The Unofficial Lego Mindstorms NXT Inventors Guide

Reviewed by Dr. Eric Flescher

Author: David J. Perdue http://www.davidjperdue.com/ http://www.nxtguidedavidjpredue.com No Starch Press http://nostarch.com/     Released: September 2007 Pages: 368 $30 USD $39 CND ISBN-10: 1593271549 ISBN-13: 978-1593271541 $30 USD $39 CND
Strengths: Very nice schematics, parts listings and visuals to highlight or the parts for the machines. Easily readable. Good for novice robot builders but also advanced users will find it helpful as well.   Weaknesses: The book has black/white text.   Novice/Intermediate/Advanced

Introduction

 

I have been working with robot kits for many years. I started with the Fischertecknik robot turtle which I built and was able to use with the logo interface with my Apple IIE. Later on I heard about Lego Mindstorms and bought a set to use.

 

It was tough going and after much delay because of the programming and the light issues with the brick, I was able to get legos finally working. Since then, I have worked with several kits and working with PC and Macintosh interfacing. But I was still looking for more a more helpful guides to build more interesting robots. I think I found one in The Unofficial Lego Mindstorms NXT Inventors Guide.

 

This author David J. Perdue knows his stuff and Lego Mindstorms. He has been creating MINDSTORMS since 2001 and just won the NXT Camera Bot Building Challenge competition and is the author of Competitive MINDSTORMS (Apress, 2004). He has received three Special Mention awards for his creations on the official online MINDSTORMS and is a full time student, pursuing a degree in Management information Systems in Texas. So I opened the book to see what else I could find out and how I could use the book for my LegoMindstorms in the future.

 

In the beginning, it was difficult to use Mindstorms. For me the kit did not work at all. Working with Macintosh was not an option. There were minimal additional information for working with the robots beyond the parts, software and initial schematics. I had to use a PC. This version works with PC (needs Windows XP or higher and will or already have shipped Vista version) or Macintosh OSX (version 103.9 and higher). It was not until later that I learned from a Legos salesman that the light in the room could be an issue. Its little things like this that kept me and possible others, from doing more with robotics.

 

I was hoping that the book started with novice programmers and robot creators. This books has “novice” beginning information so this book can be used with those who are new to Lego Mindstorms or are upgrading to the NXT version. It is good to know that this advanced robotic author, is “down to earth” with his writing and when “speaking” the language of robots. I have not upgraded to the NXT version yet and so and wanted to see whether it is would be worth upgrading myself but if so how and what ways could the robots be used with this new version.

 

The black and white screenshots are integrated within the instruction. The visuals are large enough to read and decipher what you need to know. The lack of color does not really hurt. I really liked the screenshots and illustrations listings of the parts for assembly. However it would have been nice if they were in color (the parts are a multitude or colors. Tables do however include numbers, piece names and the place color however. When you need more information about the parts, they are all there listed and illustrated/ photographed.

 

Throughout the book, there are helpful ideas in the way of bold notes that are “peppered” throughout the tutorials. In addition, there are pointers that go along with the “balloons ” which have text inside of them about related to the robot parts. Circles and arrows highlight the illustrated areas in the screenshots that the author is clearly targeting for his instructions. This makes the understanding of the parts even more explicit.

 

The introduction introduces Lego Mindstorms, NXT, building, programming and starting and working with robotic projects. Here is an outline of the chapters and what is in store for you.

 

Part I in entitled “Introduction to LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT”. In the Chapter 1, LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT starts off with building robots, the programming of robots, activating robots and what can you do with robots and NXT. Chapter 2 is includes solid but easy to understand information about starting with the NXT robotic set.

 

Part II illustrates the building with 4 chapters. There is electronic pieces, understanding the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT pieces, the need and building sturdy structures, and working with and building with gears Programming section is in Part III, Chapter 7 introduction has a nice introduction to the NXT-G system. Later, 3 chapters involve advanced NXT-G programming a. There is also more in the form of unofficial programming languages for the NXT.

 

Part IV involves 6 robot projects and that is where your in-depth robotic education really begins. You are taught the author’s Mindstorms method, and working with 6 nice in-depth but easy to understand projects

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Appendices are good resources. Appendix A has LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT piece library. The Appendix B NXT-G has nice quick reference guide section that includes information for advanced programming to perform more intricate tasks. The author details a lot of the complexity, not only with words but also visually illustrates how to and in what ways to complete the array of blocks, sensors and programming information. While it is not easy to learn, this section takes you “once step at a time”. Appendix C informs with other internet resources.

 

Conclusions

 

I recommend this book highly for its in-depth tutorials, the visual schematics and the quality of the reading that makes the information well understood. No one said building robots was easy but with this book, you will learn and go further than you thought you could achieve. What I like about this book and the way the author has crafted this book is that he actually invited you to build robots in a none intimidating way.

 

The in-depth information, the visual assemblies and tables, and the easy to read information along with the tutorials will allow you not only start but develop your skills in robot building. You will learn to be creative but at the same learning the logic of the machines and how to build robotics. I know there are many books that teach Lego Mindstorms out there but I am glad I chose this one first.