NXT TECHNOLOGY

CONNECTING YOUR NXT TO A COMPUTER

Before you try to set up a wireless Bluetooth connection, make sure
that your computer has Bluetooth capability.

If your computer does not have built-in Bluetooth capability, you

must use a Bluetooth USB dongle. Make sure that you use the right
type of Bluetooth USB dongle. Read more about the different types of
Bluetooth USB dongles to use at www.MINDSTORMS.com/bluetooth

MAKING THE CONNECTION TO A PC

2

Make sure that your NXT is turned on. Also Find the Controller at the lower right corner
make sure that you have Bluetooth set to of the work area in the software. Click on the
On and that your NXT is set to be Visible NXT window button (the one at the upper left)
(read how in the Bluetooth submenu on and the NXT window will open.
the NXT on page 34). Also make sure that
Bluetooth is installed and enabled on your
computer. See your computer’s and
Bluetooth USB dongle’s instruction manu-
als for details.

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Click Scan. Your computer will automatically search for

3
Bluetooth devices.

After a short interval, a list of available Bluetooth devices

4
will appear in the window on the computer screen. Select
the device you want to connect to and click the Connect
button.

5
When you connect to a device for the first time, the Enter
Passkey window will pop up. Enter the passkey to use with
this device (the default passkey is 1234) and click OK.

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6 Enter the passkey on your NXT and confirm the connection

by pushing the orange (Enter) button. If you have chosen
the default passkey, just click the orange (Enter) button.

In the NXT window, the status of your NXT has now changed
7
from Available to Connected. Your NXT and computer are
now connected and can share data.

MAKING THE CONNECTION TO A MACINTOSH

2

Make sure that your NXT is turned on. Also Find the Controller at the lower right corner
make sure that you have Bluetooth set to of the work area in the software. Click on the
On and that your NXT is set to be Visible NXT window button (the one at the upper left)
(read how in the Bluetooth submenu on and the NXT window will open.
the NXT on page 34). Also make sure that
Bluetooth is installed and enabled on your
computer. See your computer’s and
Bluetooth USB dongle’s instruction manu-
als for details.

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 NXT TECHNOLOGY

3
Click Scan. The Bluetooth device window will pop up on the
screen.

A list of Bluetooth devices will appear in the Select

4
Bluetooth Device window on the screen. Select the device
you want to connect to and click the Select button.

5
The NXT that you want to connect to appears in the NXT
window as available. Click the Connect button.

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6
The Pair with a Bluetooth Device window pops up.
Select the NXT. Click Pair.

7 When you connect to a device for the first time, a Passkey

window will pop up. Enter the passkey to use with this
device (the default passkey is 1234) and click OK.

Enter the passkey on your NXT and confirm the

connection by pushing the orange (Enter) button. If
you have chosen the default passkey, just click the
orange (Enter) button. Your Macintosh and NXT are now connected and can share data.

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BLUETOOTH SUBMENU ON NXT

Bluetooth Search
Select the Bluetooth submenu on the Search for other Bluetooth devices. After you have chosen the Search
NXT display. icon, your NXT will automatically start to search for other Bluetooth
devices that it can connect to.

My Contacts Connections
You can see all of your trusted Bluetooth contacts This item displays your current connections. You can
in My Contacts. These contacts can automatically connect your NXT to three devices at the same time
connect and send data to your NXT without using a (on Line 1, 2 and 3), while one device can connect to
passkey. To add a new contact to the list, you must you (on Line 0). Note, however, that while you can
have been connected to the contact before. Devices be “connected” to up to three devices, you can only
which you have been connected to, will automatically “communicate” with one device at a time.
be added to the list in My Contacts.

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 NXT TECHNOLOGY

You can also view the connection status in the NXT window in the
software. There you can change the name of your NXT, check
battery and memory levels, and delete programs on your NXT.

Check the connection status in the icon bar at the top of

the NXT’s display.
If there is no Bluetooth icon shown, Bluetooth is OFF.

Bluetooth is ON but your NXT is not visible

to other Bluetooth devices.

Bluetooth is ON and your NXT is visible to

other Bluetooth devices.

Bluetooth is ON and your NXT is connected

to a Bluetooth device.

Visibility Passkey On/Off

Use the Visible option to make your NXT The Passkey ensures that only Bluetooth You can turn Bluetooth functionality on
visible or invisible to other Bluetooth devices approved by you can connect to or off. If you turn Bluetooth off, you will
devices when they do a Bluetooth search. your NXT. Whenever you connect to a not be able to send or receive data over
Bluetooth device for the first time using Bluetooth. To save battery power, turn
your NXT, you will be asked for a passkey. off the Bluetooth function when it is not
Select the preset passkey 1234 or make up in use.
your own code. Other Bluetooth devices
must know your passkey in order to confirm Note! Bluetooth is turned off by default.
a connection with your NXT.

