LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT-G Programming Guide (Technology in Action)

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 196 pages
• Published by: Apress July 12, 2007
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 1590598717
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-1590598719
• Book Dimensions: 9 x 6.9 x 0.6 inches
• Weighs: 11.2 ounces

Product Description


The reader of this book will be someone looking for more detailed information on the NXT-G programming language used to program the LEGO Mindstorms NXT robotics kit.

LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT-G Programming Guide is suitable for young programmers, age ten and up, as well as parents and teachers who want to learn the new language for themselves or be able to assist students/children with learning to properly program their robots.

• Includes easy-to-follow examples for each and every programming block
• Provides programming techniques simple enough to be understood by young programmers, age ten and up.
• Provides a test robot (with instructions) in the appendix for running the programs

What youll learn

• Understand the basics of computer programming.
• Easily program your robot with the NXT-G visual programming language.
• See how to implement basic, intermediate, and advanced programs.
• Learn how to program for
  • Moving
  • Waiting
  • Recording
  • Stopping
  • Displaying messages
  • Sending messages
  • Defining the duration of an activity
  • Creating random behavior
• Practice with a free sample program.

Who is this book for?

This book is for people new to programming (10 years old and up) or for experienced programmers new to the NXT-G programming language.

About The Author


James Floyd Kelly is a member of the Mindstorms Developers Program and has access to the beta software and hardware. He maintains a blog dedicated to NXT.
He was accepted as a member of the beta team for testing of the new Mindstorms NXT. He created the #1 Mindstorms NXT blog in January 2006, and it continues to draw an estimated 30,000+ readers monthly for news, updates, and information on NXT. Readers and fans of NXT know his name and that he is actively involved in promoting NXT as well as teaching kids and adults how to design, build, and program robots using the new kit.

Reader Reviews
The book consists of 26 chapters plus 1 appendix. The first 2 chapters cover the questions of "What is a robot" and "What is a program" and introduce the topic of pseudo code. There are many different methods when it comes to pseudo code, but this method will hopefully help teachers, parents, and students to understand how to take an idea for a program and turn it into actual NXT-G block code. All 36 blocks are covered (the book is useful for both the retail version software and the educational version), and each block has its own chapter with the exception of a couple of blocks that share a chapter (such as the Random block and Number-To-Text block that share chapter 14). There is a chapter dedicated to the concept of data plugs and wires (Chapter 7). This can be one of the more confusing elements of NXT-G, so this chapter uses a simplified method of showing how data types (number, text, logic) are passed between blocks. Another chapter provides a walkthrough on creating a My Block. My Blocks are powerful methods for simplifying NXT-G programs, and this chapter shows how the ability to re-use My Blocks can be helpful. Finally, the appendix covers some basic math such as converting back and forth between degrees and rotations. It also explains the LCD screen's resolution and how the X/Y coordinates work. Teachers, parents, coaches, and kids should find this book useful. It's written in a very friendly and easy-to-read style and provides plenty of sample programs in each chapter to demonstrate how to use the blocks. Also, coverage of each block's configuration panel is also provided. Overall, the book can be used as an additional source of information on the NXT-G programming language to supplement the Help files included with the software.