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Alexander Holroyd | 6 Feb 2010 08:28
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Linked cranks mechanical puzzle

Here is my current favourite MOC:

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7_wfKJAX7s>
<http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=418894>

It's a Lego implementation of an amazing mechanical puzzle invented by 
Oskar van Deventer and Bram Cohen, as seen here:

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6J_cHM9mEw>

I can't improve on the explanation given in this second video - just watch it!
Basically it's a puzzle a bit like Rubik's cube, in which you scramble it and
then try to get back to the starting position.  (Much easier than Rubik's cube,
but a very interesting mechanism).

Planetary gears like in the original did not seem practical, so it was quite an
interesting challenge fitting the necessary gearing into this small space.  (My
first attempt fell apart because there was actually no connection between the
two halves!)

I think there's great potential for mechanical puzzles in Lego - I've seen a few
but not many...

Enjoy!  Alexander
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Bryan Bonahoom | 10 Feb 2010 02:23
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2010 Brickworld Theme

<<http://www.brickworld.us/_images/bw10-logo.png>>

[Share - Learn - Explore - Discover]

After much deliberation, the Brickworld Team is excited to announce that the
theme for this year's event is:

[2010:  Bricks In Space]

So, let's all try to work something "spacey" into our displays somewhere in
honor of all things space.

We have worked a LEGO(R) Classic Space look into the two event kits.  Pictures
of the kits will be posted soon on the Brickworld website.  They will be posted
in conjunction with the start of merchandise pre-sales for the event.

Start building now and remember to include lighting for the 2nd annual World of
Lights Collaboration.

Stay tuned for more information.

Regards, the Brickworld Team

[Brickworld] will be held June 17 - 20, 2010 at the Westin North Shore Hotel in
Wheeling, IL (a suburb of Chicago).

visit the Brickworld Web Site <http://www.brickworld.us by clicking here>
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Jordan Bradford | 19 Feb 2010 16:53
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CubeStormer - World's fastest LEGO Rubik's Cube solving robot

The world record for a human-solved random Rubik's cube is a little over 7
seconds. This robot can do it in about 8 seconds, minus the inspection time
which is also not counted in human contests.

It also has rare teal-colored Technic bricks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaRcWB3jwMo

I'd love to see some construction photos, because that robot very fast.

They've been working on this a while; the previous version of their robot was
posted over a year ago.
http://www.youtube.com/user/RoboticSolutions
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Ross Crawford | 20 Feb 2010 04:39
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Re: CubeStormer - World's fastest LEGO Rubik's Cube solving robot

In lugnet.robotics, Jordan Bradford wrote:
> The world record for a human-solved random Rubik's cube is a little over 7
> seconds. This robot can do it in about 8 seconds, minus the inspection time
> which is also not counted in human contests.
>
> It also has rare teal-colored Technic bricks.
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaRcWB3jwMo
>
> I'd love to see some construction photos, because that robot very fast.
>
> They've been working on this a while; the previous version of their robot was
> posted over a year ago.
> http://www.youtube.com/user/RoboticSolutions

Nice!

Be interested to know if the cube was lubricated...

ROSCO
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Martin Scragg | 20 Feb 2010 05:55
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Re: CubeStormer - World's fastest LEGO Rubik's Cube solving robot


On 20/02/2010, at 2:39 PM, Ross Crawford wrote:
> 
> Be interested to know if the cube was lubricated...
> 
> ROSCO

That is very cool!

Those speed cubes are taken apart, all the excess moulding sprue and rough edges
filed off, lubricated, put back together, and the screws that hold them together
in the centre squares adjusted so they hold together with just enough tension so
they won't fall apart.

Martin
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Brad Stiles | 20 Feb 2010 17:00

Re: CubeStormer - World's fastest LEGO Rubik's Cube solving robot

Is the computer helping to solve the puzzle, or is all the processing on the brick?

