Subject:
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C Programming Solution for NXT - Beta Available
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.robotics
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Date:
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Tue, 13 Jun 2006 23:14:11 GMT
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This email announces a C language programming solution for the NXT. The
solution includes a comprehensive graphical IDE, C compiler, a full featured
debugger, and replacement NXT firmware. It runs ina Windows environment and
is available for download for anyone interested in participating in a beta
trial.
THis solution is the result of collaboration with the Robotics Academy at
Carnegie-Mellon University on development and commercialization of a new
robotics curriculum using the C programming language. Part of this
development includes a common C programming solution - "RobotC" - that runs
on several different robotics platforms. Three of these platforms are Lego's
Mindstorms RCX and NXT and the VEX Robotics controller. The primary focus
has been the education market, but I anticipate the programming capabilities
are likely also of interest to the LUGNET robotics community.
Following is a copy of information release distributed to numerous educators
today announcing download availability of a beta version.
Dear Robotics Educator:
The Robotics Academy is pleased to announce the release of a trial version
of RobotCT, a new C-based programming environment designed to work on the
RCX, the NXT, and VEX robot controllers. RobotC provides a common user
interface regardless of the actual controller in use. Programs written for
one platform can easily be ported to a different platform with little or no
changes.
Teaching programming in today's classroom can be very challenging. It
becomes harder when you have to change programming languages and
environments as students advance and migrate to more powerful controllers
and robots. At the Robotics Academy we're making the job easier. With the
new RobotC programming solution, teachers and students move from the RCX to
the NXT to Vex to the larger FIRST robot controllers using a single common
programming environment.
RobotC is designed for both beginner and advanced users. Advanced features
can be disabled and hidden from beginners under administrative control. A
graphical drag-and-drop interface simplifies program creation. It includes
an extensive library of how-to videos, sample programs, code 'snippets' and
curriculum support now in development at the Robotics Academy.
The secret to RobotC's cross-platform architecture is a small platform
specific Virtual Machine (VM) layer that provides the glue foreach specific
hardware platform. VM technology is the same architecture used by JAVA for
its cross-platform support. It's relatively easy to add future support for
additional controllers to RobotC based on feedback and demand.
RobotC was successfully trialed in live classrooms this past winter
semester. It's ready for broader exposure and feedback. At
http://www-education.rec.ri.cmu.edu/robotc/ you can download the software
and take it for a test drive. At the site you will find sample code for
multiple controllers, helper links, step-by-step videos, a bulletin board so
that the larger community can compare notes, and a bug tracker which will
enable the Robotics Academy to be responsive to any new feature requests,
issues and bugs you encounter.
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Message has 2 Replies:
 | | Re: C Programming Solution for NXT - Beta Available
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| (...) From the install manual: System Requirements: • Windows 2000, XP based computer with 10MB of Hard Drive Space • LEGO NXT Hardware with LEGO Mindstorms NXT Programming Software Installed and/or • LEGO RCX Hardware with Robolab 2.5 or later (...) (18 years ago, 13-Jun-06, to lugnet.robotics)
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