LEGO® MINDSTORMS®
User Guide
BUILD AND PROGRAM ROBOTS THAT DO WHAT YOU WANT!
WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF
LEGO
®
MINDSTORMS®
Congratulations on your new LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT robotics tool set. You
now have the power to build and program robots that do what you want!
Dream it, build it
Your MINDSTORMS NXT set enables you to create thousands
of robotic inventions. Intelligent robots that see, hear,
speak, feel and move. Advanced robots that you can control
with your mobile phone. Cool robots that guard your room
and do your chores. If you can dream it, you can build it.
Build. Program. Go!
Creating a MINDSTORMS robot is easy. Build the robot using
your LEGO elements. Program it using the easy-to-use software and watch your robot come alive. For your fi rst robotic
adventure, try out the quick-build model that you can build
and program in less than 30 minutes.
Smart technologies
Your MINDSTORMS NXT set features the latest in robotic technology: an
advanced 32-bit programmable microcontroller; icon-based drag and drop
programming software and interactive challenges; smart sensors and Interactive Servo Motors; wireless Bluetooth and USB connection. In fact all the
smart technologies you need to create your dream robot.
MINDSTORMS.com
You are now a part of the worldwide LEGO MINDSTORMS community. Log on
to MINDSTORMS.com and get more robotic challenges. Download programs,
sound effects and other cool stuff. Share your inventions and exchange tips
and tricks with other MINDSTORMS users. www.MINDSTORMS.com is your new
robotic hot spot.
Find out more
In this User Guide you can learn more about the technology
and the many exciting features in your MINDSTORMS set.
Have fun building your own amazing robots!
The LEGO MINDSTORMS team.
2
INTRODUCTION
Build. Program. Go! ................................................ 4
NXT TECHNOLOGY
NXT technology overview ....................................... 6
Connecting the NXT technology .............................. 8
About the NXT ......................................................... 10
Installing batteries in your NXT .............................. 12
NXT main menu ....................................................... 13
NXT icons ................................................................ 20
Touch Sensor .......................................................... 22
Sound Sensor ......................................................... 23
Light Sensor ........................................................... 24
Ultrasonic Sensor ................................................... 25
Interactive Servo Motors ........................................ 26
Using Bluetooth ..................................................... 28
SOFTWARE
System requirements ............................................. 38
Installing the software ........................................... 38
Your fi rst program ................................................. 40
Software user interface ......................................... 42
The Robo Center ..................................................... 44
The programming palette ....................................... 45
The confi guration panel ......................................... 47
The Controller ........................................................ 47
LEGO BRICKS
Element overview ................................................... 48
Building instructions .............................................. 49
Test pad ................................................................. 72
USEFUL INFORMATION
Troubleshooting ..................................................... 74
CONTENTS
3
Build
Build a robot. You can fi nd building
instructions in this User Guide, in the
software or at www.MINDSTORMS.com.
Or you can use your imagination to
build your own unique robot.
BUILD. PROGRAM. GO!
Program
Program your robot to do what you
want. Use the LEGO
®
MINDSTORMS® NXT
Software to make a program. Download
the program to the NXT by using the
USB cable or the wireless Bluetooth
connection.
INTRODUCTION
4
Go!
Run the program and watch your robot
come to life.
INTRODUCTION
Quick Start
Use the Quick Start kit to get your fi rst
MINDSTORMS experience. In the Quick
Start kit you will fi nd everything you
need to get off to a great start. It will
only take you a few minutes to create
your fi rst MINDSTORMS robot, test it,
and get a fun reaction.
5
The NXT
The NXT is an intelligent, computer-controlled
LEGO
®
brick and the brain of the MINDSTORMS® robot.
NXT TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW
Sound Sensor
Enables the robot to hear and react to
sound.
Touch Sensor
Enables the robot to feel and react to
its environment.
Light Sensor
Enables the robot to detect light and
color.
NXT TECHNOLOGY
6
Ultrasonic Sensor
Enables the robot to see, measure
distance to an object, and react to
movement.
Interactive Servo Motors
Ensure that the robot moves with precision.
NXT TECHNOLOGY
Standard port settings for sensors
and motors
To make your robot work correctly, the sensors and
motors should be connected to specifi c input and output ports. Here are the standard port settings:
Input ports
Port 1: Touch Sensor
Port 2: Sound Sensor
Port 3: Light Sensor
Port 4: Ultrasonic Sensor
Output ports
Port A: Motor used for an extra function
Port B: Motor for movement
Port C: Motor for movement
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CB A
1234
CONNECTING THE NXT TECHNOLOGY
Connecting motors
To connect a motor to the NXT, use one of the black 6-wire
cables. Attach one end of the cable to the motor and the other to
one of the NXT’s output ports (A, B, or C).
Connecting sensors
To connect a sensor to the NXT, use one of the black 6-wire
cables. Attach one end of the cable to the sensor and the other
to one of the NXT’s input ports (1, 2, 3, or 4).
Downloading and uploading
The USB port and wireless Bluetooth connection let you download and
upload data between your computer and the NXT. If your computer has
Bluetooth capability, you can download programs to the NXT without using
the USB cable. If your computer does not have Bluetooth capability, you
must use the USB cable or install a Bluetooth USB dongle on your computer.
NOTE: Read more about wireless Bluetooth communication on page 28.
NXT TECHNOLOGY
Note that ALL of the black 6-wire
cables can be used in both input
and output ports, sensors and
motors. To work, sensors MUST be
attached to the input ports (1-4)
and motors MUST be attached to
the output ports (A-C).
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1
2
3 4
Connecting the NXT to a PC with a USB cable
Turn on the NXT.
Connect the PC and the NXT with the USB cable.
When the PC identifi es the NXT it will automatically fi nalize the
installation of the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Software.
Connecting the NXT to a Macintosh with a USB cable
Make sure that the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Software is installed before connecting your NXT to
your Macintosh (see page 39).
Turn on your NXT.
Connect the USB cable to the NXT.
Connect the USB cable to the Macintosh and you’re ready to go.
NXT TECHNOLOGY
Make sure that the
LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT
Software is installed before
connecting your NXT to your PC
(see page 38).
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