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NXTLOG News

10 NOV 2008
The Cool Creature Building Challenge Winners are in!

Lots of brave NXTLOGgers entered the Cool Creature Building Challenge, designing robots that resemble creatures of all kids. Three of the winners are first time NXTLOGgers! From insects to slimy snails, all the bots entered in this challenge are worth building and playing with. Visit, comment, rate, and get inspired by the gaggle, flock, or swarm of robots in this challenge by entering the tag "nxt200810"

Here are the winners:

CHAMPION'S AWARD
Robby, the Elephant
Created by: Robby-Hood

Robby-Hood created Robby, the Elephant because, “We always thought Elephant was a really cool, majestic, and friendly creature.” This NXT Elephant moves its trunk up and down and ears back and forth as it is walking, and it grunts as well! This project uses just one NXT brick, 3 motors, and its body is 100% constructed out of LEGO Pieces. Robby-Hood clearly describes how he construced and programmed the robot and provides an LDD and program file so you can build one too! For a very cool creature, we award Robby, the Elephant the Champion’s Award! (This is Robby-Hood’s first project on NXTLOG.)

ROBOT DESIGN AWARD
Slime the Snail
Created by: jayko543

Slime the Snail was created as a “happy accident.” First Jayko543 tried making a little biped, but when it tried to walk, it fell over and flopped all over the table. “I thought it sort of looked like a slug or snail. So thats when I created it. . . ewwww.” But Slime the Snail is not all that gross, it has some fun and innovative design elements. The motors are used as CAMs (the motors are offset on the robot) to make it move, and when the robots eyes are touched or when something makes a loud noise it will pull them into its shell. Jayko543 provides program files, an LDD file, and video of Slime the Snail in action! For creative and unique robot, we award Slime the Snail the Robot Design Award. (This is Jayko543’s fourteenth project on NXTLOG and the second contest award - sneezebot ("achoo") won the CREATIVE USE OF NXTLOG AWARD in the Winter Wonderland Challenge).

ROBOT PERFORMANCE AWARD
Norton the NXT-Rex
Created by: Elmo9701

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, again. That’s what Elmo9701 did with the Norton the NXT-Rex project. It is now a robotic dinosaur. It started as a worm, then evolved to a dragon, and finally transformed to Norton the NXT-Rex. Elmo9701’s NXTLOG is well organized into steps that describe the robot’s Design, the Challenges and Solutions to building the project and a highly detailed step related to The Program. Norton is programmed to interact with its user via the sound sensor, touch sensor, ultrasonic sensor, motors, and NXT buttons, display screen, and speaker. He talks to the user, walks on the floor, adds simple numbers, and tells the user the distance to objects that are in front of him. Elmo9701 annotated the program files and gives credit to NXTLOGgers LegoManIAm94 and NXTGeek2 whose projects inspired the programming. For excellence in robotic programming (and NXTLOG team effort) we award Norton the NXT-Rex the Robot Performance Award! (This is Elmo9701’s first NXTLOG Project.)

CREATIVE USE OF NXTLOG AWARD
A PANDA!!
Created by: chocolatelover2014

A very creative Cool Creature Challenge entry, A PANDA!! is narrated by 3 minifig reporters from the LNN (LEGO News Network), Samantha, Daniel, and Adam. The three are working on an epic mission to rescue a Panda from danger in the mountains to the LEGOLAND Zoo. When they rescue the Panda they discover it is lonely so they build a NXT Panda to keep it company. The robotic Panda is programmed to walk on a quest for bamboo, and it will back up if it sees dark, and will stop when its tail is hit. For a very original NXTLOG, we award A PANDA!! the creative use of NXTLOG award. (This is chocolatelover2014’s first entry on NXTLOG).

HONORABLE MENTION(S)
Some robots listed in the Honerable Mention section were not considered for awards due to (1) a missing program file, (2) a missing .lxf (LEGO Digital Designer File), or (3) both.

Walkingthunder-The Dragon
Created by: NatoNX

Roboworm, 1-legged walker
Created by: Luis007006

Bumble bee
Created by: rammjet

Turtle bot
Created by: spacedude1234567

Snail
Created by: alemaster123

Mawchaw the gineapiglet
Created by: rammjet

The Waddling Penguin
Created by: toothpaste35

Robo-Girrafe
Created by: doddy345

monkey
Created by: duncydunc

Jumping insects with moving feelers
Created by: Zsolo66

25 SEP 2008
MINDSTORMS NXT Cool Creature Building Challenge!

What can be more fun than a barrel full of monkeys? A barrel full of NXT monkeys! We've had Biped, Quadruped, and even Bug Bot challenges on NXTLOG, but now we want you to have lots of fun and build the coolest creature on the planet.

