Programming The
LEGO NXT:
An Alternative Approach
Suitable For Developing
Tomorrow’s Engineers
by John Blankenship and Samuel Mishal
No one makes building a robot easier than LEGO, and now, programming the LEGO
NXT can be just as easy. The open-source LegoLibrary.bas described here makes it
easy to introduce programming concepts to those new to robotics. Including the
library in your RobotBASIC programs enables them to directly control the robot
without downloading any programs to the NXT. This easy-to-use system creates an
alternative motivational environment ideal for cultivating tomorrow’s engineers.
www.servomagazine.com/index.php?/magazine/article/june2011_Blankenship
One of the most important things robot enthusiasts can do is share their love of robotics with young hobbyists who may be destined to create the next
generation of intelligent machines. Instilling aspirations of
building a robot though, is simply not enough. Learning to
program a robot should be the ultimate goal for students
because programming promotes logical thinking and
develops problem-solving skills. What is needed is a robot
that is easy to build and easy to program.
FIGURE 1.
60 SERVO 06.2011