Crazy Contraption Building Challenge!!!!

Yay!!!  NXTLog just came out with an all new challenge here are the details:
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Many robots are designed to do simple tasks in an efficient way to make our lives easier. But what if robotic machines did simple tasks in an over-complicated way? That’s what we’re asking you to explore in this NXT building challenge. We want you to design a LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Crazy Contraption to perform a simple job like turning a page or clicking a LEGO brick, but in the most creatively complicated way you can imagine. Yes we’re inspired by the work of Rube Goldberg for this one! There's no limit on amount of LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT sensors, motors, NXT programmable bricks, HiTechnic sensors, or Bluetooth communication you can use on your Crazy Contraption robot. All entries must be tagged "crazycontraption." Entries must be submitted by March 31, 2012. What will you make?

JUDGING

Robots will be judged in five categories: FAN FAVORITE AWARD: This award is based on the ratings from the NXTLOG Community. The highest rated robot(s) in the challenge will be eligible for this award. Please vote only for your favorite and be a fair voter as well. JUDGES AWARD: This award will go to a creative project the judges feel deserve special merit. BEST TECHNICAL PRESENTATION: We will be looking for NXTLOGs that best document how the Crazy Contraption robot was designed, programmed, and functions in a clear, concise, and creative way. How well can you show and explain your robot's over-complicated technical capabilities? MOST CREATIVE PRESENTATION: How are you using NXTLOG creatively to document your project? ARTFUL DESIGN: Is your Crazy Contraption amazing to watch? There are many NXTLOGgers that take great pride in designing their robots with care, and we want to encourage and recognize this kind of great work!

RULES

All entries to NXTLOG fall under the Terms of Service: http://mindstorms.lego.com/nxtlog/Terms.aspx. Entries must be submitted by March 31, 2012. All entries must be tagged "crazycontraption.” Only LEGO elements may be used. There's no limit on amount of LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT sensors, LEGO MINDSTORMS RCX sensors, motors, NXT programmable bricks, HiTechnic sensors, Codatex RFID sensors, or Bluetooth communication you can use. A programmable LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT brick must control the robot's actions. You may enter more than one robot. You may enter a robot that was previously submitted to NXTLOG (just remember to add the tag, crazycontraption). All documentation must be posted on NXTLOG. You must include the following in your NXTLOG Building Challenge entry: • Description - Careful, well-written explanation of how the robot was designed. • Pictures of the robot - Clear, well lit pictures - (no blurry ones!) • .rbt Program(s) - Annotations within the programs are a plus! • (Optional) LEGO Digital Designer File (LDD) - you cannot submit an LDD file only. Your LDD file must document some or all of your robotic entry. • (Optional) Video - Videos cannot be larger than 4MB and they cannot exceed 2 minutes in length. The allowable video formats are: .mov, .avi, .mpg, .wmv Please only upload only one video per project. Videos cannot contain music. You CAN include the noises that your robot makes. Videos cannot contain people in them Videos cannot contain speech. The contest will be judged by the NXTLOG moderating team. Good luck and play well!

INSPIRATION

Rube Goldberg Turns on His Fan - by: snabeli - How to knock down a domino track - by: thecove - The Great Big Useless Contraption - by: sqiddster -

           Courtesy of NXTLog.

I will probably enter after I finish programming my MOC.

MOC update!

 Awhile ago I showed you a blurry picture of the MOC I am working on. Well I decided to give you a update: I started to program it last week but noticed a few glitches in the building so I fixed them and started to program again. Then just today I noticed another glitch that was messing up the way the robot performed its task, so I decided to make a vesion 2.0 I am almost done with it and should have it finished before the night is over, tommoroww I will work on the program. I will try to finish it within the next two weeks, but I might take a little longer.

           
Oh and you might be wondering why I haven't changed the name yet, I haven't changed it because first of all the domain is already taken and second because their is another blog called TechN'XT that sounds a little to close to that name (One of my readers informed me about that). So after I finish this MOC I will put up another poll.    

Technical difficulties

 My poll results are in, but I am having a few technical difficulties that I am trying to fix.

 Here are the poll results:

• NXT Tech - 60%
• NXT Geek - 20%
• Other - 20%

   The other two names got a 0% vote.

Well it looks like we have a new name "NXT Tech" I will be making the changes just as soon as I solve these technical difficulties.

Re-designing

You may have noticed a few thing different about my blog, that is because I am re-designing my blog, I should be finished in a few days.  

New MOC!!! Coming soon!!!

I have a new MOC that I am working on. I should be done with it in the next couple of weeks (hopefully), I have it built but I still have to program it. I have managed to leak out an image of my MOC but it was modified so you can't tell what it is, Although even if I did show you an unmodified version you still probably wouldn't be able to figure it out.

   Sorry I decided not to make a teaser trailer for this project. 

Poll!!!!

I just added a new poll to my blog on what you think the name of my blog should be changed to!!!! The vote will close in one week, so vote now!

 Note: If you choose other please either leave a comment or email me your suggestion.

Website Update!!!!

I know I said I would have my website finished by Christmas but I am rethinking the name of my blog and website because I found out that someone else had a blog named "Mindstorm Maniacs". So I am working on a new name for my blog and website but for now the name will stay the same. I am going to most likely finish the website sometime this year.

                       Look forward to a contest coming sometime in the coming weeks!!!
     

Google Science Fair 2012!!!

Google has just opened up its second annual science fair. Any one age 13-18 can enter whether, your home schooled or public schooled, You can go in all by yourself or of a team up to three, the contest end's April 1st,  2012. I saw this last year but I didn't have any time to enter this year I am considering entering.

Go to www.google.com/events/sciencefair/ to enter today.

Here is a video about the google science fair. 

  Here is another video on how to enter.

What will your question be?

HumvNXT

Here it is!!!!!!!!!! My latest MOC that I have been working on!!!!!! Presenting!!!!!

HumvNXT!!!!!

 I was trying to make it into a Hot-rod but instead I came out with this. It is really cool and has a neat design but it is pretty much useless because it doesn't have any sensors (I didn't have enough pieces), I made it so that it could be controlled via another NXT. It is TWD (Two wheel drive) and the gear ratio is about 1:2. The other motor is used to turn the front wheels, I got the inspiration from Laurens Valks "SPC" (Self Parking Car). It can be built with only one NXT 1.0 or 2.0 set, but you will need 1 extra 40-tooth gear.
Due to some technical difficulty's I could not add video or LDD, Sorry!!!!!!

  

Here is some more pictures of HumvNXT:

Here is the side of the Hummer.

Here is the back wheel's of the truck.

Here is the steering system.

And lastly here is the backside of the hummer.

Enjoy!!!!!

In one of my post's I said it was going to be on a friday but I was wrong.

Happy New Year!!!!!!!

   Happy New Year everyone!!!!!!!

On New Years Eve I published the building instructions to my "Very First Biped" in response to a ton of people commenting on how they want instruction, Hope you enjoy it!!!!!

      Click here ---->Building Instructions

Remember this Friday to check out my blog for my awesome MOC I will be revealing!!!