Hobbies And Interests
Build a Puzzle-Solving Robot
You can build a LEGO Mindstorm robot that can solve puzzles and even play strategic games with you. You can use the different sensors, such as the color sensors, to help. The Mindstorms have thinking abilities and can solve complex puzzle games. For example, one builder attached a pen to a robot he made and used recognizing sensors that allowed the robot to solve sudoku puzzles. Another created a robot that was able to play Connect Four against him and that could think two moves ahead of the current move.
Build a Vehicle
You can put the microcontroller atop the wheeled chassis, both found in the Mindstorms set, and program the microcontroller with instructions on how to move across the floor, such as speed and direction. This can be a lesson in speed, velocity, and acceleration in a physics class, at home, or for a science fair project. You can create a regular car, a tricycle, a motorcycle, or any other wheeled vehicle.
Robots for Engineering Students
LEGO Mindstorms are not just toys; they are also educational, even for engineering students at university level. Robots can be programmed to perform very complex tasks, if you have a background in programming and robotics. It might take a team to create a very elaborate Mindstorm project. Teams of engineering students can even compete to see who can make the most useful or advanced robot, and will also benefit from learning teamwork in the workplace.
Barcode Scanner
Another project with LEGO Mindstorms is to make a barcode scanner. You can use the light sensor in the set to program a robot that scans real barcodes and can present information about the product when the barcode is held up to the light sensor. This project demonstrates the concepts of logic and optics.