Watch out, humans: An invasion of self-replicating Lego robots could be at hand. Software engineer by day, Lego maniac by night Will Gorman has created the MakerLegoBot, a machine that can take a virtual 3-D model and assemble it using Lego bricks. The machine is itself built entirely out of the Lego system, which raises the possibility — theoretically at least — that the machine could, with some modifications, build a copy of itself. The 3-D assembler uses three Lego Mindstorms NXT Bricks, along with 9 NXT motors. “There is a recursiveness to this whole thing,” says Gorman. “I love the idea of self-assembly and the Star Trek replicator and I love Legos,” he says. “I wanted to bring those two worlds together. The MakerLegoBot is a tribute to the emerging trend of 3-D printers and self-replicating machines such as MakerBot and RepRap. Over the last two years, enthusiastic do-it-yourselfers have embraced 3-D printers that can take blobs of plastic and shape them into objects you desire.
DIYers are using Makerbot and RepRap to fabricate iPod docks, plastic bracelets, hair clips and miniature teapots at home. Such devices are helping plant “the seeds of the next industrial revolution,” according to Wired magazine editor Chris Anderson. More mainstream 3-D printers use plastic, not Lego, but the principle of converting 3-D designs into real objects is similar. Here’s how the MakerLegoBot works: A feed system that’s about two-and-a-half feet tall and can hold about 35 bricks connects to the LegoBot. The object that the MakerLegoBot is to assemble is designed in MLCad, a modeling program. A Java app that runs on a PC takes the file from the MLCad software, determines a set of print instructions and sends those instructions over USB to the LegoBot. The machine retrieves a brick from the feed system and places it in the exact location where it should be. It uses an axle-based release mechanism to leave the brick in place. The current design works with 1×2, 2×2, 3×2, 4×2 and 8×2 Lego bricks.
So far, the machine can’t print Lego blocks or use NXT blocks and motors — a major limitation. It just works off ordinary Lego bricks, which must be fed into it by human assistants. Of course, a MakerBot might be able to fabricate a Lego brick, raising some interesting possibilities for a collective robot uprising. For now, system can build objects that are up to 12 bricks tall. Gorman has posted instructions on how to build the MakerLegoBot on his site. And as this amazing video shows, the MakerLegoBot goes to work assembling the blocks. MakerBot fabbed open-source wristwatch Young Engineer Uses Webcam, Laser to Build Budget 3-D Scanner HP Plans Line of (Relatively) Affordable 3-D Printers Chris Anderson and the Democracy of Making (And Selling) ThingsHave you noticed that many advanced FIRST Lego League (FLL) robots spend very little time in the robot game "Base" to switch-out attachments? They tend to use a quick-connect system whereby a "shell" can go on top of a motorized platform in a few seconds.
Two EV3 Medium Motors have Power Take Off (PTO) pegs onto which an upper "shell" can interface to drive attachments. In my "Lego EV3 Robot Designs" Flickr album, this render of the yellow layer is the "shell": https:/17706676898/in/dateposted-public/ . /mocs/DavidLuders/dualgrabber-clawgripper ), and the other one is driving the yellow hook. This "Fllying Turtle" design illustrates what is possible with a "Shell" design; there are many ways of routing the motor power to attachments that you design. design your own shell! Help Guide - Buying LEGO Parts Already have some of the parts? Build this MOC page to only show the parts Create an account to change the default filters used. Add Parts to BrickOwl Wishlist Add Parts to BrickLink Wanted List View Building Instructions (3D File - LEGO Digital Designer LXF) Use LEGO Digital Designer to open these files and generate step by step building instructions.Make it easy for science and engineering teachers to integrate the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Robotics System into their classrooms.
Hands-on learning is the best way to attract students into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) careers. When used with our LEGO NXT Adapter, this new book makes it easy for science and engineering teachers to integrate the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Robotics System into their classrooms. The book includes 14 lab activities and 4 design-and-build robotics projects. All the activities involve collecting data with Vernier sensors, primarily pH, Conductivity, UV, and Soil Moisture Sensors. These sensors, coupled with the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT intelligent interface, enable students to do traditional science labs in a new way. In addition, the robotics projects provide an opportunity to learn about construction and engineering, while adding an element of fun to learning. A CD included with the book has editable student handouts in Word format and MINDSTORMS NXT sample programs, movie clips, and LEGO Digital Designer files with detailed instructions for building and operating the robotics projects.
Buy one book and print out activities for your entire class. This book has been replaced by Vernier Engineering Projects with LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Education NXT, which includes all the projects within this book, but not the activities. You can download the activities below, which include the student instructions as well as essential teacher information. LEGO Digital Designer (LDD) Files Files for the NXT robots in the STEM and STEM2 books updated for the LDD version 4.3.6. Included with STEM with Vernier and LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT Complete student experiments with materials list, step-by-step instructions, data tables, and questions. Teacher Information section for each experiment with complete directions for setting up experiments, helpful hints, and sample graphs and data. Word-processing files of the student sections on a CD so that any experiment may be easily edited to your specifications (Microsoft Word for Macintosh and Windows files). Features listed above are only available when you purchase the lab book.