NXT???

You might get a few more responses in a forum dedicated to the NXT, like
this one:

http://www.nxtclub.com/

The Microsoft Robotics Studio may be a bit too "beta-ish" for an 8 year
old. But it's free, so it doesn't cost anything to try it out.

Maybe keep the NXT and let it mature a little, and get an older RCX off
eBay. They go for cheap these days. Lots more programming options for
it, and the ready-made examples may help your child achieve earlier
success.

-- Gordon


martin+x@y.z wrote:

It comes preloaded with programs, graphics, and sounds which nearly fill
its memory.  You'll want to delete those (graphics and sounds especially
take up a lot of room).

As for the graphical programming language, you don't have to use it.  
There are C compilers, even a real-time OS if you prefer.  (I've used
NQC before and found it pretty friendly.)


I didn't even know that was possible.  But I agree, sounds like a
feature you can ignore.


I agree, but for completely different reasons.  I think they should have
made the motors (and perhaps sensors too) chainable and addressable, so
that one controller could control something like 128 DOF.

But they had a lot of input from the community when they were designing
it, in addition to tight constraints on things like price and
ruggedness.  I suspect that when you ask 10 people what's wrong with it,
you get 10 different answers.  They put in all the most critical
features, and probably took at as far as they could.


The coming wave in robotics, I think, is small humanoid robots (commonly
called "Robo-One" style robots after the Japanese competitions which
have been driving their development).  So if you can spare $1000 to get
started, get a Robonova or KONDO KHR-2.  Otherwise, check out the
Lynxmotion "Servo Erector Set" (SES), which you can build up more
gradually.  See <http://www.lynxmotion.com/Category.aspx?CategoryID >
for many examples.

Of course you then can pick your own controller -- Lynxmotion has ones
they recommend, but I tend to prefer Pololu products (see their Baby
Orangutan and Micro Serial Servo Controller at http://www.pololu.com ).  
With your background, maybe you'd prefer to make your own.

HTH,
- Joe

Thanks for the many replies.  I'll check the various links and
resources provided.

Don't get me wrong.  It's a very cool package for a kid.  The problem
is that kids don't understand clunky software, running out of memory,
etc.  Of course, you have to take it all as a learning experience.

Buid my own?  The intent was to get him interested enough to make this
a continuing learning experience/activity for the next few years.  One
step at a time :-)

Thanks,

-Martin

The block programming, a Labview derivative, can be inefficient, but NXT
users are finding ways to improve this, including MyBlocks.  If you
haven't found http://news.lugnet.com/robotics/  you may want to take a
look.  

NBC, NXT Byte Code, is an alternative programming environment, but using
some of the tricks mentioned on Lugnet can get more out of the NXT block
programming environment.

As already stated, the demo software has many things you can delete,
including the routines needed for the push button programming and sounds
you might not use.

Have fun,
Tim Bell

The lego robotics products are known for not being of good quality (in
several senses).  Some prior googling would have revealed the better
products by others.
--
 JosephKK
 Gegen dummheit kampfen die Gotter Selbst, vergebens.  
  --Schiller

What?!?  This is absolutely the opposite of my own experience, as well
as every other person I've talked to who has used them.  All LEGO
products, including the robotics, are of the highest quality.  A bit
pricey, and somewhat limited in the robotics feature set, yes, but
certainly NOT poor quality.

Best,
- Joe