Classic Lego Mindstorms Projects and Software Tools: Award-Winning Designs from Master Builders Review

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(More customer reviews)The publisher's blurb suggests that this is a book containing a number of NEW projects but it is really an EXACT reprint of "LEGO Mindstorm Masterpieces: Building and Programming Advanced Robots" with an updated cd. Although the cd includes PDFs of a few other books it does not include the cds shipped with those books so you are better off buying the books themselves, and the chances are that if you are looking to buy this book, you already have those other books. Similarly, the cd includes some software for drawing LEGO diagrams, etc. but offers no information on how to use these programs effectively so you could just as easily download the software and find guidance on using it on the internet. Unfortunately, the software that is provided does not include any of the programming tools or alternative firmware installs available to enhance your robot's behaviour. Overall, if you do not already own a copy of "LEGO Mindstorm Masterpieces" then this book is worth the money, but if you do, consider yourself warned.

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This Book/DVD kit meets the growing demand from Lego Mindstorms fans for additional projects that can be built from their existing Lego Mindstorms kits. Over 40 new projects will appeal to that dedicated segment of the Lego audience that are committed to the RIS 1.x and 2.x standards.The book contains seven complete "Master" projects that illustrate how great design, planning, mechanical engineering skills, and programming can create stunning and award winning projects.The DVD contains instruction for over 40 projects in Adobe PDF form, a full suite of Lego software tools, and RCX/NQC code files. The projects range from the simple to the sophisticate, and are perfect for self-learning.* Complete new set of projects for the RIS 1.x and 2.x * This Book and DVD package delivers a complete kit, perfect for team projects as well as those individual building * packed full with award winning designs that will inspire any Mindstorms fan

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LEGO Software Power Tools, With LDraw, MLCad, and LPub Review

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(More customer reviews)I wasn't sure if this book would be worth picking up as I already know how to use MLCad... First off-you should get it from Amazon.com and save yourself a bundle.
It is a boon to have all of these programs in one place. They install very easily and you dont have any problems getting them up and running. That is a very good thing, especially for LEGO fans who are new to this stuff.
Second-there is some new information in here, even for long time users of MLCad like me. LSynth is amazing--MLCad users will be very happy to be able to finally include all of those flexible elements into their model files. I haven't started fooling around with LPub yet but it looks very interesting--basically allows you to create instructions a-la the sets you get with a real LEGO kit.
All in all I'd recommend this book, especially to someone who is new to these programs. There is nothing in this book that you
can't find on the web...
and the other sites whre you can download these programs and their instructions, or poking around on the forums.
HOWEVER!!!!! It would take you days, if not weeks, to assemble all of the info that is between the covers of this book, which I think makes it very worth while.
Check it out!
Signing off-
Blacktron23

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Create Virtual 3D LEGO Models Using LEGO Software Power ToolsLEGO Master Builders have created a powerful set of tools that are distributed as freeware to the LEGO community to assist LEGO fans in their building adventures. Until now, these tools have been difficult to find, and even more difficult to configure to work with one another. Here, in one book, readers will find steps for installing and using all of the most popular LEGO freeware applications. Also, all of the applications are consolidated into one simple-to-install program that allows readers to be up and running in minutesØWide market appeal. This book will appeal to the huge established consumer base of the LEGO community, as well as to children, parents, and teachers who may have been intimidated by the difficulties of bringing all of these applications under one roof.ØThe only book of its kind to cover the wide variety of applications available. Some books in the past have touched on one or two of these LEGO applications, but none has covered them all in such detail. ØCD provides all of these freeware applications in one easy to install program. Included CD packs more than 8 applications into one easy-to-use format, making it easy for readers to have access to all of these applications in minutes and avoid the headaches of trying to download, install, configure, set up folder structures, and troubleshoot such a wide variety of loosely related freeware applications.ØWill coincide with the release of Lpub. This will be the first in-depth look at LPub, the new creation of Kevin Clague, which ties LDraw, MLCad, L3P, and POV-Ray together to allow users to easily create professional quality LEGO instructions for both the printed page and the web.

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The Unofficial LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 Inventor's Guide Review

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(More customer reviews)This new edition of the Inventor's Guide provides everything one needs to get started with the current Lego Mindstorm's NXT 2.0 set, and importantly gives an organization to structure one's developing parts, assembly and programming knowledge through your increasing knowledge of this fascinating hobby. The authors are both widely published in the Lego NXT community and are engineers themselves with more than a decade each of involvement in this hobby. This extensive handbook begins with a clear and succinct introduction to everything you will find in your NXT 2.0 set, including parts and software installation. It then proceeds with a clear and well illustrated tutorial in constructing structures with the parts, beams and gears. A similar and non-threatening introduction to NXT-G programming follows. Chapter 10 provides a brief but clear introduction to a sound methodology to design and develop NXT robots and projects. The following chapters describe and give a tutorial background for 6 fascinating robotic projects concluding with an electro-mechanical printer similar to early personal computer plotters built entirely in the hardware and programming language of Lego Mindstorms NXT 2.0. The appendices catalog the parts contained in the set and each of the elements of the NXT-G programming language giving a categorization that will allow one to organize their increasing knowledge.
I highly recommend this well-organized and exciting tutorial to anyone who wishes to learn this fascinating hobby, or to be given along with the set to provide the necessary knowledge to obtain the real benefits of the NXT 2.0 set.
--Ira Laefsky, MSE/MBA


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The LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT 2.0 set offers hundreds of building elements, programming software, and powerful electronics that you can use to create amazing robots. But where do you begin?

This eagerly awaited second edition of the bestselling Unofficial LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Inventor's Guide is your key to designing, building, and programming robots with the NXT 2.0 set.

You'll learn practical building techniques, like how to build sturdy structures and use gears, and gain a solid understanding of the set's NXT-G programming language. A series of projects new to this edition offers step-by-step instructions for building and programming six robots, each of which can be built with just one NXT 2.0 set, including:

Inventor-Bot, a fast, simple, modular vehicle with treads
Sentry-Bot, a robot guard that shoots balls at intruders
Table-Bot, a vehicle that uses its antennae to avoid falling off a tabletop
The Jeep, a four-wheeled vehicle that avoids obstacles and follows lines
The Lizard, a large walking robot that uses the color sensor to detect and respond to different colored balls
The Printer, a stationary robot that uses a pen or marker to draw letters, words, and shapes on paper

Additional resources include the Piece Library, which contains basic information on the more than 80 types of LEGO pieces in the NXT 2.0 set, and the Quick Reference, which lists the 34 types of standard programming blocks. So go ahead. Grab your NXT 2.0 set, fire up your imagination, and see what you can invent with The Unofficial LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 Inventor's Guide.

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