movement, 44-47

resetting X axis, 47-48

Raspberry Pi and BrickPi installation, 298-301

Remote-Controlled Crane project, 93-98

Robot Flower project, 146-149

Arduino version, 154-155

projects

Ball Contraption, 177

building instructions, 179-223

creating bricks, 225-237

parts list, 178-179

programming instructions, 224-225

Ball Counting Robot, 117-118

Book Reader, 114-115

Chocolate Milk Maker, 116-117

Flagpole Climber, 259-260

building instructions, 262-287

installing ultrasonic sensor, 289

parts list, 260-261

programming instructions, 288

programming ultrasonic sensor, 290-291

Raspberry Pi and BrickPi installation, 292-301

troubleshooting, 301

Gyro Boy, 119-120

Mini Tank, 115-116

Plotter Bot, 7

building instructions, 9-43

hacking suggestions, 49

parts list, 8-9

programming instructions, 43-48

Remote-Controlled Crane, 63

Bluetooth controls, 98-103

building instructions, 65-92

infrared (IR) controls, 98

parts list, 64

programming instructions, 93-98

Robot Flower, 123

Arduino controller, 150-155

building instructions, 125-146

parts list, 124-125

programming instructions, 146-149

Rolling Alarm Robot, 118-119

proximity sensor, 247-248

R

radio control (RC) technology, 59-60

Raspberry Pi, 291

Book Reader project, 114-115

BrickPi shield, 110

components of, 108-109

installing, 292-301

instructional overview, 292

Rolling Alarm Robot project, 118-119

RC (radio control) technology, 59-60

red wires, 53

relay drivers, 256

Remote-Controlled Crane project, 63

Bluetooth controls, 98-103

building instructions, 65-92

infrared (IR) controls, 98

parts list, 64

programming instructions, 93-98

resetting

X axis, 47-48

Y axis, 47

resources for information about Arduino, 151-152

RGB LED modules, 244-245

RJ12 cables, 51

RJ25 cables, 117-118

Robot Flower project, 123

Arduino controller, 150-155

building instructions, 153

parts list, 152

programming instructions, 154-155

building instructions, 125-146

parts list, 124-125

programming instructions, 146-149

RobotC, 121

Rolling Alarm Robot project, 118-119

Rotacaster, 240

S

sBrick control system, 256-257

sensors

absolute IMU-ACG (accelerometer), 250-251

dGPS, 246-247

dPressure, 251

Grove Sensor Adapter, 246

mux (multiplexer), 249-250

NXT light sensor, 253

NXT sound sensor, 254

NXT temperature sensor, 253-254

NXT ultrasonic sensor, 255

Flagpole Climber project, 289-291

Pixy camera, 248-249

proximity sensor, 247-248

thermal infrared sensor, 252

servo mounting block, 173-174

servo-actuated pneumatic valves, 243-244

servos, 8-channel controller, 241

SketchUp, 160, 163-164

software, designing bricks, 160

soldering how-to information, 53

sound sensor (NXT), 254

SparkFun BrickPi installation, 292

Steele, Shawn, 173

stepper motors, 7

T

temperature sensor (NXT), 253-254

thermal infrared sensor, 252

Thingiverse, 157, 162

troubleshooting Flagpole Climber project, 301

U-V

ultrasonic sensor (NXT), 255

Flagpole Cllmber project, 289-291

Universal Connector Kit, 172

W

Warehouse (SketchUp), 163

Weller, Mark, 165

wheels

Hub-ee wheels, 242

mechanum (omni) wheels, 174, 240-241

white wires, 53

Wi-Fi dongles, 61

wireless controls. See also Remote-Controlled Crane project

Bluetooth controls

explained, 57-58

Remote-Controlled Crane project, 98-103

BrickPi shield, 62

IR (infrared) controls

Remote-Controlled Crane project, 98

sensors and beacons, 56-57

PlayStation controllers, 60-61

RC (radio control) technology, 59-60

Wi-Fi dongles, 61

XBee modules, 58-59, 258

wires

breadboard-to-PF hybrid wires, 55-56

breakout boards, 54

changing length of, 53-54

components of, 52-53

length of, 51-52

WNA1100 dongle, 61

X-Z

X axis, 43-44

resetting, 47-48

XBee modules, 58-59, 258

Y axis, 43-44

resetting, 47

yellow wires, 53

Zigbee wireless specification, 58