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LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 Discovery Book
A Beginner's Guide to Building and Programming Robots
by Laurens Valk

May 2010, 320 pp.
ISBN: 978-1-59327-211-1
Contents | Reviews | Updates

Discover the many features of the LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT 2.0 set. The LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 Discovery Book is the complete, illustrated, beginner's guide to MINDSTORMS that you've been looking for.

The crystal clear instructions in the Discovery Book will show you how to harness the capabilities of the NXT 2.0 set to build and program your own robots. Author and robotics instructor Laurens Valk walks you through the set, showing you how to use its various pieces, and how to use the NXT software to program robots. Interactive tutorials make it easy for you to reach an advanced level of programming as you learn to build robots that move, monitor sensors, and use advanced programming techniques like data wires and variables. You'll build eight increasingly sophisticated robots like the Strider (a six-legged walking creature), the CCC (a climbing vehicle), the Hybrid Brick Sorter (a robot that sorts by color and size), and the Snatcher (an autonomous robotic arm). Numerous building and programming challenges throughout encourage you to think creatively and to apply what you've learned as you develop the skills essential to creating your own robots.

Requirements:

One LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 set (#8547)

Features:

  • A complete introduction to LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0
  • Building and programming instructions for eight innovative robots
  • 50 sample programs and 72 programming challenges (ranging from easy to hard) encourage you to explore newly learned programming techniques
  • 15 building challenges expand on the robot designs and help you develop ideas for new robots

Who is this book for?

This is a perfect introduction for those new to building and programming with the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 set. The book also includes intriguing robot designs and useful programming tips for more seasoned MINDSTORMS builders.

Check out this YouTube video of The Hybrid Brick Sorter in action!

About the Author

Laurens Valk is a member of the MINDSTORMS Community Partners who help test and develop new NXT products. He has been inventing robots with the MINDSTORMS NXT sets since their introduction, and one of his robot designs appears on the NXT 2.0 packaging. Valk is a co-author of LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT One-Kit Wonders (No Starch Press) and a contributor to The NXT Step Blog. He lives in the Netherlands where he teaches robotics.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Collecting the Equipment for Your Robot
Chapter 2: Building Your First Robot
Chapter 3: Creating and Modifying Programs
Chapter 4: Working with Programming Blocks: Move, Sound, and Display
Chapter 5: Waiting, Repeating and Other Programming Techniques
Chapter 6: Understanding Sensors
Chapter 7: Using the Touch, Color, and Rotation Sensors
Chapter 8: Shot-Roller: A Robotic Defense System
Chapter 9: Strider: The Six-Legged Walking Creature
Chapter 10: Using Data Hubs and Data Wires
Chapter 11: Using Data Blocks and Using Data Wires with Loops and Switches
Chapter 12: Using Variables, Constants, and Playing Games on the NXT
Chapter 13: Snatcher: The Autonomous Robotic Arm
Chapter 14: Hybrid Brick Sorter: Sort Bricks by Color and Size
Chapter 15: CCC: The Compact Chimney Climber

Appendix: Transferring Programs to the NXT with USB or Bluetooth

View the detailed Table of Contents (PDF).

View the Index (PDF).

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Reviews

"The LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 Discovery Book should come with every MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 Kit."
—GeekDad Blog, Wired.com (Read More)

"An exceptionally well presented guide that can be used by children and adults, and by teachers and students."
—Linux Users of Victoria (Read More)

"If you have a Mindstorms NXT 2.0 robotics kit this is a book you need - and if you don't have a Mindstorms kit it will motivate you to buy one."
—I Programmer (Read More)

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