From Computer to Robot
Once you have written a program, it must be moved from the computer onto the NXT brick. This will take a couple of steps to do. First we have to connect the two together so that the program can be passed on. Depending on your resources, this can be done either with the NXT's USB cable of Bluetooth. For either make sure that the robot is plugged into the cable or has Bluetooth turned on (in settings). Your computer should also have the USB part of the cable plugged in or Bluetooth is on.
To connect the NXT to the computer first locate the set of buttons shown below. These buttons are used for connecting and downloading programs to the robot.
To connect the NXT to the computer first locate the set of buttons shown below. These buttons are used for connecting and downloading programs to the robot.
The first button that we are going to use is for openning the NXT window. Click the button highlighted below.
This will open up the window you see below (list of NXTs will vary). Click on your NXT so it is highlighted orange. The name of your NXT can be found on the top of the screen of the NXT. Once you have selected it, click connect. When connecting it will ask you for a security key. This is nothing special, any password will do. Once chosen press enter and then it will prompt you for the same key on the NXT's screen. Match the password you entered and then press okay. If the passwords match the connection will be made. This can be confirmed by the connection symbol that will show in the top left hand of the NXT's screen and the NXT Data section of the NXT window will unblur and give back information about your robot's name, battery, storage, etc. If your NXT does not show up, click scan.
There is also a memory tab in this window. This will show all the programs currently on your NXT. They can also be deleted from here. Programs deleted off the NXT will still be saved on your computer.
Once connected you can close this window with the button on the bottom right.
There is also a memory tab in this window. This will show all the programs currently on your NXT. They can also be deleted from here. Programs deleted off the NXT will still be saved on your computer.
Once connected you can close this window with the button on the bottom right.
Finally now that we are connected to the NXT we can download our program. To download a program to the robot, make sure you are on the program tab you want to open and click the highlighted button below. A download window will appear to show the progress of the download. Make sure the robot isn't running any programs otherwise this download will fail. When the window says complete, a tune will play on the robot and the program can now be found in the NXT's memory.
Back to Using Mindstorms