Robotics Learning Web Links and Resources

Web Sites

• http://www.RoboticsLearning.com
• LEGO Robotics Workshops and Classes for Kids and Adults. E-Mail: info@RoboticsLearning.com.
• Exclusive LEGO Robotics items for sale at http://www.RoboticsLearning.com/store (409-910-1176)

• http://mindstorms.lego.com
• LEGO's web site for the Mindstorms products.  Includes activities and inventions.

• http://us.mindstorms.lego.com/en-us/community/nxtlog/default.aspx
• A place for you share and archive your LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT projects, and get inspired to build with NXT from the MINDSTORMS Community

• http://shop.lego.com
• Buy LEGO products and parts on-line or by phone.

• http://www.legoeducation.us
• Educational kits, materials and curricula.  Includes LEGO kit and parts sales.

• http://www.bricklink.com
• Buy and sell LEGO parts and sets (including discontinued sets, RCX and NXT parts, etc).

• http://nxtprograms.com
• If you have a LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT robotics kit, then this site provides free building instructions and downloadable programs for lots of fun projects.

• http://www.thenxtstep.blogspot.com
• The NXT STEP Blog brings together news and information related to the LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT system.

• http://www.firstlegoleague.org
• Web site for the international FIRST LEGO League LEGO Robotics Challenge for kids age 9-14.

• http://www.usfirst.org
• Organizes team robotics competition programs including JFLL, FLL, FTC and FRC.  Includes FLL Team Resources and Coach Tutorials.

• http://www.norcalfll.org/
• Information about local teams and the FIRST LEGO League Northern California FLL Tournaments held each November to January.

• http://PlayingAtLearning.org
• Focused on providing creative opportunities for learning through play.

• http://www.hightechkids.org
• Includes information about the FIRST LEGO League in Minnesota.  Contains excellent robotics lessons and FLL team resources.

• http://www.fll-freak.com
• Includes FLL Coach Primer and FLL FAQ.

• http://www.ldraw.org
• http://www.lm-software.com/mlcad
• http://www.holly-wood.it/mlcad-en.html
• 3-D computer aided drawing program for creating LEGO constructions or building instructions on your computer.

• http://www.lugnet.com
• A community of experts and wealth of information about everything LEGO.  Not as many updates lately.

• http://www.robogames.net
• Annual robot exhibition and competitions, including LEGO robot competitions for kids and adults.

• http://bricxcc.sourceforge.net/nqc/
• A simple language with a C-like syntax that can be used to program the RCX. There are also some integrated development environments available.

• http://bricxcc.sourceforge.net/nbc/
• A simple language with a C-like syntax that can be used to program the RCX. There are also some integrated development environments available.

E-Mail Lists (Yahoo Groups, Google Groups, etc)

RoboticsLearningNews

• http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RoboticsLearningNews
• Announcements about upcoming LEGO Robotics Workshops and Classes for Kids and Adults.

• http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/TigerBots/
• Information for Los Altos Robotics FIRST LEGO League Teams

• http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NCaFLL
• (Obsolete list) discussion list and archive for Northern California FLL teams.  Replaced by lists at www.norcalfll.org

Books on LEGO Mindstorms

• http://www.robotbooks.com/Lego-Mindstorms.htm
• http://nostarch.com/catalog/lego
• http://mindstorms.lego.com/en-us/community/books/default.aspx

Versions of the LEGO Mindstorm Robotics Sets

• This is the set that includes the RCX, RIS 2.0 software (Windows only) and over 700 LEGO pieces. No longer in production.  The Lego Education "Team Challenge Set" (also out of production) contains all the same parts.

May be available from www.BrickLink.com or eBay.

• This is almost identical to the RIS 2.0 set, except it came with some additional parts, and did not include software. No longer available from www.LegoEducation.us. RoboLab software (PC and Mac) is available separately.

LEGO Education ROBO Technology Set [#9786]

• This is an alternate version of the Team Challenge Set that comes with just 215 elements, but still includes the standard core components (RCX, motors, sensors, wires, IR tower).  As of December 2010, still available from www.LegoEducation.us while supplies last.

LEGO Mindstorms original NXT Retail Version [#8527]

• This is the original retail set that includes the NXT, building parts and the NXT-G software.

Out of production.  Replaced by the new NXT 2.0 version.

LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 [#8547]

• This is the current version of the retail NXT set, released in  2009.  Includes a slightly different set of parts and different projects than the original NXT version. Includes a new color light sensor and updated software.
• Available from shop.lego.com, amazon.com, etc.

LEGO Mindstorms Education NXT Base Set [#9797]

• This is the education version of the NXT set, available from www.LegoEducation.us. It contains different building parts from the retail set, and the software is sold separately.

LEGO Mindstorms Education Resource Set (Original Version)  [#9648]

• This is a collection of 671 building parts, available from www.LegoEducation.us. The combination of the Education NXT Base Set plus the Education Resource Set has typically been used by FLL Teams and the Robotics Learning NXT classes.
• NOTE: As of 2011, this set appers to be replaced by a newer version, #9695

LEGO Mindstorms Education Resource Set (New Version)  [#9695]

• This is a collection of 817 building parts, available from www.LegoEducation.us.
• NOTE: As of 2011, this set appears to replace the older version, #9648.
• It is possilble that future FLL team will be using this kit to supplement the Base Set.

Robotics Discovery Set [#9735]

• This is the original set that included the blue Mindstorms Scout controller. No longer produced.

Rare, but this set, or just the Scout unit,  may be available from www.BrickLink.com or eBay.