FTC NXT Brick Programming?

[Alex2614]

How does one program the FTC NXT brick without LabView 2009? We do not have an FTC team, so we were wondering if there was a way to program it without downloading LabView 2009.

Thanks!

[Dale]

You can download a free 30 day trial of RobotC at www.robotc.net or find a Lego team with a copy of NXT-G. There are also lots of other free programming languages for NXTs like LeJOS (Java), NXC (a simple C-like language).

[Alex2614]

Okay. I haven't the first clue when it comes to programming to be honest. Our coach was just wondering. I'm acting like a liaison for him...
"We cannot control the motors without the LabView codes."

[Techhexium]

Check out this website for programming tutorials on RobotC, NXT-G, and Labview for FTC:

http://www.education.rec.ri.cmu.edu/.../ftc/index.php

You want to check the webinars, ROBOTC Curriculum for TETRIX, and Labview Basics, all at the bottom of the page.

RobotC Programming: http://www.robotc.net/education/curriculum/nxt/

[DtD]

The NXT is heavy, the only "code" your Minibot needs is a switch that is triggered by the main robot when it is deployed. And maybe another to turn it off at the top.

[RoboMaster]

National Instruments has an NXT toolkit for programming it in LabVIEW. Google it or search on their site; it's not too hard to find. However, I don't know how you would control the Tetrix motors with this tookit; maybe there's an FTC addon? Sorry if you already knew of this.

[Techhexium]

Also, if you choose to program the minibot with the NXT, you need to use the HiTechnic DC Motor Controller. That costs $70! And it will add unnecessary weight.

In general, FTC/FLL programming is not very difficult and is a good starting point to program with the NXT, but Lego and Pitsco (who makes TETRIX) price their robotics products very expensively.

Originally Posted by RoboMaster

National Instruments has an NXT toolkit for programming it in LabVIEW. Google it or search on their site; it's not too hard to find. However, I don't know how you would control the Tetrix motors with this tookit; maybe there's an FTC addon? Sorry if you already knew of this.

Yes, there are FTC perquisites for programming with the NXT for minibot, you'll need HiTechnic Motor and Servo controllers, and RJ12 cables sold only from Lego/HiTechnic (in FTC you can't make/get your own RJ12 cables).

[Alex2614]

Thanks guys! We have quite a bit of experience with FLL programming (or at least others on the team do). But, I think we may have come up with a solution that does not involve an NXT brick. Our problem with the switch at the top is that we didn't want the minibot to free-fall 10 feet for obvious reasons. But, we are working on a solution for that as well.
Thanks anyway, everyone!

[BLAQmx]

For teams who are interested in obtaining a copy of LabVIEW Education Edition to program an NXT for their mini-bot, please contact National Instruments FRC phone support (866-511-6285 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Central Time) and request a copy from a support engineer. National Instruments will then ship your team a copy of LabVIEW Education Edition. Teams will be allowed to use the same serial number as provided to FTC teams to active their software.

Thanks,
Mark Black
National Instruments
LabVIEW R&D

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