Extreme mindstorms : an advanced guide to lego mindstorms / Dave Baum ... [et al.].

By: Baum, Dave .

Contributor(s): Gasperi, Michael | Hempel, Ralph .

Material type: materialTypeLabel

BookSeries: Technology in action series.Publisher: Berkeley, CA : Apress, 2000Description: xii, 347 p. : ill. ; 24 cm. + pbk.ISBN: 1893115844.Subject(s): Robots -- Design and construction | LEGO toys

DDC classification: 629.892

Contents:

Extreme MINDSTORMS -- The RCX -- Seeker: A light-seeking robot -- RCX 2.0 firmware -- Introduction to pbForth -- Programming seeker in pbForth -- Introduction to LegOS -- Advanced LegOS -- Homebrew passive sensors -- Homebrew powered sensors.

Holdings
Item type	Current library	Call number	Copy number	Status	Date due	Barcode	Item holds
General Lending	MTU Bishopstown Library Lending	629.892 (Browse shelf(Opens below))	1	Available		00078510

Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Three MINDSTORMS experts have joined with the maintainer of the legOS HOWTO to produce the book that all advanced users of LEGO MINDSTORMS have been waiting for. Each author has written material based on his specialty. Dave Baum shows you how to take Not Quite C (NQC) to its limits. Ralph Hempel explains the ins and outs of pbForth. Michael Gasperi teaches you how to build numerous custom sensors with simple, systematic instructions. Luis Villa show you how (and when) to upgrade MINDSTORMS' built-in operating system to take advantage of the extra power of legOS, a complete C environment for the RCX.

Extreme MINDSTORMS: An Advanced Guide to LEGO MINDSTORMS starts with an overview of the RCX firmware and includes a whole chapter on RCX 2.0. Next, the book concentrates on the steps needed to build Seeker, a light-seeking robot, and to program it in NQC. Later chapters extend Seeker's functionality using pbForth and legOS. The book concludes with two chapters on building both custom passive and custom powered sensors. These sensors can take LEGO MINDSTORMS to levels impossible to achieve with just the parts supplied in the box or available through normal channels.