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CONNECTING YOUR NXT TO ANOTHER NXT

1 2 3

Select the Bluetooth submenu Select the Search icon to search for Depending on how many devices are
on the NXT’s display. other Bluetooth devices. Your NXT will detected in the area, a list will pop up on
automatically search for Bluetooth the NXT’s display after a few seconds.
devices.

4 5 6

Select the device you want to connect to. Select which of the three lines of communication you want the connection to
Remember that you can give each NXT a be on (1, 2 or 3). You can connect your NXT to three different devices at the
unique name same time.
– see Naming the NXT on page 11.

7
If you connect to a device for the first time, your NXT will ask for
a passkey. Just press enter to use the default passkey 1234 or
make up your own code. The other Bluetooth device must know
your passkey in order to confirm the connection. This means
that the two NXTs need to to enter the same passkey in order to
connect.

If you want to connect your NXT to more than one Bluetooth

device, go to the My Contacts submenu to select a trusted contact
or start a new search.

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Connecting to more than one NXT

You can connect up to three NXTs or other Bluetooth
devices to your NXT at the same time. However, you can
only communicate with one device at a time.

Sending files from NXT to NXT

It’s easy to send programs from your NXT to another NXT:

1 2

Make sure that your NXT is connected to Select Send.

the NXT to which you want to send the Select which of the connected devices you
program (see page 36, Connecting your want the program to be sent to (Line 1, 2
NXT to another NXT). or 3).
Select the My Files submenu in the NXT’s
display and select the program you want Your NXT will now send the file.
to send.

Connecting your NXT to a mobile phone

If you have a mobile phone with Bluetooth capability,
you can use it with your LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT set.
Go to www.MINDSTORMS.com/bluetooth for more infor-
mation on mobile phone requirements. Here you can also
download the MINDSTORMS NXT Bluetooth connection
program for your mobile phone and get additional infor-
mation on how to connect your NXT to mobile phones.

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SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

Before installing the LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT Software,

you must make sure that your computer meets the
following minimum system requirements:

Windows Macintosh
® ®
• Intel Pentium processor or compatible, • PowerPC® G3, G4, G5 processor, 600 MHz minimum
800 MHz minimum • Apple MacOS X v. 10.3.9 or 10.4
• Windows XP Professional or Home Edition • 256MB of RAM minimum
with Service Pack 2 • Up to 300MB of available hard disk space
• 256MB of RAM minimum • XGA display (1024x768)
• Up to 300MB of available hard disk space • 1 available USB port
• XGA display (1024x768) • CD-ROM drive
• 1 available USB port • Compatible Bluetooth adapter (optional)*
• CD-ROM drive
• Compatible Bluetooth adapter (optional)*

*Supported Bluetooth software include Widcomm® Bluetooth for Windows (newer than v. 1.4.2.10 SP5), and the Bluetooth stacks included
in Microsoft Windows XP (with Service Pack 2) and Apple MacOS X (10.3.9 and 10.4). For more details on compatible Bluetooth adapters,
see www.MINDSTORMS.com/bluetooth.

INSTALLING THE SOFTWARE

1 Microsoft Windows
Exit all open programs.
Insert the CD-ROM.
If the CD-ROM does not run automatically:
- click the Start button (at the bottom left-hand
corner of your screen)
- click Run
- type d:\autorun.exe (where d: is your CD drive)

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2 Select your preferred language.

Follow the on-screen instructions.

1 Apple Macintosh
Exit all open programs.
Insert the CD-ROM.

Open the “LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT” CD-ROM and double-click Install.

Select your preferred language.
Follow the on-screen instructions.

When the installation procedure is complete, click Finish. You are now ready to use the
LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Software and create programs for cool robotic inventions.

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This simple program will make the NXT play a

YOUR FIRST PROGRAM sound file. It will help you understand how to
connect your computer to the NXT.

1 Start the software on your PC or Macintosh

by double-clicking the program icon.

2
Type in the name of your first program,
or just click on Go!

3 First, click on the Sound block icon in

the programming palette.

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4 Drag a Sound block and drop it to the right of the

Starting point in the work area.
Your program is now ready to download and run.

Make sure you turn on your NXT and connect the USB
cable to both your computer and the NXT (see page 8,
Connecting the NXT technology).

6 Locate the Controller in the lower right corner of the

work area. Click Download and run (the central but-
ton) and listen to what happens.

Congratulations, you have completed your first

program!

