R2-D2+Example

=Tribot Bulldozer=

What Does it Do?
The Tribot Bulldozer is an NXT robot, made by Lego, that consists of an NXT brick that acts as the programmable LEGO brick. It comes with several separate bags for pieces of the LEGO parts. Once you follow the instructions for building in the included instruction manual, you plug in the NXT brick into your computer (Don't worry, the brick is compatible with both Apple Mac and Windows PC-There is also an app for any Apple mobile device) and program away! The NXT programming software is extremely user-friendly and easy to use. The NXT brick and motors, sensors, all that, are extremely capable and can do everything (and more) listed here:


 * Move forward
 * Move backward
 * Curve turn (like a car)
 * Point turn (Like you'd traditionally think of)
 * Sense a wall from any amount of feet away
 * Sense when it runs into something (i.e. your hand, a wall)
 * And even tell light from dark!

There is also a remote control option on the programming software, but that is only usable with Bluetooth. And besides, what's the fun in a remote control? Hooray for programming! Anyway, the blocks in the programming software are extremely easy to understand. When you see gears, what comes to mind? Most would say motion. So, really, it's LEGOs with a twist!

What's Great About It?
The Tribot Bulldozer is programmable, so that is automatically a plus. Also, the bulldozer attachment is an add-on; you can make it however you like, and it is removable. The software, as I said before, is incredibly simple to use and understand. To go along with simple, the NXT brick is as easy to use as it looks. Everything on the screen is clearly labeled, and it has literally four buttons. The whole thing, as with all LEGO products, is snap-together, which makes for perfect and easy assembly. As if that wasn't enough, the look of the actual product (NXT brick, motors, and sensors) is very pleasing to the eye.

Yet to be Improved...
Of course, every good thing comes with a catch. This not-so-good part of it, as with all LEGO products, is the pieces are very small, thus leading to easy swallowing. Admittedly, that leaves a lot to be desired. Another thing with this specific product is the back wheel. The wheel at the back of the Tribot isn't really stable. Every time I run my Tribot, I need to make sure the back wheel is completely straight, or else it makes the whole thing run willy-nilly and off the side of the table or into a wall. Also, the battery life has a lot to be desired. Your battery is on a scale of 6-9, which is its green zone. If you get down to 5.999999999, your robot won't work. I'm not sure if that's a problem with the robot for not stretching the battery life enough, or a problem with Energizer or Duracell for making short-life batteries. But otherwise, a GREAT product!

=Tribot with 5 Attachments=

What Does it Do?
The tribot is essentially the same thing as the Tribot Bulldozer, except this time, in place of the bulldozing attachment, you get 5 add-ons, 4 of which are sensors. They are:

And the non-sensor add-on:
 * Sound sensor
 * Color sensor
 * Ultrasonic sensor
 * Touch sensor
 * CLAWS!

The sound sensor portion of the package for the finished Tribot allows your LEGO NXT brick to literally hear! This microphone attaches to your robot via an easy-to-install cable for it to understand you. The color sensor is able to sense colors, such as greens, reds, even purples. It is meant to be used on Grayscale, but can sense colors just the same. With the color sensor, your robot is capable of following a black line, no matter what the shape. Your ultrasonic sensor is probably the coolest sensor in the package. It sends out ultrasonic waves that bounce off the nearest object, and the ultrasonic sensor reads how far away, e.g., a wall, is. Your touch sensor allows your robot to feel around, depending on whether you choose for it to respond when it is pressed, bumped, or released. Your claws are the "grabby" part of the tribot. Literally! You can control the claws via the "A" motor, and tell it whether to open or close. These claws enable your robot to pick up things and carry them.

What's Great About It?
Well, pretty obviously, the best thing about the Tribot with the 5 attachments is that it is so much more capable. With the claws, as I said earlier, it is able to pick up things and move them, something we usually don't think about, but is very exciting to watch as a machine carries it out. With the sensors, the Tribot can "see" and "feel" around where it is. This makes for much easier programming, as well. You only need wait blocks so it knows what to look (or listen) for. There's no go forward 15 rotations, turn left 90 degrees, go forward 1 rotation, blah, blah, blah. Another thing that is mainly helped by the claws is it simply looks cooler than just a bulldozer at the front of the device. And, as always with all LEGO products, everything is interchangeable.

Yet to be Improved...
There is a slight problem with the programming, however. While it is much more fun to program with all these attachments, it can be harder, depending on who you are. You first need to measure, for the Ultrasonic sensor especially, how far away everything needs to be. (Here's a quick tip: The claws on your NXT Tribot will account for at least 3 in., or about 7 cm.) This can be time-consuming and frustrating when it doesn't work on your first try.