Book Image

Smart Robotics with LEGO MINDSTORMS Robot Inventor

By : Aaron Maurer
Book Image

Smart Robotics with LEGO MINDSTORMS Robot Inventor

By: Aaron Maurer

Overview of this book

LEGO MINDSTORMS Robot Inventor is the latest addition to the LEGO MINDSTORMS theme. It features unique designs that you can use to build robots, and also enable you to perform activities using the robot inventor application. You'll begin by exploring the history of LEGO MINDSTORMS, and then delve into various elements of the Inventor kit. Moving on, you'll start working on different projects which will prepare you to build a variety of smart robots. The first robotic project involves designing a claw to grab objects, and helps you to explore how a smart robot is used in everyday life and in industry. The second project revolves around building a working guitar that can be played and modified to meet the needs of the user. As you advance, you'll explore the concept of biomimicry as you discover how to build a scorpion robot. In addition to this, you'll also work on a classic robotic challenge by building a sumobot. Throughout the book, you'll come across a variety of projects that will provide you with hands-on experience in building creative robots, such as building a Dragster, Egg Decorator, and Plankton from Spongebob Squarepants. By the end of this LEGO book, you'll have got to grips with the concepts behind building a robot, and also found creative ways to integrate them using the application based on your creative insights and ideas.
Table of Contents (12 chapters)

Adding the aesthetic details

Alright, you are closing in on this build. It is time to add the details that will make the robot feel more like a robotic Plankton!

Let’s get started by locating the following pieces:

  • Eight blue connector pins
  • Six black connector pins
  • Four teal 5L beams
  • Four teal 3L beams
  • Two teal 3x5 L beams
  • Two teal 2x4 L beams

Here is a visual of the parts needed for this section:

Figure 10.1 – Laying out parts to bring Plankton to life

Start with the main build and turn to the side of the Intelligent Hub. Add one black connector pin and one 3x5 L beam to each side of the Intelligent Hub:

Figure 10.2 – 3x5 L beams added to the side of the Intelligent Hub

Next, add four blue connector pins along the black open frame attached to the front of the Intelligent Hub, leaving the 2L side of the pin exposed:

Figure 10.3 – Blue axle pins added...