18
Update:
I have written a tool to disassemble EV3 programs. The EV3 software compiles the .ev3 file to a .rbf file and sends that to the EV3 brick. The disassembler can convert the .rbf file into a .lms file, which is a sort of assembly language that can be used to create programs for the EV3.
Here is a simple example using a trivial .ev3 project.
To ...
15
Yes.
The current Mindstorms sets are completely Technic orientated and use the Technic pins (i.e. [part:3673:7]) to connect to the newer Technic Beams (i.e. [part:32316:7]) as well as the original Technic Bricks (i.e. [part:3894:7])
The various different size pins and axles are the way to interchange between these.
answered Mar 20 '12 at 21:28
13
From the official EV3 FAQ:
What does EV3 stand for?
This is the third generation of the LEGO MINDSTORMS platform and the
"EV" stands for evolution, hence EV3.
The first two generations referred to here are LEGO MINDSTORMS RCX and NXT, respectively.
12
Short answer: The ultrasonic sensor is perfectly accurate while moving!
A regular NXT robot will move at a maximum speed of several meters per second (usually about 1 or 2 m/s max.). Ultrasound, on the other hand, travels with about 330 meters per second through air. So during the "snapshot" the ultrasound sensor does (basically it sends a ping, listens for ...
12
The LEGO Group have advertised the EV3's excellent backwards compatibility with NXT.
As the cables are the same, the EV3 will work with NXT sensors, motors and, of course, LEGO Technic bricks. RCX sensors will work with the aid of converter cables.
Software designed for programming the NXT will not work for the EV3 as the NXT runs firmware, but the EV3 ...
11
You can start with the Hardware Developer Kit which includes "documentation and schematics for the NXT and related sensors", supplied by The LEGO group to help you "design and develop your own sensors and actuators [motors] that can interact with the NXT".
I've not really looked at the latest ones, but the original O'Reilly Unofficial Guide to LEGO ...
11
There are several editors which are based on the open LDraw part database.
I believe that the most popular are MLCAD and LeoCAD. I personally use LDD, so I can't speak to the quality of the instruction generation from these tools, but they do at least offer the ability to create instructions.
LeoCAD is probably your best bet for doing animations, and it is ...
11
As mentioned by @guestguy123 and @eficker, it is easy to combine an EV3 cable and a PF cable to make a custom cable that allows the EV3 to control. This can even be done without soldering - I just twist the wires together and tape them with electrical tape. The full schematic is here:
All you need is 2 resistors (1x1kOhm and 1x10kOhm) which are cheap to get ...
10
Yes, this is definitely possible! You can connect up to 7 different NXT devices from one computer and one Bluetooth dongle (theoretical limit). I have tested this with the RWTH - Mindstorms NXT Toolbox for MATLAB) successfully with 5 NXTs on Linux and with at least 2 NXTs on Windows.
In real life, it depends on your Bluetooth hardware. Your Bluetooth stack ...
9
If you wish to program the EV3 with Scratch, then check out this project on github:
https://github.com/koen-dejonghe/ev3-scratch-helper-app
This software is a so-called helper app, that interfaces between the Scratch 2.0 offline editor and the Lego Mindstorms EV3.
The EV3 must be booted from Lejos (http://sourceforge.net/p/lejos/wiki/Home/), requires a ...
9
As I've said before in another answer, I find the #92585 Crowbar is the most versatile and is especially good at removing rubber bands from the #3736 (Technic, Steering Pulley Large) and the #4185 (Technic, Wedge Belt Wheel) elements.
Don't use any sharp/metallic objects like a screwdriver or a pen knife as you may scratch the brick or sever the rubber band....
9
Update Dec 2016
There is now an app for chromebooks on the chrome store:
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/lego-mindstorms-education/jhnhfnolmcleankdkhfklakpchnccipg?hl=en-US
I have used it to program EV3 version of the bricks. It connects via bluetooth to the EV3 brick (I don't think USB is even supported). The bluetooth connection can be buggy ...
8
No, but you can use a very similar programming language: Enchanting.
(I haven't tried it yet. It was recommended by the programming instructor).
8
Everybody else has pretty much said it all, but there is one more thing I can think of.
The IR Link Sensor can communicate with Power Functions, RCX, and trains.
So you can use three NXT motors, plus, say, two Power Functions motors. (Only the NXTs will have rotations sensors, obviously.)
If you already have some PF kit, you will only need the sensor (£40)...
8
The 9398-1: 4x4 Crawler is an interesting candidate with the new servo motor. It comes in 2H2012.
