[...]... anchored to < /b> the < /b> shafts with the < /b> 16t gears 19 20 Next, start building support for the < /b> drive motors 21 Place the < /b> wire bricks on the < /b> motors, then anchor them down with the < /b> yellow plates The < /b> wires themselves will fit into the < /b> grooves on the < /b> top of the < /b> motors 22 Attach the < /b> motor wires to < /b> output A and output C Next, build the < /b> platform for the < /b> front bumpers 23 The < /b> touch sensors are attached only by the < /b> shaft... The < /b> RCX is a robot brain in the < /b> form of a bulky LEGO < /b> brick Figure 1–2 shows a photograph of the < /b> top of the < /b> RCX Figure 1-1 Basic MINDSTORMS < /b> setup Figure 1-2 The < /b> RCX, a robot brain The < /b> RCX is a small computer with the < /b> following features: outputs Three output ports, labeled A, B, and C, are located near the < /b> center of the < /b> brick The < /b> robot's actuators (motors or lights) can be attached to < /b> these ports inputs... through them 24 Hank's left bumper is next A light touch on the < /b> bumper pushes the < /b> touch sensor Hank's right bumper works exactly the < /b> same way The < /b> bushings are pushed onto the < /b> plate in the < /b> next step Note that the < /b> bushings are not symmetrical; one side will push into the < /b> plate, and the < /b> other side won't 25 Finish Hank by attaching the < /b> bumper touch sensors to < /b> input 1 and input 3 Slide the < /b> blue rubber bands... mobile robotics is extremely challenging Have you ever seen an autonomous mobile robot, besides in the < /b> movies? Probably not If you have been lucky enough to < /b> see such a robot, was it doing something useful? Probably not If the < /b> robot was supposed to < /b> do something useful, did it work? Probably not If it wasn't so hard to < /b> make autonomous mobile robots,< /b> the < /b> world would be full of them Wouldn't it be nice to.< /b> .. mobile robots < /b> are even more challenging These robots < /b> need to < /b> bring everything along with them, including a power supply and a brain The < /b> power supply is typically an array of batteries, which adds a lot of weight to < /b> the < /b> robot The < /b> brain is also constrained because it has to < /b> fit on the < /b> robot, not weigh a ton, and be frugal about sucking power out of the < /b> batteries This Is Tough Stuff The < /b> field of autonomous... palm-sized LEGO < /b> brick ∗ Some people think RCX stands for Robotic Controller X According to < /b> the < /b> MINDSTORMS < /b> web site, RCX stands for Robotic Command Explorer 7 • Two touch sensors and one light sensor are included in the < /b> RIS set Wiring the < /b> sensors to < /b> the < /b> RCX is as simple as snapping LEGO < /b> bricks together • The < /b> set also includes two motors Like the < /b> sensors, they can be connected to < /b> the < /b> RCX by just snapping LEGO.< /b> .. robot needs to < /b> be able to < /b> handle 3 Mobile robots < /b> actually come in two varieties: tethered and autonomous A tethered robot "cheats" by dumping its power supply and brain overboard, possibly relying on a desktop computer and a wall outlet Control signals and power are run through a bundle of wires (the < /b> tether) to < /b> the < /b> robot, which is free to < /b> move around, at least as far as the < /b> tether will allow Autonomous... where the < /b> sprayer is and what direction it's pointing The < /b> whole thing is plugged into a wall socket for power Mobile Robots < /b> Mobile robots < /b> present special challenges These robots < /b> can move their bodies around from place to < /b> place Why is this capability difficult? Many more things can go wrong if your robot is free to < /b> move around rather than being bolted to < /b> one place Being mobile multiplies the < /b> number of... person to < /b> be knowledgeable in all of these fields Designing a mobile robot, then, is often a collaborative effort, which makes it even more complex Autonomous mobile robots,< /b> for the < /b> most part, are still confined to < /b> the < /b> research programs of colleges, universities, and governments This research is divided into two camps: the < /b> big robot people and the < /b> little robot people Big Is Beautiful The < /b> big robot people... Instead of building a single bulky, complex robot to < /b> explore the < /b> surface of Mars, why not send a thousand robots < /b> the < /b> size of mice to < /b> do the < /b> same job? So what if a few of them fail? Small robots < /b> offer a new and innovative way to < /b> approach big problems The < /b> small robotics approach reduces the < /b> number of engineers you need in your basement It makes robotics accessible to < /b> sophisticated hobbyists—people with technical . sensors to the RCX is as simple as snapping LEGO bricks together. • The set also includes two motors. Like the sensors, they can be connected to the RCX by just snapping LEGO bricks together robot's body is simply the physical chassis that holds the other pieces of the robot together. 3. Actuators allow the robot to move. These are usually motors, although there are many other. place. Being mobile multiplies the number of situations your robot needs to be able to handle. 3 Mobile robots actually come in two varieties: tethered and autonomous. A tethered robot "cheats"