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Maximum Lego NXT: Building Robots with Java Brains [Paperback]

Brian Bagnall (Author)
2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews) |

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Maximum LEGO NXT: Building Robots with Java Brains Maximum LEGO NXT: Building Robots with Java Brains 2.9 out of 5 stars (18)
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Book Description

Publication Date: April 30, 2007 | ISBN-10: 0973864915 | ISBN-13: 978-0973864915
Over two dozen fun and challenging projects using the next generation of LEGO® MINDSTORMS™ and the Java™ programming language

LEGO® MINDSTORMS™ NXT is an incredible new kit for building and programming your own robotic inventions. Maximum Lego NXT introduces a diverse set of projects, building tips, programming code, complete 3D rendered building instructions and hundreds of illustrations to help you realize your robotic dreams.

Using Java™, the most popular and easy to use programming language available, this book will give you endless entertainment and exploration. It introduces the new LEGO® NXT kit, including the NXT intelligent brick and Bluetooth™.
 
Maximum NXT includes:
 
 • Easy to follow instructions by the author of Core LEGO® MINDSTORMS™ Programming
 
 • Explanations for all available sensors and expansion products available for the NXT kit, including unique projects interfacing a video camera, cell phone, GPS, data gloves, and many more
 
 • An exciting collection of 14 robots, including a chess playing robot, an exoskeleton for your hand, a Mars Rover, a robotic arm you can control through the Internet, a 3D object scanner, soccer robots, and many more
 
 • Introduces over two dozen in-depth programming projects including navigation, mapping, precise robotic arm control, voice control and global localization
 
 • Artificial Intelligence concepts including Vision analysis, Rodney Brooks' Subsumption Architecture, and Reinforcement Learning
 
 • Exciting projects that use third-party sensors like compass, tilt sensor, and port expanders
 
 • A full chapter on building with the new LEGO stud-less brick paradigm.
 
 • A complete tutorial on programming Java™ 
 
 • How to install a free development environment for leJOS NXJ, the Java™ Virtual Machine for the NXT
 
• Foreword by Søren Lund, Director of LEGO MINDSTORMS

Maximum LEGO NXT is the ultimate LEGO MINDSTORMS guide:
• Meet NXT • leJOS NXJ • Java for Primates • The leJOS NXJ API • LEGO Parts • Building 101 • Bite into Bluetooth • Grabby Robots • Sound • Robots with Vision • Standing Tall • Localization • Mapping • Path-finding • Hands & Exoskeletons • Network Robotics • Scanning • Behavior-Based Robots • Expanding the NXT • GPS & Harsh Terrain • Speech • Appendices • Index

Editorial Reviews

Review

"[This book] succeeds brilliantly in the difficult tasks of introducing the reader to the Java language, to the Mindstorms system, and to some programming techniques peculiar to robotics . . . in such a pleasant way that [the reader] doesn't even realize [he or she is] learning new concepts."  —Mario Ferrari, author, Building Robots with Lego Mindstorms

About the Author

Brian Bagnall is the author of several computer books for Variant Press, McGraw-Hill, Prentice-Hall PTR, and Syngress Publishing. He is a key developer of leJOS, the Java SDK for LEGO MINDSTORMS. Brian is the author of the groundbreaking Core LEGO MINDSTORMS Programming, which has been translated into French and Japanese. He is a Sun Certified Java Programmer and Developer and co-author of the Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Study Guide.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 524 pages
  • Publisher: Variant Press (April 30, 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0973864915
  • ISBN-13: 978-0973864915
  • Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.2 x 1.1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,173,548 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Brian Bagnall
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By Toaster
Format:Paperback
This book was published before it was ready. There are numerous inaccuracies, misleading statements, missing steps, incorrect file names, vague references, poorly written instructions and aggrivating projects that just plain don't work or suddenly leave you in the dark

This book has many good ideas and interesting topics BUT...

NOT FOR THE NEW JAVA PROGRAMMER

Even intermediate would be pushing it.

