LEGO.com MINDSTORMS Meet the MDP's Steve Hassenplug

Steve Hassenplug
From:
Lafayette, Indiana, USA (close to Chicago and Indianapolis)

What I do besides building with MINDSTORMS:
To make money, I'm a software engineer.

Why I signed up for the MDP:
Because it was offered to me :)

Experience with MINDSTORMS:
In the last seven years, I've participated in many kinds of competitions around the world (all over the US, Canada and Billund, Denmark). I compete with LEGO robots against both LEGO and "sheet-metal" robots, with a great deal of success. I've coached an FLL team for five years, and created a local LEGO Mindstorms club.

NXT Project: Omni


	Omni Parts List

Omni and Remote Control



	Remote Control Unit

About this NXT Project:
Omni was built the night before I went to Microsoft with the LEGO "Big Robot On Campus" event.

The robot was designed as a holonomic platform (omni-directional) which means it's able to move any direction without turning. Each of the wheels allow the robot to roll freely in one direction, and drive under power in another. By varying the power and direction of the motors, it is able to go any direction.

The remote control for Omni uses a second NXT, with three motors, each of which has a paddle attached. The remote sends the value of the "paddle" sensor via Bluetooth to Omni, which sets the speed and direction of the motors based on the value received.

The latest version has an Ultrasonic sensor on the front of the robot, and the reading from the sensor is sent back to the remote. If Omni gets too close to an object (less than 10 inches) the remote will automatically drive the "paddle" backwards, causing the robot to back away from the object.

Watch the Omni in action

NXT Project: Rosie


Rosie	Lift arm to replace cleaning pad

Rear Side View	Rear View

Successful Cleaning Rosie!	Rosie Program

About this NXT Project:
When my wife came home with a Swiffer® Flick™ carpet cleaner, I immediately confiscated it and took it to my LEGO workshop where I started building. In about an hour I had a working robot that was able to push the carpet cleaner around the room without bumping into everything. The first version of the program is very simple, and only has three icons. I named it Rosie after the robot maid from the Jetsons.

My wife said it took me seven years to come up with something useful. I said it really took about an hour... :)

Procter & Gamble will and cannot take any responsibility for the robot and its functionality in combination with the Swiffer® Flick™ product.

My Links

My Website

Read about my involvment in the MUP (MINDSTORMS Users Panel) in WIRED Magazine

Some popular RCX Robots I have created :

Legway - Popular with robot builders outside the LEGO community

Stick - Plays Connect Four
The Great Ball Contraption (or GBC) - Popular with LEGO builders who want to make stuff move, but don't want to compete