BrickEngineer

There are now several MATLAB packages for robotics, and specifically for the NXT.  One paradigm is to run the code on a PC and have it communicate direct commands to the NXT Brick via Bluetooth or USB.  I have found this paradigm to be a bit dangerous since in the event of a MATLAB crash or a miscommunication, the NXT Brick will continue with its last command until ordered to stop.  This has the potential to destroy your robot.  The paradigm that I prefer to use is to write several programs that run on the brick.  These programs take commands from files on the brick that can be uploaded rapidly from the PC.  The MATLAB code then is in charge of sending the command files and starting and stopping programs.  In the event of a MATLAB crash or communication failure, the software running on the NXT Brick can be designed to terminate gracefully.

Here are the MATLAB packages that I know of.  The first two are specifically geared toward the NXT; whereas the last is a general robotics package.

• LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Toolkit for MATLAB and Simulink
  http://www.mathworks.com/programs/mindstorms/
• Robotics Toolbox for MATLAB (Release 7.1) (P.I. Corke)
  http://petercorke.com/Robotics%20Toolbox.html
• RWTH Mindstorms NXT Toolbox for Matlab
  http://www.mindstorms.rwth-aachen.de/

Announcing the launch of a new blog that focuses entirely on advances in robotics.

This blog will provide information about research-quality advances and links to the more technical aspects, such as journal papers, computer code, and other resources.

Please visit Robots Everywhere!

LEGO Technic Tora no Maki is a new book by ISOGAWA Yoshihito and is available on the internet for download.  He asks $10 to be paid, which is more than a fair price as this book boasts over 200 pages of images of over 1700 LEGO constructs.

Here is a sample page:

Download it from:
http://www.isogawastudio.co.jp/legostudio/toranomaki/en/

And don’t forget to pay the $10 if you can afford it.

All of a sudden there are several NXT books available.  Here are several that I have seen and really enjoy.

The others, I have not yet had a chance to review.