Different nxt modules? (where's the Challenge Me section)

[Alex_Petersen]

Hi all.

I have been reading about the NXT-module. Apparently there are different versions...

My questions are:

1)

The first, and most straight-forward, solution to get the NXT-module is to already have LabVIEW installed and then download a NXT module, which can be found here:

http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/4435

The toolkit is only for older versions of LabVIEW, whereas the module is for newer versions. I'm not sure if there are any differences other than what type of LabVIEW it supports?

2)

The second solution is to download and install LabVIEW and NXT at the same time:

http://joule.ni.com/nidu/cds/view/p/id/2634/lang/en

I guess that this is aimed at people who only want to use LabVIEW for their NXT robot (I don't think it includes any other LabVIEW functions?). But this installer also includes another "Getting Started" screen. It still looks like the original "Getting Started" screen that we are use to, but with the addition of a "Challenge me" section, which seems pretty cool. It both challenges you in some NXT features but also in LabVIEW features. Another different feature is the way you connect to your NXT-robot. Why are there two different ways to connect to your robot depending on what type of solution you choose?

3) Why all these different versions??

4) Where do I find the "Challenge me" section if I go with the first solution, that is to download the NXT module without LabVIEW.

Thanks.

Regards, Alex.

[A.Rohde]

Hi Alex

And Welcome to the National Instruments Forum.

1) On your link you see two different products for NXT

The LabVIEW Toolkit for LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT and the LabVIEW Module for LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT. The NXT Module has a new name since it is an extended upgrade to the LabVIEW toolkit. If you have the option to choose I would recommend the newest one. The newest version of NXT Module also supports LabVIEW 2011. It can be downloaded from here: http://joule.ni.com/nidu/cds/view/p/id/2637

Some of the improvements in the NXT Module over the NXT Toolkit is listed below:

• Totally redesigned APIs
• Full access to LabVIEW debugging tools
• Control NXT bricks either by running code in LabVIEW or compiling and deploying code to the NXT brick
• VIs for TETRIX kits are available out of the box
• Support for all LEGO® MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 sensors. 
• NXT Applications   
  • Data Viewer, Piano Player, NXT Multimeter, Remote Control, and Scope

2)  I'll reply you on this issue tomorrow.

Best regards,

Anders Rohde

Applications Engineer

National Instruments Denmark

[Alex_Petersen]

Thank you very much for your reply.

Currently, I'm using LabVIEW 2010 with the NXT module. Do you know which differences there are between the 2010 and the 2011 module, if any?

As I mentioned in the first post, this product

http://joule.ni.com/nidu/cds/view/p/id/2634/lang/en

has the "Challenge Me" section. I'm really curious of, how I get / find that in the NXT module?

[A.Rohde]

Hi Alex..

I just looked further into your topic. 

At National Instruments we have:

The NXT module which you are using, and the NXT toolkit which is an older version of the NXT module. These versions only work if you have a valid National Instruments LabVIEW license but if you do they are free. 

The LabVIEW for LEGO Mindstorms is a software solution build on top of LabVIEW created for teachers to use for educational purposes. You can find a trial of this software on the National Instruments site as you have, but if you read the section about activation instructions, then it says you can only buy the license from Lego Education. You can read more about what additional this it contains in the description in the following link:

http://www.legoeducation.us/eng/product/detail/2257?sku=W991861

You have to contact LEGO Education Europe on sales@legoeducation.eu to hear whether or not you are eligible to buy the software and what licenses is included and what is not.       

So the answer must be that LabVIEW for LEGO Mindstorms has more features but it is also more expensive and only intended for educational purpose. Since it is more expensive you buy some extra content like the challenge me section and as far as I know this section can't be found for free online. But a lot of the material used is linked with http://www.k12lab.com you can find some of the videos on that page.

Some other good resources for programming your NXT with LabVIEW can be found here:

General LabVIEW environment:

http://www.ni.com/academic/students/learnlabview/

NXT Module Programming guide

http://www.ni.com/pdf/manuals/372574c.pdf

Generate LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Software Blocks

ftp://ftp.ni.com/evaluation/mindstorms/NXT_Creating_MINDSTORMS_Blocks.pdf

I would also encourage you to go into LabVIEW and select: Help -> Find examples -> Directory Structure -> NXT Robotics

There is a lot of sample VI's.

Best Regards,

Anders Rohde

Applications Engineer

National Instruments Denmark

[Alex_Petersen]

Thank your very much.

Your help is much appreciated.