Right from the beginning nothing works as the book describes:
- LEJOS installation instructions are wildly incorrect
- Developer environment installation and setup instructions are missing critical steps
- Critical explanations and critical steps are missing throughout
- Explanations will suddenly jump from explaining the basics to saying things like "Now download your favorite free chess program and hack it to control your chess playing robotic arm." -- Uh....okay..
- Bluetooth set-up and operation does not work as described and steps are again - missing.
- If you can't get bluetooth working, you can't do some of the projects and here again the technical level jumps from very basic to expert.
- Programs can only be run ONCE then must be downloaded again to run them again.

I'm sorely disappointed.
The LEJOS project has a LOT of great potential and I will return to it at a future date but as it currently stands this book has left a very sour taste in my mouth.
Publishing this book should have waited at least until book and product match up.
It needed a lot more proof reading.
Releasing the book in its current state only damages any LEJOS following that it could have inspired and damages the readers trust in the reputation of an author that is intelligent and very knowledgeable.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Excellent Book April 28, 2008
Format:Paperback
Despite the nasty reviews surrounding this book, I strongly dis-agree. I thought this book was extremely helpful. I am a java programmer but my work is in the data integration area. This book really helped me to step out of the box and start programming movement between motors,sensors,etc. I enjoy all of Brian's writings, blogs, books, etc. You won't find a better book about programming NXT bricks with Java. And who expects a 12 year old to pick up this book and understand? It's a book most suitable for experienced java programmers.
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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By fido
Format:Paperback
Received a few days ago, still getting through it. This book seems to be for people with at least some familiarity with Java.

Pros: Reasonable instructions for building a bunch of different robots, a long with some 'patterns' that can be used for your own creations; Full software listings of Java programs to control robots; seems well written with an easy to read style.

Cons: Construction plans not colour, making it difficult to follow at times; discussion of Java programs not necessarily as thorough as could be; Java discussion in general seems a bit thin; Java set up instructions seem a little glossed over.

Conclusion: It seems that this book is pitched at someone who knows at least a little bit of Java, or at the very least wants to learn about Java, and also wants to get into mindstorms. Since that pretty much sums me up, I think it is worth it's weight in gold. For those who are not familiar with Java, I think this book will still be a useful addition to the mindstorms library, however there may be better alternatives. As a Lego Mindstorms Java book for Java developers, it gets *6* stars, but as a pure Mindstorms book for those with little Java skills, I can see it could easily get knocked down to 3 or 4 stars.

Finally, not to put too fine a point on it, this book is about a hojillion times better than "LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Hacker's Guide", as this book actually gives some practical building instructions along with code to do some fairly cool stuff.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
I wasted my time and my money
I purchased the book thinking that it might help me with accessing the lego nxt brick and Java programming. It is not a good book at all. Read more
Published 4 months ago by lego learner
Java Brains - Its a good read for the NXT geek
I bought this book specifically to get some information on the NXT and some building ideas. The book has easily met my expectations in these areas. Read more
Published on October 13, 2008 by P. Ryder
A Great Start
Although the book sounds otherwise, it is in fact a good start for advanced programmers. A lot of the code does not work right out of the box, but provides a good starting point... Read more
Published on August 23, 2008 by Daniel Foster
Maximum Lego NXT: Building Robots with Java Brains
If you are one of those Java guys, hands on, and a mechanical control lover, this is a book you don't want to miss. Read more
Published on July 16, 2008 by Wayne Tu
Dont bother
This NXT Java book was useless starting from page 3 on. SEVERAL issues with inaccurate LEJOS directions (installations and even programs). Read more
Published on February 25, 2008 by Jason A. Butka
Post Grad book
Got this book for our 12-year-old. Too difficult. Good for those who have studied computer programming.
Published on December 29, 2007 by Sarah Hamilton
Excellent programming ideas but has Java errors
Has several very good programming ideas and robot concepts suitable for teaching programming to high school / college robot teams. Read more
Published on November 27, 2007 by Andrew P. Schuetze
Poor Start
Like others I spent a couple of long days finding the errors that are contained in the early chapters of this book. Read more
Published on September 3, 2007 by Dan
Half baked
I bought this book as a Christmas present for my 14 year old son, expecting it to be shipped in early January. Read more
Published on August 26, 2007 by G. McBlane
Great book with excellent ideas.
I'm a Computer Engineer with interests in many fields of Computer Science. I really enjoyed this book: It gives you a really quick start in building your NXT Robots with algorithms... Read more
Published on July 29, 2007 by Mazzaro Silvio
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