Publisher Description

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.

Notes

A four-color guide to building and programming eight innovative LEGO MINDSTORMS robots, presented as a space-themed adventure story.4-color; great holiday gift potentialAuthor's model appears on the NXT kit packagingWell-known author with strong connections to the LEGO company

Author Biography

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

Review

"The LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 Discovery Book should come with every MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 Kit."
--Wired

Long Description

From the creative mind of author, robotics instructor, and frequent NXT Step Blog contributor Laurens Valk, The LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 Adventure Book is packed with building and programming instructions for eight innovative robots. The Adventure Book follows two astronauts through rigorous ground training in the basics of programming NXT robots. As the book progresses, the astronauts (and you) learn how to build and program increasingly sophisticated robots. When the astronauts depart for their mission, you will learn essential programming skills, including how to make robots move and how to use sensors. With solid programming instruction and crystal clear, full-colour building instructions, you will create robots like Strider, the six-legged walking creature, CCC, a vertically moving vehicle, and BS-61, and a machine that sorts by colour and size. The LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 Adventure Book gives you the knowledge to not only build these models, but to develop your own out-of-this-world creations.

Review Quote

" The LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 Discovery Book should come with every MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 Kit." --Wired

Details