Core LEGO MINDSTORMS Programming: Unleash the Power of the Java Platform

• Complete 3-D plans for building five unique robots
• Advanced control techniques—including distance and compass sensors
• Behavior control programming, the breakthrough methodology invented at MIT
• For LEGO Mindstorms Robotics Invention System, versions 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0

Your LEGO Mindstorms robots can do more than you ever imagined. The secret: go beyond the built-in tools, and leverage the power of the Java platform—the world's hottest programming technology.

Core LEGO Mindstorms shows you how, step by step. Working from beautifully rendered 3-D plans, you'll construct five unique robots-each capable of increasingly powerful navigation. You'll build and program two powerful custom sensors-an accurate distance sensor and the "Holy Grail" of navigation sensors: the compass sensor.

Brian Bagnall, co-creator of the leJOS Java Virtual Machine for LEGO Mindstorms, starts with the absolute basics then teaches you sophisticated, never-before-published techniques for controlling LEGO Mindstorms robots. No matter what version of LEGO Mindstorms you own, this book will teach you how to build robots with remarkable intelligence and amazing power.

• Installing leJOS, the Java Virtual Machine designed for the LEGO Mindstorms RCX programmable controller
• Setting up your Java platform development environment for LEGO Mindstorms
• Programming rotation and custom sensors
• Using behavior control programming, the biologically inspired MIT breakthrough in robot control
• New techniques for improving navigation accuracy
• Gathering map data and transmitting it back to your computer
• For LEGO Mindstorms RIS versions 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0—including USB ver

Table of Contents

Preface.
Acknowledgments.
1. Meet MINDSTORMS.
2. Getting Started with leJOS.
3. Learn Java in 2.4 Hours!
4. THE leJOS API.
5. LEGO 101.
6. Behavior Control.
7. Navigation.
8. Navigation with Rotation Sensors.
9. Proximity Detection.
10. Navigation with a Compass Sensor.
11. RCX Communications.
12. Advanced leJOS Topics.
Appendix A. Parts and Kits.
Appendix B. Electronics Projects.
Appendix C. Utilities.
Appendix D. Internet Resources.
Index.