Subject:
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Will there ever be *NEW* Mindstorms SENSORS ? Distance, Sound, Color, Bearing
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.dear-lego
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Date:
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Fri, 25 Jan 2002 13:37:50 GMT
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Reply-To:
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<MARCO@saynotospamSOPORCEL.PT>
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Viewed:
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2258 times
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Dear LEGO,
Can we ever expect any more *LEGO* Sensors for the Mindstorms series ?
This is nothing new, what I'm asking, but I just thought of giving it
another try, because my son's starting to be interested in robotics too
(because of dad's LEGO robotics hobby) and when he compared the LEGO
sensorial components at our disposal with some non-LEGO amateur robotic
(*programmable*) kits that are starting to be available to the kids, he saw
that RCX is getting left behind in terms of DISTANCE, SOUND (not voice) and
onboard COLOR sensors that are available in *now* affordable and easily
available kits.
I must confess I'm starting to think like he does and that my interest in
robotics is becoming a bit dragged behind because of me trying to keep both
interests (LEGO+Robotics) au pair.
I think Mindstorms need more sensors to keep up with the competition.
LEGO purists need *LEGO* Sensors for:
a) better DISTANCE measuring,
b) SOUND detection/amplitude measuring
c) onboard COLOR detection/measuring (not Vision Command)
and why not:
d) a *working* version of the existing ROTATION sensor
Check the simple fix done by Philippe Hurbain at
http://news.lugnet.com/robotics/?n=17113&t=i&v=a
e) simple BEARING or at least POLARIZED LIGHT sensors
On the good side, my applause goes to the recent Bionicle MANAS #8539 set
that can be driven by RCX2 firmware.
I would prefer IR reception units driving *standard* Technic motors, but we
can't have everything we wish... can we ?
With this in mind, that could be one very good expansion to RCX (could still
be compatible with the protocol used in the MANAS set): An autonomous
*addressable* IR receiving unit with 2 standard motor outputs, that could be
used to drive standard motors. This way, it'd be easier to expand RCX output
options (RCX's 3out + 3 "manas-like" units X 2out = 9 outputs)
This is what I'm doing with my 2 MANAS units already, but with (I guess)
lower quality motors (?). Check http://news.lugnet.com/robotics/?n=16045
Anyway, I'm still "waiting" for many more *NEW* LEGO Mindstorms, like:
f) a SuperRCX/RCX3 (with more inputs/outputs) or at least expansion units
with MORE INPUTS and outputs, communicating through IR like MANAS units,
cheaper than buying more RCX bricks just to get more in/outs ?
g) better integration of Vision Command with standard RCX programming. VC
software should have a mode that would limit itself to sending messages like
a powerful sensor that communicates through IR messages. What happens when
RCX receives them, that's the RCX user made program to decide and not a like
it's done today, by the included VC software.
h) a final LEGO solution to the CyberMaster<->RCX interbrick communication
I tried to implement a VLL input decoder (because it's easy to do VLL
output both with CyberMaster and RCX bricks), but the firmware is slow for
decoding the standard VLL timings. I had to relax timings and make some
adjustments "creating" a sort of SlowVLL version :( but it still has
problems.
etc... the list is longer than this already long (Sorry!) message :)
Thank you for your attention,
mc.
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