There are various sensors used in NXT programming; they range from the basic touch sensor to the wondrous acceleration sensor! The most common sensors used include the touch sensor, light sensor, and ultrasonic sensor. Now, the the new color sensor has become an increasingly popular addition to NXT programming! Good luck!
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Basic Overview of NXT Sensors!
Touch Sensor: The Touch Sensor is like the skin of of your robot! It lets your robot react when touched. There are three settings for the Touch Sensors to react to. Bumped, Pressed, and Released. Visit our Touch Sensor programming page!
Tip: Use this sensor for aligning up to your targets and to "exact" your location on a Nature's Fury in the middle of your program!
Tip: Use this sensor for aligning up to your targets and to "exact" your location on a Nature's Fury in the middle of your program!
Ultrasonic Sensor: This sensor is like the eyes of your... Well, actually its more of the EARS for your robot. The Ultrasonic Sensor sends high tech sound waves to seek out the objects near it. Much like a bat's sense of echolocation... The sensor has two settings to react to, Less than a certain distance away, or greater than a certain distance away. Visit our Ultrasonic Sensor page for programming help!
Tip: Using this sensor is risky at an FLL competition! If the team sharing the board with you has an ultrasonic sensor running at the same time, the sound frequencies of your robot may get messed up. Which means your program could fail. But, if all goes well, you could easily get a bunch of points!
Tip: Using this sensor is risky at an FLL competition! If the team sharing the board with you has an ultrasonic sensor running at the same time, the sound frequencies of your robot may get messed up. Which means your program could fail. But, if all goes well, you could easily get a bunch of points!
Light Sensor: A must use sensor! This sensor is very important and is critical if you want to do well at an FLL competition. It is sensitive and precise. It reads light intensity from the surrounding environment, as well as the reflection from the infrared transmitter. The LED light source can be turned off for an accurate ambient light reading. Feel free to visit our Light Sensor page!
Tip: If you want to do well at your upcoming Nature's Fury competition, we highly suggest incorporating this sensor into one of your programs. It will impress your judges and give you a higher score on your Robot Design.
Tip: If you want to do well at your upcoming Nature's Fury competition, we highly suggest incorporating this sensor into one of your programs. It will impress your judges and give you a higher score on your Robot Design.
Color Sensor: The NXT Color Sensor is able to perform three unique functions. It acts as a color sensor, distinguishing among six colors; it works as a light sensor, detecting light intensities – both reflected light and ambient light; and it works as a color lamp, emitting red, green, or blue light. Check out our Color Sensor page!
Tip: This sensor will definitely come in handy if you use it in the Nature's Fury competition. Much like the Light Sensor, this sensor, if used successfully, can put the judges in your favor.
Tip: This sensor will definitely come in handy if you use it in the Nature's Fury competition. Much like the Light Sensor, this sensor, if used successfully, can put the judges in your favor.
Sound Sensor:This sensor commonly talked about, but barely ever used! The Sound Sensor allows your NXT robot to hear! The Sound Sensor is able to measure noise levels in both dB (decibels) and dBA (frequencies around 3–6 kHz where the human ear is most sensitive), as well as recognize sound patterns and identify tone differences.
Tip: Not yet available!
Tip: Not yet available!
Compass Sensor: One of the rare sensors... the Compass Sensor is able to measure the earth's magnetic field and calculates a magnetic heading to tell which direction your robot is facing. The compass has a built-in calibration to help reduce magnetic interference from other sources.
Tip: Not yet available!
Tip: Not yet available!
Accelerometer Sensor: Whoa! Sounds cool huh! This is another rare sensor which can let your NXT Robot know which way is up and when your robot tilts left or right, up or down, or side to side. This three-axis accelerometer sensor also measures acceleration so you can measure G-Forces just like jet fighter pilots and astronauts. Its like the gyro sensors in your smartphones!
Tip: Not yet available!
Tip: Not yet available!
RF ID Sensor: The RAREST of the RARE!!! Another great NXT accessory for experienced programmers! Add an NXT-G program loop that needs a specific transponder to run. When you have the key transponder, only you can start the program – use multiple transponders to run multiple program paths. Good luck finding this one...
Tip: No idea...
Tip: No idea...