Creating Cool MINDSTORMS NXT Robots or C Programming in Easy Steps

Creating Cool MINDSTORMS NXT Robots

Author: Daniele Benedettelli

Build and program MINDSTORM NXT robots with Daniele Benedettelli, one of the world’s most respected NXT robot builders. He shows you how to build and program them from scratch, starting with the simplest robots and progressing in difficulty to a total of seven award–winning robots! You can download all the code, along with low–resolution videos that show how your robot works when it’s finished. You don’t need to be a programmer to develop these cool robots because all the code is provided, but advanced developers will enjoy seeing the secrets of Benedettelli’s code and techniques revealed.
What you’ll learn

• How to create award–winning robots from scratch to final programming.
• How to build each robot and which materials to use.
• Why certain features have specific designs.
• How to program your robot–all code is available for free download.
• Inspiration and tips and tricks on robotics, a particularly valuable resource for teachers and students.

Who is this book for?

Anyone interested in building robots or seeing how it is done. Programmers interested in learning how robots are programmed.
Related Titles

• Competitive MINDSTORMS: A Complete Guide to Robotic Sumo using LEGO MINDSTORMS
• Squeak: Learn Programming with Robots
• Robot Building for Beginners
• The Definitive Guide to Building Java Robots
• Intermediate Robot Building
• LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT: The Mayan Adventure
• LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT-G Programming Guide
• The Robosapien Companion: Tips, Tricks, and Hacks
• ExtremeMINDSTORMS: An Advanced Guide to LEGO MINDSTORMS
• Advanced NXT: The Da Vinci Inventions Book

Table of Contents:

About the Author     xi
About the Technical Reviewer     xiii
Acknowledgments     xv
Introduction     xxvii
Look, Mom! No Wheels!
Building Biped Robots     3
LEGO Bipedal Walking: The State of the Art     3
Interlacing Legs Bipeds     3
Jerky COG Shifting Bipeds     5
Smooth COG Shifting Bipeds     9
Summary     10
Quasimodo     11
Applying What You Learned     12
Introducing NXT Technology     15
Meeting the NXT-G Software     17
Connecting the NXT for the First Time     17
Programming Quasimodo Using NXT-G     20
The Shortest Program in the Book     22
Building Your Belfry Hunchback     25
Summary     45
Finite State Machines     47
Finite State Machines in Brief     47
Saturating Counter     49
FSM General Implementation     55
Decision Tables     56
Summary     58
NXT AT-ST     59
Design Thoughts     60
Programming the AT-ST     62
Building Your Personal AT-ST     71
Summary     141
Omni-Biped     143
History of a Biped     144
Single-Tasking vs. Multitasking     145
Writing a Single-Task Program     149
Using Hysteresis     154
Writing a Multitask Program     158
Building Instructions     163
Summary     201
NXT Turtle     203
Quadruped Walking     204
Introducing the Turtle     206
Programming the Turtle     207
Simple Program     207
Line Following     214
Autonomous Behavior Simulation     217
Building Your Pet     233
Design Thoughts     277
Summary     278
Back on Wheels
Mine Sweeper     281
Getting More Actions from a Single Motor     282
The Double Scanner     286
Programming the Mine Sweeper     286
Building the Mine Sweeper     299
Mines Building Instructions     341
Summary     344
JohnNXT Is Alive!     347
Johnnicle: My LEGO Johnny 5 Chronicle     347
JohnNXT Features     354
Sensors and Actuators     354
JohnNXT's Behavior and Menu     356
JohnNXT User Guide     357
Turning It On     357
Autonomous Behavior     358
JohnNXT's Menu     358
Programming JohnNXT     360
Panoramic View of the JohnNXT Software     360
High Speed Communication Library     361
Slave Program     362
Master Program     366
Sound Counting FSM     370
JohnNXT Programming Guide     374
Moving the Treads     376
Moving the Head     376
Playing Sounds     376
Moving the Slave NXT Motors     377
Building JohnNXT     378
Summary     516
Need Input! Building a Remote Control Device     517
The Remote Control Design     517
Bluetooth Autoconnection Library     518
R/C: A Program for Every Need     520
Simple R/C Programs     520
Advanced Program     534
Remote Control Template Programs     542
Sender Program Template     543
Receiver Program Template     544
Building the Remote Control     552
Summary     565
Introduction to BricxCC and NXC Programming      567
Getting Connected with BricxCC     568
Ready to Go     574
BricxCC Menu     575
BricxCC Tools     576
Summary     577
Index     579

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C++ Programming in Easy Steps

Author: Mike McGrath

C++ Programming In Easy Steps shows the reader how to program in C++, both on Windows platforms and on Unix-based platforms, such as Linux. It contains separate chapters on the major features of C++, plus complete example programs that illustrate each aspect.
Each chapter builds the reader's knowledge of C++. By the end of this book, the reader will have gained a sound understanding of the C++ language and be able to write C++ programs and compile them into executable files.
C++ Programming In Easy Steps is a great value and has an easy-to-follow style that will be useful to anyone who wants to begin programming in C++-programmers, students, and those who just need a fundamental understanding of object oriented programming.