"Creature" for this contest means animals of any sort. So go out and build the most creative robotic animal you can imagine. Spike can't be the only NXT creature around.

You have until Friday October 31, 2008 to enter your robot.

See the Cool Creature Building Challenge NXTLOG for more details.

Happy building!

08 SEP 2008
The NXTLOG Summer Sports Challenge Winners are in!

Over 90 NXTLOGgers entered the Summer Sports Building Challenge, designing robots that resemble real-life athletes in competition. We saw robotic gymnasts, boxers, ball players, runners, swimmers, and many other robots playing summer sports - but only a few can win the gold! Please visit, comment, rate, and get inspired by all the robots in this challenge by entering the tag "nxt200808"

Here are the winners:

CHAMPION'S AWARD
NXT Gymnast
Created by: LeoBello

The NXT Gymnast created by LeoBello is a robot that can compete in the Uneven Bars competition. There are 2 motors for the arms and 2 for the legs (but the NXT has only 3 ports so only one leg is powered). The movie that LeoBello includes with this project shows the robot performing an Uneven Bar routine with great skill and grace. We award the NXT Gymnast a 10.0! (Also see LeoBello's 2nd Summer Sports Challenge entry: NXT Basketball Player)

ROBOT DESIGN AWARD
Equestrian Mark 2
Created by: _Dragongirl_

_Dragongirl_ entered 2 robots in the Summer Sports Challenge, and Equestrian Mark 2 is an improved version of _Dragongirl_'s first Equestrian robot design. _Dragongirl_ got some help from her dad (adimitrov) to create a robotic horse that can compete in an Equestrian competition. Her first robot had one motor and a detached NXT, while this version sports 2 motors (one is just for show), an onboard NXT, and a creative use of wire as a "bridle." A video of the robot in action shows that this horse can gallop! We appreciate _Dragongirl_'s detailed NXTLOG documentation and dedication in improving her robot. _Dragongirl_ wins the gold in Robot Design!

ROBOT PERFORMANCE AWARD
100 meters, The Ultimate Race
Created by: NeXTSTORM

Under the bright light of the Olympic flame, the greatest runners of the world are ready for a drag race from the gun shot to the tape. NeXTSTORM designed the "Ultimate Race" where one NXT powers a number of minifig runners racing down a LEGO track in a LEGO stadium powered by intelligent programming so you never know who is going to win! The "Ultimate Race" ends with a fiesta of great LEGO fireworks bursting in sky. For NeXTSTORM's awesome design and programming, the "Ultimate Race" is presented with the Robot Performance Award. (This is NeXTSTORM's 9th project on NXTLOG.)

CREATIVE USE OF NXTLOG AWARD
Dexter does the Olympics.
Created by: STARMAN71

STARMAN71 uses NXTLOG in a creative way by repurposing a robot previously submitted for the Biped Challenge. This biped, "Dexter," is desgned to enter the Power Walking competition. Power Walking is a fast walk over great distances where the walker has to have one foot on the floor at all times, a task that Dexter does very well. STARMAN71 made Dexter walk faster by changing the gears in the legs and altering the program. STARMAN71 also uses a Power Point presentation to count down the starting sequence for Dexter to "Go." (STARMAN71 has 5 projects on NXTLOG and 3 projects entered in the Summer Sports Challenge.)

HONORABLE MENTION

Kayaker-Bot
Created by: Geo526468

John the Gymnast
Created by: STARMAN71

swimmer
Created by: artificialintelligence

Baskebot
Created by: alemaster123

swimming robot
Created by: dragonk1997

Rapier 2.0 "CHARGE!"
Created by: bry5

JudgeBot
Created by: abcde13

The Brickbusters(with the boxing bot)
Created by: RrangerRick

10 JULY 2008
MINDSTORMS NXT Summer Sports Building Challenge!

This is a summer where the whole world is busy with sports activities. We want to challenge you to create a robot that can compete in a sports dicipline.

You have until Sunday August 31, 2008 to enter your robot. .

See the MINDSTORMS NXT Summer Sports Building Challenge NXTLOG for more details.

Good luck and go for the Gold!

