LEGO Mindstorms Vorlesung für Kinder an der Jade-Hochschule

Am vergangenen Mittwoch habe ich die Vorlesung zur 9. Kinder Jade-Hochschule gehalten.
Wie programmiert man? Was ist überhaupt das Programmieren?

Am Beispiel von LEGO Spike Prime und LEGO Mindstorms demonstrierte ich gemeinsam mit meiner Tochter den über 120 Kindern verschiedene Roboter und erklärte, wie mit der Programmiersprache Scratch ein Linienfolger realisiert wird.

Link zum Artikel der Jade Hochschule

Link zum Artikel der Wilhelmshavener Zeitung

Bild: Jade Hochschule
Bild: Jade Hochschule
Bild: Jade Hochschule
Werbung

EV3 MathBot Buggy

The video of the LEGO® Mindstorms® EV3 MathBot with fully description is coming soon.

Features:

  • controlled via iPad or iPhone (Using the Gyroscope).
  • Integrated web service.
  • selecting some defaults or typing any kind of mathematical functions.
    The EV3 MathBot will drive the function.
  • Using mecanum wheels.

Billund table and other projects at World Robot Olympiad 2017 in Spain

I am at the World Robot Olympiad in Spain. Come and visit me and two other brilliant LEGO Mindstorms Experts from the 16. to 17. September 2017 in Murcia.  WRO Spain – Dirección Auditorio, Av. Primero de Mayo 16, 30003 Murcia.

 

Billund table – Sand Art with LEGO® Mindstorms®

Anyone who associates LEGO® Mindstorms® with only robots is wrong.
Andreas Baumgart proves this with his project „Billund Table“. Billund Table is a design based on LEGO Mindstorms where a magnet moves under a glass plate using rotary and linear motion.
On top of the glass plate is a steel ball and fine sand. The magnet moves the steel ball over the plate through the sand creating beautiful harmonious movement and impressive patterns. In order to ensure the ball’s smooth movement over the table, the construction, the magnetic forces and the resistance of the sand had to be harmonized.

The goal was to keep the design as simple as possible, directing the viewer’s attention instead to the events on the table. That’s really something to be proud of. Special coding makes the ball draw continuous patterns into the sand. The speed was set so that the ball makes its tracks almost silently and is thus calming, almost meditative, to the viewer. 

Andreas Baumgart was inspired by Bruce Shapiro’s „Sisyphus Table“ in November 2016. 

Credits to Fabrice Weinberg.

Cr3amRoulette – a funny pie in your face game with LEGO Mindstorms EV3

This is the introduction to my RobotRemix Cr3amRoulette (CR), which was created from the LEGO MINDSTORMS 31313 and Technic Airplane Jet 42066 sets.

Cr3amRoulette-Total

CR is pure fun and you will wish but one thing during this game: „Please, not me!“

I had the idea when I saw a video of the game „PieFace“ on YT. I thought: I have to do this with LEGO MINDSTORMS!

The game’s goal is simple: belong with those who do not get cream catapulted into their faces.

You start the game by cocking the catapult and pressing Enter on the EV3 Brick. The catapult is now locked. Then, you place a nice large portion of cream on the catapult.

Then, CR generates a random number at which the catapult triggers.
This number corresponds with a certain degree of engine rotation.

The loudmouth starts. S/he pushes the touch button and rolls his/her number of moves between 1 and 6.

Cr3amRouletteFrontView

Then, s/he has to place his face in the frame and turn the wheels slowly in his/her direction with both hands. 50 degrees correspond with a turn. The end of each 50 degree rotation is announced with a tone.

For example, if the player rolls a 5, s/he has to turn the wheels by 50 degrees 5 times. CR counts the turns and compares this with its previously generated random number. When the number is reached, the catapult releases! If not, it’s the next player’s turn. S/he, too, rolls the number of his moves by pushing the touch button, places his/her head in the frame, and turns the wheels according to the moves. This goes on and on.

But believe me: It’s someone’s turn eventually and the catapult will strike!

CR is relatively easy to assemble. During the design phase, the biggest challenge was a construction that was stable and compact at the same time. The parts of the 42066 set are quite suitable for this purpose.

The catapult:

The rotating catapult is attached to the front of the CR and locked by a closing mechanism. The rubber band from the LEGO MINDSTORMS 31313 set provides the tension force. The player manually tensions the catapult. A large EV3 motor locks it.

The rotating mechanism for the moves:

The second large EV3 motor records the moves. The tires on the motor axle are rotated by the player. The software evaluates the rotations.

The default is 50 degrees to a turn. This value can be adjusted in the program. A mechanical barrier prevents the motor from being turned back.

The infrared sensor:

At the beginning of each turn, the sensor measures whether the player’s face is close enough to the frame; otherwise a tone will sound. No player gets off scot-free. J

The frame:

At each turn, the player must place his face in a frame, so that in the event of triggering, the catapult hits properly. At the same time, the frame is decoration for the game and you can extend or modify it as you like. Adjust it so that the face of the player, who looks through it, is decorated beautifully!

Build you own Cr3amRoulette now and have a lot of fun!

Credits:
Thanks to the MCP Hans-Peter Landrichinger for testing the game with his boys, the valuable feedback, and the video with your boys.

Sandkunst mit LEGO Mindstorms

Aktuell arbeite ich an einem Projekt zur Realisierung eines LEGO Mindstorms basierten Sandtisches. Das Video zeigt den zweiten Prototypen. Über den weiteren Fortschritt werde ich hier berichten.

Statusupdate vom 18. August 2017.
Der LEGO Mindstorms Sand-Tisch in Aktion.

IMG_4485

Happy Halloween … mit LEGO Mindstorms EV3

Ein kleiner Gruselschreck zu Halloween.
Ein LEGO Mindstorms EV3, 4 Ultraschallsensoren und 4 Motoren reichen dafür.
Wirkt natürlich nur in absoluter Dunkelheit. Programmiert habe ich es in Java auf Basis des Systems LeJOS für EV3. Hier ist der Quellcode: https://github.com/abaumgart/HalloweenEyes

Viel Spaß 🙂