Lego to Open Mindstorms NXT Firmware 138
ajdlinux writes "LEGO has officially announced that the firmware for the Mindstorms NXT will be open source. They will be releasing several developer kits and the firmware source during August, the kits containing the NXT driver specs, the schematics for the hardware connection and the Bluetooth protocol used by the NXT. The NXT will be only US$250, which is only slightly more expensive than the Mindstorms RIS2 kit. I certainly can't wait. " We had covered the earlier announcement of this kit.
Mail to daddypants sent 5 minutes ago.... (Score:5, Informative)
You have trimmed the spaces from the name.
correct one is: http://mindstorms.lego.com/press/2057/Open%20Sour
liquidcoooled
Great news (Score:4, Informative)
If you are heading for Java One this year, there is this interesting seminar:
BOF-0503: Java(TM) Technology in an Intelligent Swarm of Heterogeneous Lego Robots
Re:why just lego in this space? (Score:5, Informative)
I find the VEX line a bit more fun as it's easier to toss the controller after you get to the more advanced stages and use a 68hc11 or other processor on a dev board for more fun and real brobot action... but then that is a small step away from building one from scratch which makes the VEX a really nice way to ease a child into the world of real robotics wher you fabricate and build most of the machine from parts.
Because the VEX uses standard aircraft servo connectors it's easy to get their sensors and parts to a homebrew processor.
Visual Studio Express (Score:5, Informative)
http://www.windowsfordevices.com/news/NS412745533
Why, oh why didn't we get to have toys like these in out childhood.
You are correct sir (Score:5, Informative)
Actually, this was Lego's plan all along. They obtained the help of the most crazed Mindstorms hobbyists to help them design the product line. This wired article is probably the best one that involved the process behind creating the line.
http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,69946-0.html [wired.com]
NXT Open Source Robot AI Platform (Score:1, Informative)
Forth for Mindstorms [hempeldesigngroup.com] was created by Ralph Hempel, one of the select few superusers invited by Lego to participate in the NXT design.
Robot AI Mind.Forth [sourceforge.net] specifically lists the Lego NXT as a candidate platform for installation of the robot AI Mind.
Standards in Artificial Intelligence [blogcharm.com] officially lists the Lego NXT as an accepted standard platform in view of robot AI.
Re:Bluetooth? (Score:3, Informative)
The grandparent poster was probably talking about standard Bluetooth HID. HID should be more than enough to control a robot (since you can basically represent any given joystick as a human interface device.) However, I doubt most phones' limited HID interface would offer nearly enough control for anything serious.
Then again, I thought most of the point of robotics was to make the things able to control themselves with a minimal amount of wetware.
Labview AI Language (Score:1, Informative)
Labview for artificial intelligence [sourceforge.net] is based on the Lego Mindstorms connection.
Standards in Artificial Intelligence [scn.org] treat Labview as just as good for AI as any other language.
The Singularity Timeline [blogcharm.com] counts on AI development in Labview, LISP, Prolog, Java and all other programming languages.
Re:why just lego in this space? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:What license? (Score:3, Informative)
BSD License: You can do basically anything.
GPL License: You can do basically anything, but you must make your modifications available.
Re:Bluetooth? (Score:3, Informative)
Bluetooth with the NXT. It can be used to send commands the NXT directly. It functions as a Bluetooth Serial port. The commands are well documented. One of the MDP's has already started / developed a java app for cell phones that can function like a remote control for the robot. The NXT programming software can use the Bluetooth to communcicate with the NXT(s) so you don't have to have a USB cable attached to it the whole time. So far, the Bluetooth stack that is supported is the Widcomm and MS stacks. There is a growing list of confirmed adapters from all over the world that work with the NXT. I myself am a MDP, and can attest to the ease of use for Bluetooth. Each NXT can have 2 connections. One in, and one out. You can chain these things together to have a series of NXT's all controlling each other if you wished.
B-)
Re:It's cool and all, but.... (Score:2, Informative)
NXT has USB vs RCX with IR and the IR is better?
One of the major hurdles on the RCX was running it the first time. The firmware had to be downloaded. All downloads went from PC/Mac across a cable (USB/Serial) to an IR Tower and then from that IR Tower to the RCX -- the yellow brick that was the brains of the old Lego robot.
The number of ways to goof up that linkage was too much for a lot of kids. Not to mention that it took 5 minutes to download the firmware when it did work.
With the new NXT system, most kids will open the box to find the firmware already in place -- it's stored in the flash memory. If not, a USB cable is required to download the firmware. The USB link is quick, something like 30 seconds to download the firmware. With firmware in place, you have the option of downloading/uploading by USB or Bluetooth. Bluetooth is so much easier than plugging and unplugging a cable that those that have the choice will choose Bluetooth.
One of the lucky 100.