Lynxmotion seems to be US based... a bit too high tech for my needs, i think... plus, it's gonna be very expensive too...

anyway, i've recently visited a shop doing some NXT classes. According to them, NXT is quite "brittle"... any fall or hard knocks might result in some lego parts falling off.... unless i do something (forgot the term he used) to strengthen the joints by adding more lego parts...so the total cost would definitely be more than 1 set of NXT...

sigh...


anyway, i found this recently:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7leJ3Sti_g

wonder if i can mod/hack it to do what i want....

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Added on March 5, 2009, 10:09 amThanks ian90!

Thanks for the tip... Vex Robotics seemed cool....and the VEXplorer is precisely the kind of robot/vehicle that I want... I was actually thinking of building the NXT into something like the VEXplorer...

sadly, the VEXplorer is out of stock....sigh... anyone knows where to get one locally or have one for sale?

anyway, i need to install this cable sometime end of march.... in the mean time, i'm still trying to find out how to mod/hack the toy i found...



This post has been edited by jesse: Mar 5 2009, 10:09 AM

no prob. i totally forgotten about the VEXplorer. haha. when i saw it only i realised that it's quite suitable.
since u still have 3 weeks like that, try looking at overseas ebay? the probably sell quite alot of things. n shipping shudnt take more than 2 weeks. =p

and i dun think msia got sell vex stuff. too high tech for us. XD

The NXT comes with built-in bluetooth, which can be connected to any handphone with bluetooth for remote control purposes.

It's very difficult (if not impossible) to find Lynxmotion products in M'sia cos they r usually used in uni for research purposes, plus they r EXPENSIVE !


Yes, NXT can be quite "brittle" if you do not know how to construct them properly but can be very strong if done correctly, the reason - LEGO is built for rapid assembly and disassembly with no special tools required except your hands. From my personal experience, 1 set of NXT is more than enough for most applications and a solid robot does not necessarily require lots of parts.

VEX's situation is roughly similar with Lynxmotion - difficult to find & expensive...

For versatility/availability/affordability sake, i'd say u should give NXT a try. Offer Eric a reasonable price and see whether you can get a good deal out of it You might need some big wheels or tracks for conquering rough terrains though (NXT set only comes with medium wheels), so u can consider getting the Edu Resource Set as well.

eric is not pm-ing me. i dun think he's online ler...
i wanna buy also...lego nxt. just saw it again in sunway pyramid today.. RM1399.90... really really wanna buy but too darn expensive T_T

Just call him directly, his number is 0126119130

oO u know him? lol.
okok, will ask him soon.

I've checked with the local distributor, this item is currently out of stock. The new items would arrive only in May 2009.

sigh...
i want i want i want! XD
but even if it comes in may it will still be expensive ler...

I wonder if it is possible to post pictures of Duplo here. Duplo is Lego after all right?

Anyway, some vintage Duplo sets which I have

Train with locomotive. Comes with 2 guys (1 is AWOL) and has a piston attached to the front wheels like a real train.



Horse transporter



Helicopter and Airplane pilot


.. and my biggest Duplo set, the Farm set from 84. Comes with cow, horse, pig and chickens, as well as a large barnhouse (1 of the pieces is 1 big solid piece with lots of room inside), escalator machine to transport goods up to the second level, windmill, tractor with tipper, chairs and table to yham char. There's even a trap door in the barn! Missing the white sheep

Compared to today's Duplo farmset, this set is a million years better!!!



All the lego sets which I managed to identify online. Got more Duplo pieces, but there are not as well documented unlike the normal lego pieces

whoa...duplo... i never had one. lol.
nowadays still got horses n stuff mah..

VEX is wheel-base robot, lynxmotion is legged base. Toyrus midvalley used to have a few unit of NXT, keep inside the glass cabinet near the counter.

With no background in robot construction and design, and deadline within 3 weeks, NXT is the best solution. I wonder how big (and weight) of your cables? You may have already notice, Lego are made with smooth plastic surface, it won't give you enough traction to cross your obstacle, especially the second pic. Though NXT do have these small rubbers for traction, it wouldn't be enough. You will need to add non-lego item to add traction (ie small and flexble rubber, e.g. eraser, rubberband, balloon, etc)

For your obstacle course, your robot primary locomotion should be wheel-base, and optional locomotion is some form of legged locomotion. Wheel will give you the thrust and forward motion. Legged would be optional if you have to clear tall obstacles.

