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What is Available?
The Mindstorms universe is growing all
of the time. Lego has been spending plenty of money and creating some good
products for a range of audiences. Lego
has also found the "Star Wars" licence to be quite fruitful and
has produced 2 different kits featuring R2-D2 and The Dark Side. These 2
kits would have to be the way to go at the early levels. The
table below details the different Mindstorms Kits that are available:
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ROBOTICS
INVENTION SYSTEM |
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The Robotics Invention System is
the top end of Mindstorms. It is designed for the older user (12+) and
is the most versitile kit available. It uses the RCX brick and
programmable via the computer. It comes with over 700 pieces of lego
including the RCX and sensors. This kit can also be expanded by using
any of the other kits and buy purchasing new sensors and add-on packs.
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ROBOTICS
DISCOVERY SET |
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The Robotics Discovery Set has
been designed for use without a computer. You can create over
"3000" different behaviours by programming the 'Scout'. The
Scout is a blue version of the RCX which is programmable wthout a
computer. At this stage it
is possible to communicate with the RCX as well. In the future an
add-on pack will be available so the Scout can be programmed via a
computer.
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| DARK
SIDE DEVELOPER KIT |
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The Dark Side Developer Kit is
the second "Star Wars" Mindstorms kit. Both of these kits
use a "MicroScout" which has built in Light sensor, motor
and 7 preset programmes.
This kit uses the Dark Side theme
to create some of the vehicles used by the Empire.
The MicroScout cannot be
reprogrammed.
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| DROID
DEVELOPER KIT |
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The Droid Developer Kit is the
first "Star Wars" Mindstorms kit. Both of these kits use a
"MicroScout" which has built in Light sensor, motor and 7
preset programmes.
This kit is based primarily
around R2-D2.
The MicroScout cannot be
reprogrammed.
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| VISION
COMMAND |
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The last kit is the Vision
Command kit. This basically contains a Web Cam that can be integrated
with other lego.
The exciting function of this kit
is that it can be used in conjunction with an RCX brick and can be
used as a sensor.
I do believe that the camera
uses a cable to connect to the computer, limiting the movement of the
RCX.
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Mindstorms also has a number of
expansion sets to provide additional ideas for the uses of the brick.
These kits primarily have new pieces that can help make the RCX more
functional for special needs. These kits include:
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EXPLORATION
MARS |
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This set provides additional
pieces so that you can simulate the Mars expedition carried out by
NASA.
Note: The Robolab programming
language is based on the program that was used to programme the Mars
explorer. |
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EXTREME
CREATURES |
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This kit enables the builder to
make models that have animal movement and characteristics. |
| ROBOSPORTS |
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This kits provides additional
pieces so that you can simulate sporting games with your RCX.
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There are also 4 different sensors
currently available for the Mindstorms kit. The table below summarises
them.
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THE TOUCH
SENSOR |
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This sensor is used for sensing
if the RCX has touched something or as remote control. |
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THE LIGHT SENSOR |
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This sensor senses the light
infront of it. The RCX can then determine what to do with the values. |
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ROTATION SENSOR |
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This sensor measures the number
of rotations that an axle has made. It has incriminations of 16 points
per rotation. |
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TEMPERATURE SENSOR |
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The final sensor shows the temperature
around the sensor. |
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