Customer Reviews

Programming Lego Mindstorms with Java (With CD-ROM)

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Personally, I enjoy this book. It's beaten my expectations, and that's a rare treat.

However....

If you have never done any programming in a language like Java, Python, or C++, and if terms like "firmware", "embedded", etc. leave you feeling upset, this book may be a bit of a challenge.

But then again, if you are interested in moving beyond the capabilities of the software that shipped with your Lego Mindstorms kit, this may be precisely what you want.

Also, if you have been trying to learn some Java but haven't found a project "fun" enough to sustain your interest, this book and a Mindstorms kit may thrill you.

This is a medicore book that spends quite a lot of time and chapters on programming Mindstorms with other langagues and APIs.

I found "Core LEGO MINDSTORMS Programming: Unleash the Power of the Java Platform" by Brian Bagnall to be a much better book. It is well suited to both beginning and advanced programers. It covers languages basics, but still provides much info to experienced Java developers.

It also includes detailed instructions and pictures describing on basic robotics...things like how to turn a rotary motion to a linear motion, how to change gear rations, how to build differentials, and much more.

There is also a detail chapter devoted to building your own homebrew sensors that even someone with little to no experience in electronics could easily build.

In short, this book is ok, but there are better alternatives out there.

Lego mindstorms have steadily become the latest craze in robotics across campuses, and are an excellent way to build mechanics and physics skills, the newest series from Syngress is awesome.