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SOFTWARE USER INTERFACE

A quick overview
1. Robo Center
2. My Portal
3. Tool bar
4. Work area
5. Little help window
6. Work area map
7. Programming palette
8. Configuration panel
9. Controller
10. NXT window

3 2

1
7
4

10

8 6

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1 Robo Center window

Here you can find building and programming instructions for four cool models.

My Portal
2
Here you can access www.MINDSTORMS.com while programming your robots.
You can get more robotic challenges and download programs, sound effects and other cool stuff.

The tool bar

3
The tool bar includes the most frequently used commands from the menu bar in an easy-to-reach
location.

4 The work area

This is the space on the screen where programming takes place. Drag programming blocks from the
programming palette to the work area and attach the blocks to the sequence beam.

5 Little help window

Here you can always get help if needed.

6 The work area map

Use the pan tool on the tool bar to move around the work area – and use the work area map (tab in the
lower right corner) to get an overview.

7 The programming palette

The programming palette contains all of the programming blocks you will need to create your
programs. The tabs at the bottom of the palette let you switch between the common palette (containing
the most frequently used blocks), the complete palette (containing all of the blocks), and the custom
palette (containing blocks that you download or create yourself).

The configuration panel

8
Each programming block has a configuration panel that lets you customize the block for the specific
input and output that you want.

The Controller
9
The five buttons on the Controller let you download programs (or parts of programs) from your
computer to the NXT. With the Controller you can also change the settings of your NXT.

10 The NXT window

This pop-up window will give you information about your NXT’s memory and communications settings.

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THE ROBO CENTER

1 In the Robo Center you will find different robot models
that you can build and program to do what you want.

2 Start by selecting a robot model to build and program.

We recommend that you start with the TriBot as it is a
continuation of the Quick Start model included in the box.

3 Follow the on-screen building and programming

instructions − or solve the challenge on your own.

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Test your robot using the challenges provided.

4

THE PROGRAMMING PALETTE

The programming palette contains all of the programming
blocks you will need to create your programs. Each
programming block determines how your robot acts or
reacts. By combining blocks in sequence, you can create
programs that will make your robot come to life.

When you have finished creating your program,

download it to the NXT and run it.

Remember to turn on and connect your NXT before

downloading a program.

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Common palette
To simplify its use, the programming palette has been
divided into three palette groupings: the common
palette (containing the most used blocks), the
complete palette (containing all of the programming
blocks), and the custom palette (containing blocks you
download or create yourself).

We recommend that you to start with the blocks in the

common palette. You should be able to finish all of the
starter challenges in the Robo Center with just these blocks.
The software’s help area has more information about the rest
of the programming blocks when you are ready to move on.

Move block
This block controls the robot’s motors and
synchronizes its movements. Use this block to
set your robot to go forwards or backwards in
a straight line or to turn by following a curve.

Record/Play block Wait block

This block lets you record a physical This block lets your robot sense its environment
movement with your robot and then play back for a specific condition before it continues with the
the recorded movement elsewhere in the program. For example, use the Wait block to make
program. the robot wait for a specific sound, touch or time,
before it moves on with the program.

Sound block Loop block

Use this block to play a sound file or a single Use this block if you want your robot to do the
tone. To compose a melody of tones, arrange same thing again and again. For example, make
several sound blocks in a row. your robot move forwards and backwards
continuously until the Touch Sensor is pressed.

Display block Switch block

Use this block to display an image, write some This block lets your robot make its own decisions,
text, or draw a shape on the NXT’s display such as going left when it hears a loud noise and
screen. going right when it hears a softer noise.

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THE CONFIGURATION PANEL

Each programming block has a configuration panel that lets you adjust the
settings of the block for the specific actions that you want. When a block
is selected in the work area, its configuration panel will be visible at the
bottom of the screen.

By changing the parameters on each configuration panel, you can change

how a particular block will behave. For example, to make your robot move
faster, you can change the Power property on the Move block’s configuration
panel.

THE CONTROLLER
The five buttons on the Controller communicate from your computer to the NXT: The Download and run selected button
downloads and runs just a piece of your
program’s code (e.g. a single block or just
The NXT window button gives you access a few blocks). Select the blocks you want
to the NXT’s memory and communications to test and click on the Download and run
settings. selected button. You will then be able to see
how the small sequence of your program
performs on the NXT without having to
download the whole program.

The Download button downloads the program The Stop button stops a running program.
to the NXT. You can then run the program
from the NXT.
The Download and run button
downloads a program to the
NXT and then starts running the
program.

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 LEGO® BRICKS

ELEMENT OVERVIEW
These are the LEGO® bricks in the MINDSTORMS® NXT set #8527.

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