A review of Lego Mindstorms robotics platform for educational and research applications
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18046/syt.v11i26.1626Keywords:
LEGO, Robot, NXT, LeJOS, Sensor, Programming Language.Abstract
Nowadays, robotics is considered one of the main areas of interest in science and technology. In almost all sectors of the society we encounter the robotization, i.e., automated systems. In industry, robots are used for welding, transporting, assembling and painting pieces. In medicine, sophisticated robots help to conduct complex surgeries. In the military sector, robots are used to explore hostile areas. Therefore, mobile robotics and autonomous systems are topics of growing interest in Computer Science and Engineering careers. Therefore, in this paper we present a review of the main characteristics of the LEGO Mindstorms robots, examining the development environments available for compiling software programs that help to define the robot behavior. In addition, an analysis is carried out of success cases using NXT robots in university courses, as well as its use in research prototypes.
References
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Astolfo, D., Ferrari, M., & Ferrari, G. (2007). Building Robots with LEGO Mindstorms NXT. Burlington, MA: Syngress - Elsevier
Barak, M., & Zadok, Y. (2009). Robotics projects and learning concepts in science, tecnology and problem solving. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 19(3), 289-307
Behrens, A., Atorf, L., Schneider , D., & Aach, T. (2011). Key Factors for Freshmen Education using MATLAB and LEGO Mindstorms. Intelligent Robotics and Applications, 553-562.
Benedettelli, D. (2008). Creating Cool MINDSTORMS NXT Robots. New York, NY: Apress-Springer.
Bishop, O. (2008). Programming LEGO Mindstorms NXT. Burlington, MA: Syngress Publishing - Elsevier
Blais, B. S. (2010). Using Python to Program LEGO Mindstorms Robots: The PyNXC Project. The Python Papers, 5 (2), 1-7
Breña Moral, J. A. (2009). Develop LeJOS Programs Step by Step. Madrid, España: JAB
BricxCC. (2012). Bricx Command Center 3.3. Recuperado de http://bricxcc.sourceforge.net/
Brigandi, S., Field, J., & Wang, Y. (2010). A LEGO Mindstorms NXT Based Multirobot System. IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics (pp. 135-139). Montreal, Canadá: IEEE
Buiu, C. (2008). Hybrid Educational Strategy for a Laboratory Course on Cognitive Robotics. IEEE Transactions on Education, 51(51),100-107
Calvo, I., & Perianez, G. (2010). Uso conjunto de la plataforma LEGO Mindstorms NXT y metodologias PBL en informatica industrial. Ikastorratza e-Revista de didáctica (6), 2-18
Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy- Robomatter (2012). RobotC a C Programming Language for Robotics. Recuperado de http://www.robotc.net/
Cruz-Martín, A., Fernandez-Madrigal, J., Galindo, C., Gonzalez-Jiménez, J., Stockmans-Daou, C., & Blanco-Claraco, J. (2012). A LEGO Mindstorms NXT approach for teaching at Data Acquisition, Control Systems Engineering and Real-Time Systems undergraduated courses. Computers & Education, 59(3), 974-988.
Das, S., Yost, S. A., & Krishnan, M. (2010). A 10-Year Mechatronics Curriculum Development Initiative: Relevance, Content, and Results - Part I. IEEE Transactions on Education, 53(2), 194-201
Erwin, B., Cyr, M., & Rogers, C. (2000). LEGO Engineer and Robolab: Teaching Engineering with LabVIEW from Kindergarten to Graduate School. International Journal of Engineering Education, 16(3),181-192
Fiorini, P. (2005). LEGO Kits in the Lab. IEEE Robotics & Automotion Magazine, 12(4), 5.
Griffin, T. (2010). The Art of LEGO Minstroms NXT-G Programming. San Francisco, CA: No Starch
Hirst, A. J., Johnson, J., Petre, M., Price, B. A., & Richards, M. (2003). What is the best programming environment/language for teaching robotics using Lego Mindstorms. Artificial LIfe and Robotics, 7(3), 124-131.
Huang, K. H., & Huang, P.-L. (2011). Lego Robotics and Group Learning: exploring the effects of gender, age and family cackground. In Communication Software and Networks (ICCSN), 2011 IEEE 3rd International Conference on (pp. 219-222). Piscataway, NJ: IEEE
Ierache, J., Garcia-Martinez, R., & De Giusti, A. (2009). A Proposal of Autonomus Robotic System Educative Environment. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 224-231
Kelly, J. F. (2010). LEGO Mindstorms NXT-G Programming Guide. New York, NY: Apress-Springer
Kelly, J. F., & Smith, C. (2011). The LEGO Mindstorms NXT: Mars Base Command. New York, NY: Apress-Springer
Kim, S. H., & Jeon, J. W. (2009). Introduction for Freshmen to Embedded Systems using LEGO Mindstorms. IEEE Transactions on Education, Vol. 52, No. 1, 99-108.
