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Rating:  -
(This review is actually written by Jonathan Daudelin)
I've been designing Lego robots for five years, and have never seen a book that teaches skills in such an interesting and simple a way as this one. The story line flows very nicely, and almost persuades one that NXT robots would be very useful in exploring an ancient pyramid! It also does a great job of keeping the reader's interest.
For the building part, 5 widely varied robots provide great inspiration and practice. I also enjoyed the author's unique approach to designing robots using Design Journal Pages - places to write down things like the robot description, tasks it needs to complete, etc., which help orienting the reader in building the robot.
The programming chapters were great, too. They're very descriptive and easy-to-follow, and the author has a good way of explaining the different basic blocks, like loop, move, and wait blocks.
All in all, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the Mindstorms NXT. People who are new to the NXT would learn a lot from reading this, but also more experienced people would benefit from the inspiration and unique ideas.
Rating: -
"Great book, and original in its approach using a story line to setup robot challenges. I was also surprised at how well the content is laid out, and the build instructions are easy to follow. I recommend the book for anyone, but especially educators who are looking for original projects for their Lego NXT curriculum."
Rating: -
I cannot describe just how great this book is - I am a software engineer with over 13 years of experience and found Mr. Kelly's approach to learning to play with the NXT excellent and beyond my expectations. The first four chapters are broken up logically. Chapter 1 contains a well written story and lays the foundation of the problems and challanges that await the reader. During this chapter the first 'problem' is introduced. The 2nd chapter is devoted exclusively towards reiterating the problem and laying out the analysis of 'how to solve' the problem at hand. Also during this chapter the reader is given an introduction on a "Design Journal" that will later assist them building the solution. The end of the chapter 2, the reader can continue to read chapters 3 and 4 - which layout the author's solution to the problem or spend time on attempting their solution to the problem that was just introduced and analyzed. Chapter 3 deals with the 'hardware' implementation of the solution - specifically the building of the robot. Chapter 4 lays out the software solution. This was exactly the best approach for young readers!! However, don't feel this book is something you can give your child and then walk away. You have to involve yourself in the process - you have to read it, you have to work the solution with your budding LEGO master builder. I am working through the exercises with my 10 year old son who has been interested in robots for a number of months now. He has really enjoyed reading the book and has even started working out his own solutions with the "design journal".
Rating: -
We got this book for my son (age 9) and I to develop new robots. Was I ever pleased to see how this book is designed. The concept for the 5 robots has each a storyline, the theory, the building of the robot, and the programming of the robot.
This book is an excellent buy, and please stay away from "LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Hacker's Guide" I bought it and it is on eBay for sale. It has little to do with hackink the mindsorm and more in hacking your wallet.
Rating: -
My 13-year old son loves the NXT, but he's too busy to sit down with a kit and make his own projects. He has BEGGED for step-by-step building and programming instructions for NXT robots.
This book has met his need in spades.
There are five robots in the book to build and program, and step-by-step instructions are provided for each. The book also has a friendly, encouraging style, which kids and parents will appreciate.
The model instructions that come with the NXT kit are good, but the kit only provides instructions for building four robots. Your child will go through those robots in a hurry! (Mine did). If there are parents out there who have purchased an NXT kit for their child, then I'd encourage you to make this book a companion purchase.
For those kids who DO have time to get creative, the book encourages that, too. Each robot in the book is given a specific "mission" to complete, and kids are encouraged to complete the mission by using their own robot designs. There's a "design journal" in the back of the book, where kids can keep track of their own NXT creations.
This is the ONLY NXT book out there that caters to kids. If you and/or your child are new to the NXT, then this book is a perfect and USEFUL introduction.
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