Sioux.NET on Track: A fully automated train controlled by LEGO® MINDSTORMS and Microsoft .NET

Here's an interesting guest blog entry by Hans Odenthal from Netherlands:

A group of ten enthusiastic colleagues of the Dutch technical software company Sioux Embedded Systems are working in their spare time on a fully automated LEGO® train, called Sioux .NET on Track. 

The power functions train is controlled by a LEGO® NXT, the Hi-Technic IR Link sensor and Codatex RFID sensor. The LEGO® NXT bricks  themselves are remotely controlled by a PC, using an application written in C#.

The first functional protype has been on display in 2012 at LEGO WORLD in Zwolle (Netherlands).

After that, a new target has been set up for LEGO WORLD 2013, involving improved features like automatic switches and much more.

Some impressive numbers:

• a total of appr. 2000 hours have been spent for building and programming
• six NXT bricks are required  for control
• two trains
• three switches
• PUI (Physical User Interface, a new term to indicate the LEGO® Buttons)
• Codatex RFID tags for train detection

The work in progress can be found at the group's blog and Youtube channel.

LEGO® Motor Scooter

There's an interesting video on YouTube with a nice application of a Gyro sensor on a NXT motor scooter:

A life-size and working LEGO® Segway

Simon Burfield, renowned for his great LEGO® Wheelchair, has published a first prototype of his new fantastic invention: a life-size and working LEGO® Segway!



You need to watch the movie to believe...
Even in its prototype state this is one of the MINDSTORMS highlights of the year already right now.

After Earth Challenge

For those amongst our readers who haven't been aware of the After Earth Challenge by now that is hosted by the XPrize Foundation: the deadline for submissions is drawing near.



Update note: although the mention of LEGO® MINDSTORMS kits on the start page might suggest it, LEGO® is no partner of this challenge.

Brick sorter with EV3

French LEGO® MINDSTORMS master builder Philo has published a brick sorter that can be built with a single EV3-set:



He states that he will publish building instructions and programs soon after the official release of LEGO® MINDSTORMS EV3 in autumn. 

A NXT gyro robot on the ISS

On legospace.com, there's a great video of an astronaut in the International Space Station demonstrating the effects of microgravity on a LEGO® MINDSTORMS NXT model:

(C) LEGO Education

Have a look there.

Awesome NXT Drum machine / game

This awesome Drum set has been built with just a single NXT2.0 Retail set. It has a high-hat, kick drum and snare, all which produce the appropriate sound when hit.  That in itself is cool, but what makes it even better, is that there is a game built in.  The NXT will play a rhythm, and task it to recreate the rhythm.  The closer you get, the higher the flag goes.  Get the rhythm right 4 times in a row and you can move to the next level.  Kind of like the Drum version of the classic game 'Simon'.

High scores leaderboard also included and you can even create your own patterns on your PC and download them.

There are full build instructions as well as the program to download. http://brickstack.black-rabite.net/nxt-drums/