07 JULY 2008
MINDSTORMS NXT NXT Building Challenge Winners!

The quality of projects submitted to this competition proved that two (or more) NXT's can be better than one! There was a wide range of innovative entries including robots with two or more NXT's onboard the robot, robots being remote controlled by a second NXT, and two or more autonomous NXT robots working together with synchronized communication. Please visit, comment, rate, and get inspired by all the robots entered this competition by entering the tag "nxt200805"

Here are the winners:

CHAMPION'S AWARD
Copycats
Created by: Natwan33

Natwan33 got the idea for the Copycats robots from the book Creative Projects with LEGO MINDSTORMS by Benjamin Erwin. The book was made for the RCX, but the idea of a robot copying another robot's moves is still a great one, and a creative use of 2 NXT's! One of the two NXT robots is the the "leader" and sends some random numbers and logic to the "follower," and both robots do the same random move. Natwan33 provides a detailed description, a LEGO Digital Designer file to help you build the robot, annotated program files, as well as video of the copycats in action. Congrats on winning the Champion's Award! (This is Natwan33's 2nd project on NXTLOG.)

ROBOT DESIGN AWARD
tri-bot mine field exploration game
Created by: yacker2000!!!!

Yacker2000!!!! combined a Tribot vehicle with a remote control to create an obstacle course game for his NXT NXT contest submission. The aim of the "tri-bot mine field exploration game" is to retrive all the items (balls) from a mine filed. The Tribot vehicle can withstand a single mine blast before the remote control is disabled. For an innovative concept, game, as well as a KISS approach in robot vehilcle and remote control design, yacker2000!!!! wins the Robot Design Award! (yacker2000!!!! has 28 robots on NXTLOG.)

ROBOT PERFORMANCE AWARD
Super Dragster
Created by: NXTGeneration

The NXTGeneration FLL team imagined that if you can build a dragster with two NXT's... then why not go for one with four! This team pulled their NXT resources together to build a SUPER dragster with 12 NXT motors on board as well as 4 NXT bricks. The motors pull in 2 blocks. The upper block of motors consist of 7 motors and the lower block consist of 5 motors joined together. The dragster also use 2 differentials. NXTGeneration claims that this dragster runs very fast. This team provies an LDD file of the dragster, as well as a detailed NXTLOG and annotated program files. For NXTGeneration's amazing design, programming, and team efforts, they are presented with the Robot Performance Award. (This is NXTGeneration's 3rd project on NXTLOG.)

CREATIVE USE OF NXTLOG AWARD
NXT Whac-A-Mole
Created by: LinearActuator

One of the most creative projects submitted to this challenge, a NXT Whac-A-Mole! The idea of this model is to push, or hit as many moles that pop in and out of the "Mole Whacking Platform" as quickly as possible. When a mole is hit, a score indicator mole that is attached to the score tower will be raised. The NXT Whac-A-Mole is controlled and powered by two NXT bricks, one controlling the mole's touch sensors and motors, and the other controlling the score tower and indicator, light sensors, and any other sensors and motors that cannot be plugged into the first NXT brick. LinearActuator provides excellent pictures, a detailed NXTLOG and screen shots of the master and slave prgrams. We would love LinearActuator to share an LDD file and a video of the robot in action. (This is LinearActuator's 2nd project on NXTLOG.)

HONORABLE MENTION

Techno Arm
Created by: papusa8r

NXT Bike
Created by: LeoBello

BattleBots
Created by: Mister.Tux

Overhead Travelling Crane
Created by: koldo

Meteorologic Station 1.0
Created by: truppelito

The Claw of Dexterity
Created by: stephen1675

24 JUN 2008
Help yourself navigate easier!

Hi everybody!

This is just a quick tip on how to use the tags in NXTLOG to improve the navigation. When you upload a new project to the NXTLOG you should always try to add as many descriptive tags as possible.

That can sometime be quite hard! But there are some general "rules" that you can always go by.

1) When your project includes a video (file format doesn't matter) add "video" as a tag!
2) If your project uses TECHNIC-set add "Technic" as a tag!
3) Or if your project is a FLL project, simply add "FLL" as a tag!

Now when you want to see all projects with video you can simply click on the tag "video" and all "video projects" will pop up. It's that easy!

So remember some general tags (and specific ones if you can) in all your NXTLOG projects.

Happy building!

