LEGO MINDSTORMS

We have multiple ways to have fun with the popular LEGO(R) MINDSTORMS(R) NXT robot platforms. Start by downloading the Android application from the Market to have some fun out of the box. If you want to modify how that works, we have the full Java source code available as well. For beginners, App Inventor for Android provides tight integration in an easy to use web based environment.

Using App Inventor for Android is the best method to give you full control, including access to attached sensors and flexible port connections. Build a Color Sorter, Alpha Rex, Robogator, or anything you can dream up using LEGO MINDSTORMS kits. You can even write an app that triggers programs to run on the NXT brick such as those written in NXT-G, NXC, or LeJOS.

If you download the Cellbots app for Android, you’ll want to build a robot using the motors plugged into ports B & C such as the default Shooterbot. Although shooting is not currently supported and the app doesn’t read from the sensors, you could add these things by building your own app from the source code. Out of the box you just need to pair with the NXT using Bluetooth on your Android phone and you’ll be up and running instantly.

Be sure to have fun trying different ways of mounting your phone on top of the robot. We recommend orienting the phone in landscape mode with the camera facing forward on the left. This will give you the best video and picture solution if you are using two Android phones to drive the robot.

LEGO has also released an official Android app called MINDdroid, which has similar functions to the Cellbot app in remote control accelerometer mode. Next up we’ll build LEGO support into the Python library and so developers will have even more options. Between the official app, Cellbots for Android, and App Inventor, there’s no shortage of options to try today with your cellphone.