.FLYINGHEAD BOOK REVIEW SHOOTOUT
.TITLE Three essential guides to understanding LEGO robotics and the LEGO system
.AUTHOR Joe Dolittle
.SUMMARY In this all-new book review shootout, we put three books to the test. Read on to learn how The Unofficial LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Inventor’s Guide by David J. Perdue, The LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Idea Book: Design Invent and Build by Martijn Boogaarts (and friends), and The Unofficial LEGO Builder’s Guide by Allan Bedford stand up to our editorial review.
.OTHER
In this all-new book review shootout, we put three books to the test. Read on to learn how [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/1593271549/?tag=zatzcom|The Unofficial LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Inventor’s Guide]] by David J. Perdue, [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/1593271506/?tag=zatzcom|The LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Idea Book: Design Invent and Build]] by Martijn Boogaarts (and friends), and [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/1593270542/?tag=zatzcom|The Unofficial LEGO Builder’s Guide]] by Allan Bedford stand up to our editorial review.
We’ve recently begun exploring the world of LEGO robotics and the LEGO system. In this helpful article, we cover three essential guides that’ll get you started.
.H1 The Unofficial LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Inventor’s Guide
.AMAZON_COVER 1593271549|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51%2BRiTSlonL._SL160_.jpg
The LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT set includes a variety of powerful electronic parts (motors sensors and the programmable NXT microcomputer) and lots of building elements. With these parts you can create thousands of unique intelligent robots. The Unofficial LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Inventor’s Guide helps you to harness the capabilities of the NXT set and effectively plan build and program your own NXT robots.
The first part of the book contains a brief introduction to the NXT set. You’ll then examine the pieces in the NXT set and the roles they play in construction. Next you’ll learn practical building techniques like how to build sturdy structures and work with gears. Then it’s time to learn how to program with the official NXT-G programming language (and learn a bit about several unofficial programming languages). You’ll also learn what author David J. Perdue calls the MINDSTORMS method: a strategy for creating your own robots. Finally you’ll follow step-by-step instructions for building programming and testing six sample robots (all of which can be built using only the parts found in one NXT set).
.BEGIN_KEEP
.H2 Computing Unplugged’s evaluation
You may be familiar with David’s name because he’s written for Computing Unplugged before. This book is an excellent introduction to LEGO robotics and, frankly, is what should have come in the box with the NXT kit. If you want to learn about NXT robots, you need to get this book.
The Unofficial LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Inventor’s Guide by David J. Perdue, published by No Starch Press, is 300 pages and has a retail price of $29.95. We give [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/1593271549/?tag=zatzcom|The Unofficial LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Inventor’s Guide]] a rating of 4 out of 5.
.RATING 4
.END_KEEP
.H1 The LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Idea Book: Design Invent and Build
.AMAZON_COVER 1593271506|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Ll2oc8bBL._SL160_.jpg
Inside you’ll find some of the NXT Step bloggers’ best ideas for creating cool and sophisticated models including instructions for eight robots you can build yourself.
The book explains the fundamentals of programming and design accompanied by CAD-style drawings and an abundance of screenshots that make it easy for you to master the MINDSTORMS NXT system. You’ll get an overview of the NXT parts (beams sensors axles gears and so on) and clear instructions for combining them to build and program working robots.
The LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Idea Book delves into the complexities of the NXT programming language (NXT-G) and offers tips for designing and programming robots using Bluetooth creating an NXT remote control troubleshooting and much more.
.H2 Computing Unplugged’s evaluation
This book is a nice start if you mostly want some more robot plans. It’s a good addition to any robot-builders library, but if you want more of a getting started tutorial, we recommend The Unofficial LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Inventor’s Guide over this one.
The LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Idea Book: Design Invent and Build by Martijn Boogaarts (and friends), published by No Starch Press, is 350 pages and has a retail price of $29.95. We give [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/1593271506/?tag=zatzcom|The LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Idea Book: Design Invent and Build]] a rating of 3 out of 5.
.RATING 3
.H1 The Unofficial LEGO Builder’s Guide
.AMAZON_COVER 1593270542|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41YB-K39QBL._SL160_.jpg
What exactly is a slope? What’s the difference between a tile and a plate? Why is it bad to simply stack bricks in columns to make a wall? The Unofficial LEGO Builder’s Guide is here to answer your questions.
Focusing on building actual models with real bricks The Unofficial LEGO Builder’s Guide comes with complete instructions to build several cool models but also encourages you to use your imagination to create your own fantastic creations.
The Unofficial LEGO Builder’s Guide also includes the very cool Brickopedia, a visual guide to nearly 300 of the most useful and reusable elements of the LEGO system, with historical notes common uses part numbers and the year each piece first appeared in a LEGO set.
.BEGIN_KEEP
.H2 Computing Unplugged’s evaluation
We never knew LEGO was this complex, but this book helps you understand the system behind the bricks. It turns out that these little plastic LEGO pieces can be quite involving for adults as well as kids.
The Unofficial LEGO Builder’s Guide by Allan Bedford, published by No Starch Press, is 344 pages and has a retail price of $24.95. We give [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/1593270542/?tag=zatzcom|The Unofficial LEGO Builder’s Guide]] a rating of 4 out of 5.
.RATING 4
.BEGIN_SIDEBAR
.H1 Product availability and resources
Learn more about [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/1593271549/?tag=zatzcom|The Unofficial LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Inventor’s Guide]].
Learn more about [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/1593271506/?tag=zatzcom|The LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Idea Book: Design Invent and Build]].
Learn more about [[http://www.amazon.com/dp/1593270542/?tag=zatzcom|The Unofficial LEGO Builder’s Guide]].
.END_SIDEBAR
.BIO Joe Dolittle is an associate editor at ZATZ Publishing. Earlier in his career, he worked for Component Software, where he was tech support manager for the FileFlex database engine.
.END_KEEP