Other design consideration, is the degree of motion (freedom) of your robot. It will give you the no. of servo motors required, and thus no. of NXT set you need.

Say, you have the minimum of:
1. forward, backward (1 servo)
2. left, right (1 servo)
3. clamp (1 servo)

Additional motion (option 1):
4. Manipulator (extension of arm, say 1 joint) (1 servo)
5. Crawl, climb ability (at least 2 servo)

Or (option 2):
4. Manipulator (extension of arm, say 1 joint) (1 servo)
5. Additional wheel base (1 or 2 axle, which gives you 6, 8 wheels typical terrain vehicle) (1-2 servo)

Which sum up, you would need 2 sets of NXT. (3 servo is too limited to create anything creatively awesome ) With the weight of 2 NXT, and 10 batteries, it should give you a steady robot and traction. Btw, you would need spare batteries, rechargable preferably.

2x NXT = RM 2798
1x quick charger + 4 rechargable battery = RM 150-200
additional rechargable battery (16 pcs) = RM 200+
Total = RM3148 - RM 3198

There are better options, i.e. direct order from VEX or lynxmotion. Then again, 3 weeks are not enough to build this type of robot.

Anyway, the point is:
It is waaay cheaper to use a long stick, 1 pair of sore arms, a stiff shoulder to do the job than spending >RM3k for ineffective robot. Worst case, the batteries run out, or by some other means, the RM3k robot stuck inside. Still you need a long stick to retrieve, or break the ceiling (additional $$).

It is good to introduce new idea, trying new initiative. But not within 3 weeks. Give it a deserving duration, at least 1-2 years, start from scratch and customize your robot to your needs.

This post has been edited by Aurora: Mar 9 2009, 09:24 AM

These sets belong to you?

Ya, they all belong to me.

hm... just went to brickboystoys at sunway pyramid tat day and collected a lego 2009 catalogue.
so many theme related products. T_T

You can look at the LEGO online version as well

http://club.lego.com/en-US/default.aspx

So much Lego... So little money to buy...

This post has been edited by countmybones: Mar 10 2009, 11:10 AM

A bit late as compared to retail stores in Malaysia... arrived nevertheless! You can visit Brick Bastion

Had an unforgetable experience picking up the stock personally at the warehouse (i think it is a warehouse). Was lost, and I went to and fro LDP 3 times, Kesas toll one time, and dunno what PJS5 tol or something.

Met my account manager (she's a babe!), and for the first time in my life, saw a warehouse stacked with so much of LEGO! About 2-3 stories high! Next time, with their permission, would snap a photo. But most likely won't allowlar due to security concerns.


Wow... if that shipment got hijacked by Somali pirates, that's itlar.. sure a lot of sad LEGO fans in Malaysia.

Got a box of catalogs too. Not sure whether it would be a good idea to scan and upload?


Errm.. really itchy hand already. I think I would probably open up a few sets for review this weekend. Lol.... For the time being, would put the pieces together in my dreams lar.

This post has been edited by tswern: Mar 12 2009, 12:42 AM

whoaaa.... sounds fun!! i wanna go also... T_T
where's the warehouse? n post a pic of ur account manager also mah... hahahha. makes me feel like wanna work for lego edi. ><"

Wah, so much stock? Those stock for M'sia only or for Singapore and M'sia combine? I'm surprised to see that the demand for Lego here is so much. No wonder we get a Legoland

For the catalog, I think can scan and upload, but for those released sets. Those unreleased one better dun show since it is like you leak the 2009 or even 2010 sets oledi. Dunno if it is legal to scan a dealer catalog though (all those leak images on the net are from dealer catalogs)

However if those catalogs can be obtained from retail anyway (like in TRU, Brickboy etc) and are meant for customers, then scan the whole thing.

As for opening a set to show us, well go ahead and open one!! You know you want to! Maybe for size comparison place it next to some other lego sets.

Was at Gardens today, Brickboy selling the Pirates set oledi, but they have not build any of the sets yet for display

P.S: try to know your account manager better maybe can get discount for legos for us

This post has been edited by paanjang16: Mar 12 2009, 08:57 PM

Ello LEGOians... Im so happi my latest creation was highlited by *http://www.brothers-brick.com/ and http://youngspacers.blogspot.com/


*scroll down to the middle of that page.



complete gallery here (with transformation sequence) : http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=372772

This post has been edited by alanyuppie: Mar 12 2009, 09:51 PM