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The LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Idea Book--New from
No Starch Press
Master LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT and Build Better Robots!
No Starch Press, publisher of instructional books for geeks, met the needs of MINDSTORMS users with its carefully selected publications then. And they’ve done it again for LEGO’s newest MINDSTORMS iteration, the NXT System with The LEGO MINSTORMS NXT Idea Book (No Starch Press, September 2008, $29.95, ISBN 978-15-9327-150-3, 350 pp.).
“The contributors to The NXT STEP blog have done a superb job of bringing their enthusiasm and ideas together to create this very exciting book,” writes Chris Anderson, editor-in-chief of Wired magazine, in the book's Foreword. “I recommend this book to you, and I hope that you’ll enjoy reading it as much as I have.”
But perhaps the real story behind The LEGO MINSTORMS NXT Idea Book is its author team, which reads like a who’s who of MINDSTORMS inventors. The 11 contributors to the book write for the highly-regarded NXT Step blog. Many of the authors have been involved with LEGO as members of the MINDSTORMS Developer Program, testing the NXT robotics kit and providing feedback and documentation. Readers will find some of the team’s best ideas for creating compelling and sophisticated models, including complete instructions for building eight robots:
- RaSPy, a robot that plays Rock, Scissors, Paper
- Slot Machine, complete with flashing lights and a lever
- ScanBot, a robot that scans black-and-white pictures and displays them on the NXT's LCD screen
- Beach Buggy Chair, a roving, rambling robot
- CraneBot, a crane-like grabbing robot
“While the NXT set ships with a user guide and instructions for several sample projects, that only scratches the surface,” said No Starch Press publisher, Bill Pollock. “We wanted to take fans deeper into the NXT system.” And The LEGO MINSTORMS NXT Idea Book does just that with explanations of the fundamentals of programming and design; tips for designing and programming robots; a discussion of the complexities of the NXT programming language (NXT-G); as well as a discussion of Bluetooth, creating an NXT remote control, troubleshooting, and much more.
Casual MINDSTORMS builders and serious robotics hobbyists alike are sure to find much of value in The LEGO MINSTORMS NXT Idea Book.
For a review copy or more information please email [email protected]. Please include your delivery address and contact information.
Martijn Boogaarts was one of the initial organizers of LEGO WORLD. He has built several large.demonstration models, including the Road-Plate-Laying-Machine, a working car factory (27 RCXs), and a Pinball machine.
Jonathan A. Daudelin helped form the FIRST LEGO League team, Built On The Rock. In his team's second year of competition, they took first place in the Robot Performance and Innovative Robot categories at the World Festival in the 2008 Nanoquest challenge.
Brian L. Davis has been building LEGO robots for about five years. He competes in conventional events such as sumo, line following, and maze solving, and has created more advanced robots, such as automated forklifts.
Jim Kelly was accepted into the LEGO MINDSTORMS Developer Program (MDP) in early 2006 and helped to beta test the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT kit and software. He is a member of the MINDSTORMS Community Partners, a group that continues to assist LEGO with testing and growing the NXT product.
David Levy is the founder of RestonRobotics.org, a network that enables students, parents, and teachers to collaborate on robotics projects. He is also actively involved with outreach as an education director with the Virginia FIRST LEGO League.Lou Morris has headed several software development projects for various technologies, including a treasure-hunting underwater ROV robot, a medical device used to treat cerebral palsy patients, and the roboDNA PC Dashboard Application for the LEGO NXT, iRobot, and PIC microcontroller.
Fay Rhodes is a freelance designer who provides desktop publishing and web design services to nonprofits in the Boston area. She designs NXT robots and is experienced in the use of LEEGO CAD software.
Rick Rhodes is a frequent contributor to The NXT STEP blog. He develops robots that appeal to teenagers like his son.
Matthias Paul Scholz has been an active member of the LEGO MINDSTORMS community since 2000. He is one of the developers of the open source leJOS platform for the RCX. He participated in the LEGO MINDSTORMS Developer Program, and is one of 20 members of the LEGO MINDSTORMS Community Partners Program.
Christopher R. Smith is a Senior Quality Assurance Inspector in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL) at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. He invented an inspection tool recognized by NASA, which honored him with the prestigious Space Act Award.
Rob Torok teaches mathematics, information systems, and robotics at Claremont College, a senior secondary school in Tasmania, Australia. Rob is also the Chair of Robotics Tasmania, the organization that conducts the annual RoboCup Junior Tasmania competition for school students.
Additional Resources:
For more information about the book, including table of contents, index, author bios, and cover graphic, see:
http://www.oreilly/catalog/9781593271503
Table of Contents
Sample Chapter
Martijn Boogaarts, Jonathan A. Daudelin, Brian L. Davis, Jim Kelly, Lou Morris, Fay Rhodes, Rick Rhodes, Matthias Paul Scholz, Christopher R. Smith, Rob Torok
ISBN: 1-59327-150-6, 350 pages, $29.95 USD
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About No Starch Press:
Founded in 1994, No Starch Press is one of the few remaining independent computer book publishers. We publish the finest in geek entertainment---unique books on technology, with a focus on Open Source, security, hacking, programming, alternative operating systems, and LEGO. Our titles have personality, our authors are passionate, and our books tackle topics that people care about. See www.nostarch.com for more information and our complete online catalog. (And most No Starch Press books use RepKover, a lay-flat binding that won't snap shut.)
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