There are more pictures on TechnicBricks.
8
Using Mindstorms NXT software (NXT-G), you can transfer any file from NXT to computer. Open "NXT window" (NXT icon in the lower right corner of interface), then go to "memory" tab. Select a file in NXT and click on "upload" button.
Or - more convenient - you may use "NXT Explorer" feature of BricxCC (in the "tools" menu).
8
Take a look at SR 3D Builder. I have not used this software myself but it looks like it may do what you need. It's free (for non-commercial use) and you can import your LDraw files.
Here is a link to some videos on YouTube
See below for the features list (taken from the website)
NEW Support for Piston - Rod mechanism
NEW Support for Linear Actuators and ...
8
I was able to successfully get that size band off of that pulley using this brick separator:
I slid the sharp end in between the band and the pulley then worked it under the band and was able to pull the band off without damaging either part. If you don't have a brick separator handy, you can probably use a pointy minifig utensil such as a sword instead. I ...
8
In my opinion, Mindstorms is a subset of the Technic line up (Like how Police is a subset of Lego City). So most of the parts are interchangeable. The only part incompatibility issue you will come across is the electronics.
I would say go with Technic first. Learning how to build studless and basic Lego mechanisms will be more useful than robotics (...
8
Yes, it is possible to pass the port number as a parameter to a sensor or motor block via data wire. It's just that it's manually selected by default. To change this, go to the port of the sensor or motor block, and select the top-most option which has the plug icon on it:
It will then create a data port for which motor port you want to use:
The same ...
8
I'm assuming that you meant "the motor is not powerful enough".
Surely you can use a gearing ratio & leverage to assist? Essentially you want the motor to turn many times for each small amount of distance traveled by the lifting arm. This means a small gear on the motor and a large gear driving the lifting. You may need to connect several gears together ...
8
For a comprehensive enumeration and measurements on all motors, refer to Philo's excellent page on this topic: http://www.philohome.com/motors/motorcomp.htm
There are some LEGO motors that are missing from this list since they predate the 9V era, like the 4.5V motor, or the 4.5V train motor, but these are probably only of interest if you already own them, ...
8
I don't know of such a list, but you can find the inventory for the EV3 on Bricklink and other similar sites.
However, it would be more economical to buy an entire EV3 set. The 31313 retail set is about $350 (USD). To buy just the EV3 brick, motors and sensors individually would be more than that.
EV3 Intelligent Brick - $190
EV3 Large Motor - $25 x 2
EV3 ...
8
I contacted Lego support and they got back to me with a fix, which worked great. It also has greatly improved the performance of the application.
For this issue fix, please install Mono for Mac OS found at the link below:
https://www.mono-project.com/download/stable/
and choose Mono 5.10.1
7
I have the RCX IR tower setup and working on my Windows 7 laptop.
I downloaded the drivers from the ROBOTC.net site here (labeled 'RCX Device driver')
Direct file download link
Note: I am running Windows 7 32-bit, according to the ROBOTC site, this driver is 32.bit only and
No known 64-bit driver is available for the RCX.
7
It doesn't seem to be possible. To quote mindsqualls' site:
MindSqualls is a .Net library for controlling a LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT or NXT 2.0 robot via either a Bluetooth- or an USB connection. It is written in C# and requires .Net v. 2.0 or newer.
Which means it allows you to control your NXT brick from the PC, and from the PC only. It does not offer any ...
7
This seems pretty much bordering on the impossible, given the current state of (LEGO) engineering capabilities. What you are describing is a Von Neumann Machine and as far as I know nobody succeeded in creating one, not just in LEGO but in general.
The problems you'd have to overcome:
The robot must be capable to exert sufficient force to overcome the ...
7
Recently I met with TeamSim. Its possibilities are impressing:
you can make own robot via LDD and export it to the program
you cam make own mat (FLL, WRO, sumo mats are already available)
you can program a robot via NXT-G
I have no chance to investigate this program in detail, but I think it's what you want.
7
I could not find this in the help file, but according to this thread "Another little known characteristic of MyBlocks is that they aren't re-entrant. No two copies of the same MyBlock can be running at the same time."
I tried a few simple programs in EV3-G and confirmed that this is true. The order in which they run appears to be random.
7
I've recently upgraded to OS X 10.11 El Capitan (as a matter of fact, I have the exact same model of computer). I've done some basic tests with the EV3 software without running into any issues. I've downloaded programs to the brick using both USB and Bluetooth.
Base on past experience with OS upgrades with both the NXT and EV3 software, the problems have ...
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