Robotics Monday: Joystick and Bulldozer

Name of Models: dozer and joystick

Created by: leggor.de (sorry - did anyone catch a name?)

Found at: http://www.leggor.de/content/dozer/dozer0.html and http://www.leggor.de/content/joystick/joystick0.html

Details: Here's a pair of great LEGO® MINDSTORMS NXT projects, with one of them controlling the other. The joystick flows quite well - I'm not sure how it was done (the description's in German), but it looks like it works very smoothly. The program on the dozer features a nice minifig-head graphic that looks like it's riding in the dozer. It's not just a charming detail, either - the head turns to face the direction that the dozer is driving. In addition to a regular steering system, the bulldozer also includes a 4-cylinder engine that can be started up without moving the vehicle. It's hard not to like a dozer that realistic. The completely-covered but studless look of the exterior is very classy too. I have no idea whether or not this is based on last year's Motorized Bulldozer set, but those treads do look like the same newer style to me.