Controlling the Mini-bot. How?

[PhilBot]

Hi

There seems to be a minor flaw in the allowed parts for the Mini-Bot.

I coach two FTC teams so I know the TETRIX and NXT systems pretty well.

Although the Minibot can have a battery, NXT, DC motor controller and Motors, there doesn't seem to be any good way to provide inputs into the NXT, and as any good roboticist knows, a robout without inputs is just a dumb mechanism.

The only allowed inputs seem to be "limit switches" and "Household light switches". Neither of which can normally be interfaced to the NXT. So if they are the only inputs able to be used to intelligently start and stop the robot (by interrupting the motor supplies) why have an NXT and motor controller at all?

I guess the thing that seems to be missing from the allowable materials are LEGO Sensors and associated cables, or the Hitechnic prototyping board, which would allow the NXT to read the switches.

I have purposfully ignored the buttons on the front of the next as inputs because they really aren't designed to accept much more than human fingers pushing them.

Phil.