Lego's NXT system allows you to snap together a robot base complete with a variety of self-contained, modular sensors and motors. The problem with the NXT Robot though is software. While the visual programming language that ships with the system is supposed to be easy-to-use for beginners, many find it far from intuitive. Unless the tasks you are attempting are rudimentary and uncomplicated you may find the NXT's programming procedures difficult to comprehend. Even many of the after-market languages available for the NXT have cryptic syntax that can frustrate a new user. One solution to these problems is RobotBASIC. Its easy-to-use English-like syntax makes programming easy to grasp, even for beginners. We provide a library of routines that allow you to control the NXT without downloading anything to the robot itself. RobotBASIC controls the NXT's motors and reads sensory data by talking directly to the NXT computer using Lego's wireless protocol. With our system, you program totally on the PC and when your program is ready, just run it and watch the robot respond. We also provide a Lego Simulation Library that allows your NXT programs to operate with the RobotBASIC simulator, letting students experiment even when the Lego hardware is not available. Every student can work with their own simulated robot both at home and in the classroom and when someone gets their program working, just plugging in a USB Bluetooth adapter will instantly allow their program to control the real NXT. This system makes programming easier to understand because the user can concentrate on concepts rather than cryptic syntax or an unintuitive graphical interface. Finally, RobotBASIC is a powerful, full-featured robot-control language, so after you have learned all you can from the NXT you can still use the RobotBASIC skills you learn from this book when you move on to other hardware technologies with more options and capabilities.

This book concentrates on how RobotBASIC programs can interface with a wide variety of off-the-shelf hardware. Many options will be explored including both serial and parallel ports and how a separate microcontroller can be used to handle the low-level I/O operations. You will even see how vision, speech synthesis, voice recognition, and Internet communications can be used in your RobotBASIC programs. The main portion of the book uses straightforward, less intimidating examples to introduce the concepts without being overwhelming. A series of appendices provide additional details for more intricate information. You may download a free copy of RobotBASIC from www.RobotBASIC.com.

Most introductory programming classes bore students with exercises that are dull and irrelevant. Even with proper examples, many programming languages add to the student's frustration because they require an understanding of object oriented principles and cryptic syntax before anything remotely interesting can be accomplished. RobotBASIC addresses both of these problems. It's easy-to-learn syntax rewards and motivates students by letting them see immediate results. An integrated robot simulator lets students develop logical thinking skills while solving stimulating problems without the costs and hassles of purchasing and maintaining a real robot. Furthermore, RobotBASIC is FREE so schools have no acquisition costs, no upgrade fees, and no site licenses. Students can download their free copy so homework assignments are never an issue. Visit www.RobotBASIC.com for complete information and your free copy. "Robots in the Classroom" puts fun back in learning.

The PC used to allow control of electronic hardware by interfacing through its I/O ports and operating system that allowed deterministic real-time control. The PC grew progressively more complex and powerful at doing GUI, multitasking, 3D graphics, virtual memory management, and much more. But it also became extremely convoluted to program while also prohibiting any access to low-level I/O systems. In the meantime, microcontrollers were becoming more powerful, easier to program and cheaper. Naturally, engineers and hobbyists are opting to use them for their projects instead of the PC. However, most microcontrollerss lack the data storage and processing power as well as the user interfacing facilities of the PC and many find themselves wishing to combine the two. This book aims to show techniques and strategies that can be implemented with any microcontroller and any PC programming language to create a protocol for interfacing and combining the two where the shortcomings of each are overcome by the capabilities of the other. We illustrate the principles with Parallax's multi-cored Propeller - a single chip with eight 32-bit processors running in parallel and sharing a common RAM. With its powerful programming language (Spin) it facilitates implementing multitasking and parallel processing, which are at the core of the book's outlined techniques. RobotBASIC is used as the PC programming language (interpreter/compiler) for its powerful readily usable tools that enable a programmer of any expertise to create GUI programs and to effect hardware communications that would need a high level of programming proficiency in other languages. To illustrate the strategies with concrete examples we create a few interesting projects using quite a variety of hardware (motors and sensors) that are typical of most devices you are likely to require in an electronics project (e.g. Robots).

RobotBASIC has an integrated robot simulator with numerous sensors including bumpers, IR perimeter sensors, line sensors, a ranging sensor, a beacon detector, and an electronic compass. Our book, Robot Programmer's Bonanza, showed that these sensors can give a mobile robot amazing capabilities. RobotBASIC also has a proprietary protocol that allows it to control real robots with the very same programs developed with the simulator. This book gives a detail description of how to modify the 3Pi robot from Pololu so that it has all the sensors listed above and can be controlled over a Bluetooth link from a PC running RobotBASIC. There are many example programs that demonstrate how to use the 3Pi's new capabilities. This is not a beginner's project and readers are assumed to have soldering skills and the ability to read and interpret schematics. Download your FREE copy of RobotBASIC and discover how easy it can be to program a mobile robot.

If you want to learn how to program, this is the book for you. Most texts on programming offer dry, boring examples that are difficult to follow. In this book, a wide variety of interesting and relevant subjects are explored using a problem-solving methodology that develops logical thinking skills while making learning fun. RobotBASIC, a powerful, yet extremely easy-to-use, computer language available for any Windows-based PC, is used throughout the text. Download your FREE copy from www.RobotBASIC.com and begin your adventure today. Learning to program has never been so much fun. You will control a simulated robot, explore the geometry of computer graphics, use animation to analyze the physics of gravity, and even write a simple video game. No prior knowledge of programming is required. This book will start easy, giving you everything you need before moving on to more complex topics.

Publisher's Note: Products purchased from Third Party sellers are not guaranteed by the publisher for quality, authenticity, or access to any online entitlements included with the product. The first hands-on programming guide for today's robot hobbyist Get ready to reach into your programming toolbox and control a robot like never before! Robot Programmer's Bonanza is the one-stop guide for everyone from robot novices to advanced hobbyists who are ready to go beyond just building robots and start programming them to perform useful tasks. Using the versatile RobotBASIC programming language, you'll discover how to prototype your creative ideas using the integrated mobile robot simulator and then port your finished programs to nearly any hardware/software configuration. You can even use the built-in wireless protocol to directly control real-world robots that can be built from readily available sensors and actuators. Start small by making your robot follow a line, hug a wall, and avoid drop-offs or restricted areas. Then, enable your robot to perform more sophisticated actions, such as locating a goal, sweeping the floor, or navigating a home or office. Packed with illustrations and plenty of inspiration, the unique Robot Programmer's Bonanza even helps you "teach" your robot to become intelligent and adapt to its behavior! Everything you need to program and control a robot! In-depth coverage of the RobotBASIC simulator as well as how it can be used to control real-world robots either directly or through the integrated wireless protocol A companion website with a FREE download of the full version of the RobotBASIC robotic simulator and control language Remote control algorithms as well as autonomous behaviors Integrated debugger facilitates program development Appendices that detail RobotBASIC's extensive commands and functions as well as the integrated programming environment Adaptable and customizable programs that solve realistic problems-use simulations to prototype robots that can mow a yard, deliver mail, or recharge a battery, then port your algorithms to real-world robots Chapters devoted to creating contests with RobotBASIC and utilizing RobotBASIC in the classroom to teach programming