Basic LEGO Mindstorms

LEGO Mindstorms Tips & Tricks

How to read LEGO Building Instructions:  Always go through the instructions step-by-step.  Get the pieces before you build each step. Sometimes it isn’t obvious in the picture where each piece is, and it’s really easy to miss pieces if you just look at the picture. If you pull out all the pieces beforehand, you can make sure they all get used and you won’t need to back up later because you’re missing a part.  Sometimes it’s hard to figure out exactly what the list of pieces means. Here are some tips: o The number followed by an “X” to the bottom left of the picture of each piece is how many of that piece you will need. o Often when axles or other long, almost identical things are listed, they will have a number, sometimes in a circle, to their right. This is a measurement of how long the object is, as measured in LEGO nubs. For example, an axle with “X8” next to it, the axle will be as long as a brick with 8 nubs on top. o When measuring axles, there is also often a picture at the bottom of the page that is the exact same size as the axle you need. To double check that you have the right piece, you can just lay the piece on top and see if it lines up with the picture. o Be picky with which piece you choose! Some pieces look very similar, but do very different things! You don’t want your wheels to not be able to turn, or you not be able to connect things when you need to. Colors don’t always need to match up, but they can help you figure out which piece you need.

Some Tips With the NXT Brick:  Remember to only plug motors in ports labeled A, B, or C, and only plug in sensors in ports labeled 1, 2, 3, or 4. If a plug gets put in the wrong spot, the robot won’t be able to understand the program properly!  Since you can only use 3 motors and 4 sensors, plan before you build!  If you need more sensors, don’t forget you can always use the buttons on the front of the robot as sensors!  Sometimes the software for programming the NXT can be somewhat slow. Be patient with it; if you give it a little time to load between clicks it will work much better!  Remember to put away all of your wires and plug in your NXT brick before you leave! Have fun!