What IS NXT ???

NXT Brick

The main component in the kit is a brick-shaped computer called the NXT brick. It can take input from up to four sensors and control up to three motors, via RJ12 cables, very similar to but incompatible with RJ11 phone cords. The brick has a 100x64 pixel monochrome LCD display and four buttons that can be used to navigate a user interface using hierarchical menus. It also has a speaker and can play sound files at sampling rates up to 8 kHz. Power is supplied by 6 AA (1.5 V each) batteries in the consumer version of the kit and by a Li-Ion rechargeable battery and charger in the educational version. The NXT brick remains unchanged with NXT 2.0. There is, however, a black version of the brick being made to celebrate the 10th anniversary of The Mindstorms System.

Technical specifications

• 32-bit AT91SAM7S256 (ARM7TDMI) main microprocessor @ 48 MHz (256 KB flash memory, 64 KB RAM)
• 8-bit ATmega48 microcontroller @ 4 MHz (4 KB flash memory, 512 Bytes RAM)
• CSR BlueCore 4 Bluetooth controller @ 26 MHz (8 MBit external flash memory, 47 KB RAM)
• 100×64 pixel LCD matrix display
• Can be programmed using Windows or Mac OS (NBC/NXC supports Linux as well)
• Users create a program with new software, powered by LabVIEW from National Instruments
• A single USB 1.1 port full speed (12 Mbit/s)
• Bluetooth (Class II) wireless connectivity, to transfer programs to the NXT wirelessly or offer ways to control robots remotely (through mobile phones and possibly by PDA's)
• 4 input ports, 6-wire cable digital platform (One port includes a IEC 61158 Fieldbus Type 4/EN 50 170 (P-NET) compliant expansion port for future use)
• 3 output ports, 6-wire cable digital platform
• Digital Wire Interface, allowing for third-party development of external devices

Other software can also be used.