Includes index.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

Foreword (p. viii)
Chapter 1 Extreme Mindstorms (p. 3)
The Hackers Step In (p. 4)
Mindstorms Expands (p. 6)
RIS 2.0 (p. 8)
An Extreme Future (p. 8)
Chapter 2 The RCX (p. 11)
Architecture (p. 11)
Hardware (p. 14)
Output Ports (p. 16)
Sensor Ports (p. 18)
LCD (p. 25)
Sound (p. 26)
Standard Firmware (p. 27)
Programming the RCX (p. 29)
Chapter 3 Seeker: A Light-Seeking Robot (p. 31)
Construction (p. 31)
Using the Bumper (p. 36)
Seeking a Light (p. 41)
Bumping and Seeking (p. 44)
More Explorations (p. 51)
Chapter 4 RCX 2.0 Firmware (p. 53)
Getting Started (p. 53)
Local Variables (p. 56)
Display (p. 57)
Arrays (p. 60)
Access Control (p. 64)
Events (p. 68)
Bits and Pieces (p. 76)
Chapter 5 Introduction to pbForth (p. 79)
pbForth Is Interactive (p. 79)
pbForth Is Interpreted (p. 80)
pbForth Is Extensible (p. 80)
Why Learn pbForth? (p. 80)
Why Learn about RCX Details? (p. 81)
Installing pbForth (p. 83)
pbForth Fundamentals (p. 85)
RCX Basics and Generating Output (p. 89)
Numbers and Expressions (p. 95)
Defining New Words for pbForth (p. 101)
Conditionals and Bitwise Operators in pbForth (p. 104)
Basic RCX Sensors and Motors (p. 107)
Looping in pbForth (p. 110)
Using the Pushbuttons (p. 111)
Summary (p. 117)
Chapter 6 Programming Seeker in pbForth (p. 119)
Making Seeker Move (p. 120)
Displaying Motor States (p. 122)
Making Seeker See and Feel (p. 130)
Using the Timers (p. 138)
The Light Sensor and Thresholds (p. 141)
Summary (p. 148)
Chapter 7 Introduction to LegOS (p. 151)
So Why LegOS? (p. 151)
So What's the Catch? (p. 152)
So, How Does it Work? (p. 152)
Basic LegOS Functions (p. 156)
The LegOS Seeker (p. 170)
Conclusion (p. 180)
Chapter 8 Advanced LegOS (p. 181)
Rotation Sensors (p. 181)
Sound (p. 183)
Math in LegOS (p. 186)
LegOS Network Protocol (LNP) (p. 187)
LegOS Debugging (p. 188)
Trailerbot (p. 189)
Going Further with LegOS-"Use the Source, Luke!" (p. 213)
Chapter 9 Homebrew Passive Sensors (p. 219)
Getting Parts (p. 219)
Alligator Clip Quickie (p. 220)
Coin Detector (p. 222)
Cut Wire Connector (p. 223)
Stick-In-Ring Switch (p. 224)
Terminal Block Temperature Sensor (p. 225)
RCX Input (p. 227)
More Accurate Temperature Sensors (p. 228)
Waterproof Temperature Sensor (p. 231)
A Relative Humidity Sensor (p. 232)
50K Ohm Potentiometer Angle Sensor (p. 234)
Cut Electric Plate Connector (p. 237)
CdS Photocell Sensor (p. 238)
Galvanic Skin Response (p. 240)
Voltage Input Sensor (p. 242)
Battery Tester (p. 243)
A Tachometer (p. 244)
A Potpourri of Passive Sensors (p. 245)
Part Cross-reference List (p. 246)
Conclusion (p. 247)
Chapter 10 Homebrew Powered Sensors (p. 249)
Getting Parts and Tools (p. 249)
Getting Started (p. 249)
RCX Powered Interface (p. 250)
Sensor Power Circuit (p. 250)
Sensor Measurement Circuit (p. 254)
Optointerrupter Sensor (p. 256)
Buffer Circuit (p. 258)
Buffered Voltage Input (p. 261)
Amplifier Circuit (p. 261)
Amplified Voltage Input (p. 263)
Differential Light Sensor (p. 263)
Sound Sensor (p. 266)
Printed Circuit Board (p. 271)
Soldering (p. 272)
Packaging (p. 277)
Going Further (p. 279)
Bill of Materials for Powered Sensors (p. 279)
Conclusion (p. 282)
Appendix A Internet Resources (p. 283)
General Information (p. 283)
NQC (p. 283)
pbForth (p. 284)
LegOS (p. 284)
Homebrew Sensors (p. 284)
Suppliers (p. 284)
Appendix B NQC API Reference (p. 287)
Sensors (p. 287)
Outputs (p. 289)
Sound (p. 290)
Display (p. 291)
Communication (p. 291)
Timers and Counters (p. 292)
Access Control (p. 293)
Events (p. 294)
Miscellaneous (p. 296)
Special Features-RCX (p. 296)
Special Features-Scout (p. 297)
Special Features-CyberMaster (p. 298)
Appendix C Frequently Used Forth Words (p. 299)
Stack Words (p. 300)
Math Words (p. 301)
Logical Words (p. 302)
Conditional Words (p. 303)
Compiler and Memory Words (p. 303)
Control Structure Words (p. 306)
Input and Output Formatting Words (p. 307)
RCX Extension Words (p. 308)
Appendix D LegOS API Reference (p. 317)
LCD Functions (p. 317)
Motor Functions (p. 318)
Sensor Functions (p. 318)
Math Functions (p. 319)
Program Control (p. 320)
Time Control (p. 320)
Hardware Control (p. 321)
Music (p. 321)
Buttons (p. 322)
Semaphores (p. 322)
LNP functions (p. 323)
Standard C Library Functions (p. 323)
Appendix E Installing LegOS (p. 325)
LegOS Installation for Debian Linux (p. 326)
LegOS Installation for Red Hat Linux (p. 327)
LegOS Installation for Windows (p. 329)
Index (p. 333)

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Michael Gasperi has been an expert in LEGO Mindstorms sensors since they were first introduced in 1998. His popular web site and contributing chapters to Extreme Mindstorms (Apress, 2000) have guided many people through the process of building their own extensions to the kit.