LEGO Education UK. (2013). Brick by brick [portal web]. Recuperado de http://legoeducationuk.wordpress.com
LEGO Group. (2012). LEGO Mindstorms [portal web]. Recuperado de http://mindstorms.lego.com/en-us/default.aspx
LeJOS NXJ. (2012). LeJOS Java for LEGO Mindstorms [portal web]. Recuperado de http://lejos.sourceforge.net/index.php
Lew, M. W., Horton, T. B., & Sherriff, M. S. (2010). Using LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT and LEJOS in an Advanced Software Engineering Course. 23rd IEEE Conference on Software Engineering Education and Training (CSEE&T 2010) (pp. 121-128). Pittsburgh, PA: IEEE Computer Society.
Lofaro, D., Giang, T., & Oh, P. (2009). Mechatronics education: from paper design to product prototype Using LEGO NXT Parts. En Progress in Robotics, (pp.232-239).
Microsoft. (2012). Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio 4 [portal web]. Recuperado de http://www.microsoft.com/robotics/
Mindstorms, E.R. (2013). Mindstorms EV3 Robots [portal web]. Recuperado de http://www.mindstormsev3robots.com/
National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NASA]. (2013). The Robotics Alliance Project. Recuperado de http://robotics.nasa.gov/students/summer_camps.php
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Next Byte Codes. (2011). Welcome to Next Byte Codes, Not eXactly C, and SuperPro C. Recuperado de http://bricxcc.sourceforge.net/nbc/
Oliveira, G., Silva, R., Lira, T., & Reis, L. P. (2009). Environment Mapping using the Lego Mindstorms NXT and LeJOS NXJ. 14th Portuguese Conference on Artificial Intelligende, EPIA 2009 (pp. 267-278). Aveiro, Portugal: Universidade de Aveiro
Parkin, R. M. (2002). The mechatronics workbench. Engineering Science and Education Journal, 13(1), 36-40
Paturca, S., Novischi, D., & Llas, C. (2010). Performance Comparison of Vision Sensors and Processing Power of Two Robotic Platforms for Obstacle Avoidance. Research and Education in Robotics - EUROBOT 2010 (págs. 108-117). Rapperswil-Jona, Suiza: Springer
PbLua. (2012). PbLua - Lego Is Just A Hobby - Right? Recuperado de http://hempeldesigngroup.com/lego/pblua/
Perdue, D. J., & Valk, L. (2011). The unofficial LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 Inventor's Guide. San Francisco, CA: No Starch
PyNXC. (2010). PyNXC - A Python to NXC Converter for programming LEGO MINDSTORMS Robots. Recuperado de https://code.google.com/p/pynxc/
Robotics Learning. (2013). Robotics learning: LEGO Robotics activities and classes. Recuperado de http://www.roboticslearning.com
Santos, A. C., Tarrataca, L., & Cardoso, J. M. (2010). The Feasibility of Navigation Algorithms on Smartphones using J2ME. Mobile Networks and Applications, Vol. 15, No. 6, 1572-8153.
Shih, B.-Y., Chang, C.-J., Chen, Y.-H., Chen, C.-Y., & Liang, Y.-D. (2012). Lego NXT Information on Test Dimensionality using Kolb´s Innovative Learning Cycle. Natural Hazards, 64(2), 1527-1548
Slangen, L., van Keulen, H., & Gravemeijer, K. (2011). What pupils can learn from working with robotic direct manipulation environments. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 21(4), 449-469
Stier, J., Zechel, G., & Beitelschmidt, M. (2011). A robot competition to encourage first-year students in mechatronic sciences. Research and Education in Robotics - EUROBOT 2011 (pp. 288-299). Praga, República Checa: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
Sugumaran, R., Nanal, H., Jain, R., & Wadoo, S. (2013). Establishing a cost effective embedded control and robotics engineering program: Observer based state feedback control using LEGOs. 2013 IEEE Integrated STEM Education Conference (ISEC) (pp. 1-6). Princeton, NJ: IEEE Computer Society
Szweda, L., Wilusz, D., & Flotynski, J. (2012). Application of NXT based robots for teaching java-based concurrency. En e-Learning and Games for Training, Education, Healt and Sports [Lecture Notes in Computer Science, V.7516] (pp.54-64), Berlín, Alemania: Springer-Verlag
Tec, B., Uc, J., Gonzalez, C., Garcia, M., Escalante, M., & Mantañez, T. (2010). Analisis comparativo de dos formas de enseñar matemáticas básicas: robots lego nxt y animación con scratch. Memorias de la Conferencia Conjunta Ibero-Americana sobre Tecnologias para el Aprendizaje, (pp. 103-109). Disponible en http://www.tizimin.uady.mx/filesWeb/AnalisisComparativoScratchVsLego.pdf
The Robotics Institute of Yucatán. (2013). The Robotics Institute of Yucatán [portal web]. Recuperado de http://www.triy.org/
Valk, L. (2010). The LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 Discovery Book. San Francisco, CA: No Starch
Worcester Polytechnic Institute. (2013). Frontiers. Recuperado de http://www.wpi.edu/academics/k12/frontiers.html
Yoonsoo, K. (2011). Control Systems Lab Using a LEGO Mindstorms NXT Motor System. IEEE Transactions on Education, 54(3), 452-461
Yu, X. (2012). Using LEGO Mindstorms in the undergraduate curriculum of IT. 2012 International Symposium on Information Technology in Medicine and Education (pp. 270-273). Piscataway, NJ: IEEE
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2013-09-30
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