On Feb 19, 2010, at 15:53, "Jordan Bradford" <jordan_bradfordREMOVE_THIS_SPAM_THINGY <at> hotmail.com> wrote:

The world record for a human-solved random Rubik's cube is a little over 7
seconds. This robot can do it in about 8 seconds, minus the inspection time
which is also not counted in human contests.

It also has rare teal-colored Technic bricks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaRcWB3jwMo

I'd love to see some construction photos, because that robot very fast.

They've been working on this a while; the previous version of their robot was
posted over a year ago.
http://www.youtube.com/user/RoboticSolutions
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ddodge | 25 Feb 2010 00:57
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Re: NXT and iPod touch


Now that rev 3.0 has been released for the iphone and itouch, maybe the
software can be updated.

The NXT brick sees my iPod touch, but I get no response from the iPod.  So
it is close.

Thanks.
Ddodge

soren121 wrote:
> 
> No, it will not work. Due to Apple's restrictions, any device that a
> developer wants to talk to over Bluetooth must be brand-new and approved
> by Apple. The developer of the iNXT Remote app says that if the
> restrictions are changed, he will gladly add direct Bluetooth support.
> Until then, if you have a computer with Bluetooth in it, you can use it
> with the iNXT Remote app to control your robots. :)
> 
> 
> Rafe Donahue wrote:
>> 
>> My kids are planning to upgrade the OS on their iPods to 3.0.  Apparently
>> this
>> upgrade will enable the bluetooth functionality that has been there all
>> along.
>> 
>> The question: does anyone have any experience with iPod Bluetooth and our
>> beloved NXT?
>>
(Continue reading)

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soren121 | 25 Feb 2010 02:30
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Re: NXT and iPod touch


My response from September still applies, ddodge.

ddodge wrote:
> 
> Now that rev 3.0 has been released for the iphone and itouch, maybe the
> software can be updated.
> 
> The NXT brick sees my iPod touch, but I get no response from the iPod.  So
> it is close.
> 
> Thanks.
> Ddodge
>  
> 
> soren121 wrote:
>> 
>> No, it will not work. Due to Apple's restrictions, any device that a
>> developer wants to talk to over Bluetooth must be brand-new and approved
>> by Apple. The developer of the iNXT Remote app says that if the
>> restrictions are changed, he will gladly add direct Bluetooth support.
>> Until then, if you have a computer with Bluetooth in it, you can use it
>> with the iNXT Remote app to control your robots. :)
>> 
>> 
>> Rafe Donahue wrote:
>>> 
>>> My kids are planning to upgrade the OS on their iPods to 3.0. 
>>> Apparently this
>>> upgrade will enable the bluetooth functionality that has been there all
(Continue reading)

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Philippe Hurbain | 25 Feb 2010 18:51
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NXT remote control by Power Functions handset

<http://philohome.com/pfnxtremote/pfnxtrem.htm
<http://philohome.com/pfnxtremote/pfn1-v.jpg>>

[<http://philohome.com/pfnxtremote/pfnxtrem.htm Here>] you'll find how to
transform a Power Functions IR receiver into a NXT sensor. With this hacked
receiver you'll be able to control your NXT robot with a Power Functions
handset.

Enjoy!

<http://philohome.com Philo>
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Jetro de Chateau | 26 Feb 2010 09:02

Re: NXT remote control by Power Functions handset

In lugnet.robotics, Philippe Hurbain wrote:
> <http://philohome.com/pfnxtremote/pfnxtrem.htm
> 
> [<http://philohome.com/pfnxtremote/pfnxtrem.htm Here>] you'll find how to
> transform a Power Functions IR receiver into a NXT sensor. With this hacked
> receiver you'll be able to control your NXT robot with a Power Functions
> handset.
> 
> Enjoy!
> 
> <http://philohome.com Philo>

Really cool hack... I need to brush up on my soldering!

Jetro
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Gmane