Re: ONLINE LEGO NXT INTERFACING WORKSHOP

[Don Wilcher]

In lugnet.robotics.nxt, Brian Davis wrote:

> In lugnet.robotics.nxt, Don Wilcher wrote:
>
>> ...participants will be learning the basics of electronics interfacing
>> aided by Hi Technic's Prototype Sensor Development Board along with the
>> "off the shelf" electronic components and the LEGO NXT.
>
> Do you have any more information on this? It sounds interesting - and I love the
> HT Prototype board, I'm using it in my HALE mission to run far more sensors and
> even a heater circuit than I could have otherwise (& I'm lousy at electronics -
> this board makes it easy). But for a projected cost of $90 to $100, it's a
> little hard to justify. Are you going to ship all the parts needed to each
> participant? What's in the manual? You could buy several NXT interfacing books
> for the same price after all.
>
>> For additional information, I've had a flyer  for
>> downloading along with some general details about
>> the workshop at my blog
>
> That looks nice, but it doesn't actually provide any more information. Is there
> a parts list? A project list? A summary of the manual or any other information
> on what would be sent to participants beyond the "logic board"? I only ask
> because if you already have a price in mind, you must have an idea of the
> material costs to you, and thus what you might be providing to participants.

Hi Brian,


Thanks for the comments. Right now I'm just soliciting to see if there is an
interest. The cost would include:

1. The Logic Probe Kit

2. Workshop Manual

3. Small bag of parts

4. Renting conference space for using Skypes Whiteboard


I'll be investigating with Hi Technics if sponsorship is possible whereby the
protot boards would be discounted for purchase or as donation to the workshop.
If you have some LEGO NXT hobbyist who are interested in spicing up their
robotics projects with electronics, spread the word.


Regards

Don W.

[Brian Davis-3]

In lugnet.events.brickworld, Don Wilcher wrote:

> Thanks for the comments. Right now I'm just soliciting to see if
> there is an interest.

Thanks for the addition information. I list of potential projects would be nice
to see at some point (there's certainly no lack of possibilities, and you could
aim at train folks as well who could really benefit from this sort of thing).

--
Brian Davis

[Don Wilcher-2]

Hi Brian,

Thanks for the great suggestions and assistance on finding the right target
group for this workshop.Some projects I plan are using the NXT and Legacy
sensors for object detection and measurements as well as how to control non NXT
Servo Motors, HI Bright LEDs, radios, interfacing RF devices, and communicating
with other microcontroller platforms (Handy Cricket, BASIC Stamp) using
transistor relay drivers and power transistors.

What types of control/sensing applications the train folks would be interested
in? Also, what cost would serve this group as well as NXT community as a whole?
I'll update the flyer/brochure based on the suggestions.

Thanks

Don W.




In lugnet.robotics, Brian Davis wrote:
> In lugnet.events.brickworld, Don Wilcher wrote:
>
>> Thanks for the comments. Right now I'm just soliciting to see if
>> there is an interest.
>
> Thanks for the addition information. I list of potential projects would be nice
> to see at some point (there's certainly no lack of possibilities, and you could
> aim at train folks as well who could really benefit from this sort of thing).

[Brian Davis-3]

In lugnet.events.brickworld, Don Wilcher wrote:

> Some projects I plan are using the NXT and Legacy sensors for
> object detection and measurements as well as how to control non NXT
> Servo Motors, HI Bright LEDs, radios, interfacing RF devices,
> and communicating with other microcontroller platforms (Handy
> Cricket, BASIC Stamp) using transistor relay drivers and power
> transistors.

Well, if you can figure out how to drive DCC chips embedded in trains, a lot of
folks would be happy. Controlling crossing gates, detecting trains and moving
cow heads, automated switching, decouplers, dumpers, etc... & a lot of that can
be done with things like servos. The potential is out there. But I suspect what
you need to do is develop the applications, float them around to see what
interests folks. A lot of train folks have looked at the GBC trains with
confusion and a little surprise, which isn't what we expected. It that
cross-fertilization that takes some work.

> Also, what cost would serve this group as well
> as NXT community as a whole?

Well... I've no idea. I was a little surprised by the $90 figure, as the only
material thing you mentioned was an unspecified manual, and as far as timed
sessions we give them away free at events like Brickfair & Brickworld (well,
"free" with full admission), so it's a bit hard to estimate.

--
Brian Davis