LEGO NXT Experiments for Signals and Systems

Several LEGO Experiments have been designed to supplement a lecture-based Signals and Systems course. Students can perform these experiments in class or at home using their own computers to interface with the LEGO processor and to plot data.

Two versions of these experiments have been written:

• Version 1: NXC, a C-like language used to program the NXT processor, and MATLAB
• Version 2: LabVIEW with the LEGO NXT Toolkit.  

Version 1 uses lower level commands. Students are required to modify a skeletal code written in NXC, so prior knowledge of C is not required. The advantage of this method is that students are exposed to embedded computing for implementing signal processing or controls including writing loops for implementing difference equations, integer arithmetic, and overflow considerations. The software development package that includes NXC is available for free.  Click for more details.

Version 2 uses a graphical user interface.  Students can run a preprogrammed code that requires them to change parameters using sliders.  They can also modify the code by inserting MathScript or C  commands into a script window embedded in the graphical interface. The advantage of this method is that the emphasis in Version 2 is not on the low level details but rather on the higher level concepts.  For example, floating point operations are allowed, and students do not have to deal with syntax errors in C. Click for more details.