05 MAY 2008
Earth Day Building Challenge Winners!

Many NXTLOGgers took up the global challenge of creating a MINDSTORMS NXT robot that could be used to help maintain a healthy, sustainable environment. There were many innovative entries that can be used to help save energy and the earth, but we can only acknoledge a few winners. Please visit, comment, and rate all the robots entered this competition by entering the tag "nxt200804"

Here are the winners:

CHAMPION'S AWARD
TP-Bot 2008
Created by: Dino_Martino

The TP-Bot 2008 helps the earth by helping people to use less paper... toilet paper! The TP-Bot 2008 is compatible for use with five different people. It has a scanner (where users present an accesspass and 4 digit secret code), a TP dispensing system, and the robot can even tell you how much toilet paper you have left. Dino_Martino provides a creative concept and a well detailed NXTLOG (we would love to see some video). Congrats on winning the Champion's Award! (This is Dino_Martino's 5th project on NXTLOG.)

ROBOT DESIGN AWARD
The Tree Doctor
Created by: Mister.Tux

The Tree Doctor is a true Earth Day robot designed to save a precious natural resource. The robot was designed to inspect trees to see if they have the pine beetle. Within 2 days, a few handfuls of these beetles can infest and kill an entire tree. The Tree Doctor roves around a tree and scans its hardness with an ultrasonic sensor. Mister.Tux found that trees infected with the pine beetle reflect back quite a bit of sound. For an innovative concept and robot design, Mister.Tux wins the Robot Design Award. (This is Mister.Tux's 8th NXTLOG project, and 2nd NXTLOG Challenge award!) P.S. LEGO MINDSTORMS is not intended for outdoor use - use MINDSTORMS outdoors at your own risk.

ROBOT PERFORMANCE AWARD
Vestas Windmill (turbine) FLL2007 demo
Created by: robotica008

The Vestas Windmill created by robotica008 (actually MDP/MCP Martyn Boogaarts) as a demonstration model during the 2007-08 FLL final in Rijnmond, the Netherlands. The robot behaves like a real wind turbine. By blowing into the front fan, the NXT knows how hard the large windmill should turn. For a true Earth Day robot that replicates an alternative energy solution, the Vestas Windmill is presented with the Robot Performance Award. (This is robotica008's 9th project on NXTLOG.)

CREATIVE USE OF NXTLOG AWARD
Crash Lab(with the florecant fetchbot)
Created by: RrangerRick

RrangerRick with the help of some minifigs has created a robot that helps fetch old lightbulbs safely so that new energy efficient compact florescent lightbulbs can be used. RrangerRick's NXTLOG is very creative with LEGO minifigs narrating the action. We also appreciate the message of this project, that saving energy can start with something as simple as changing a lightbulb. This is RrangerRick's 11th project on NXTLOG. Congrats!

HONORABLE MENTION(S)

Water Saver
Created by: iggy5772

Bottle sorter 3000
Created by: xaviack

Plant Waterer
Created by: mperrin

Hybrid Machine
Created by: NeXTSTORM

Garbot
Created by: spaz487

An Earth Friendly Report
Created by: NatoNX

Generator bot
Created by: arclegoman12

How to get a project published (and not rejected) on NXTLOG

There are a LOT of new users to NXTLOG lately and that means more new projects to search through, and more new projects for our moderators to approve.

All projects on NXTLOG are seen by moderators before they are published to make sure that they are (1) safe and appropriate, (2) a quality NXT project.

There are many reasons why a project can be "rejected" and sent back to the creator for "editing."

NXTLOG Moderator NXTLOGster has created a "How To" project with a few tips to keep in mind when creating a NXT project to make sure that your projects are published and not "rejected" 100% of the time.

How to get a Project Published on NXTLOG

How to Post a Comment on NXTLOG

The Commenting feature on NXTLOG has become very popular!

Leaving a comment on someone’s NXTLOG project is like joining in on a conversation. Good “commenters” add to the conversation in an informative and friendly way.

NXTLOGster, a NXTLOG moderator has created a project called "How to Post a Comment on NXTLOG." It is full of simple guidelines to keep in mind BEFORE you comment. There is also updated information on how to comment in the Help section of NXTLOG.

All comments and projects on NXTLOG are reviewed by moderators before they are published to ensure that NXTLOG remains a safe and fun community. So keep the moderator's guidelines in mind to have your work approved each time!

How to get started with NXTLOG

NXTLOG user NXTLOGster added a helpful "how to" project telling how to use this site.

There are tips on :

How to log in
How to share youe project
How to creatively "tag" a project

Check out the project "How to get stared with NXTLOG" here