Lego MINDSTORMS NXT air pressure sensor and LEGO pneumatics kit – overview and programming
Name
Anton Adamenkov
Abstract
The aim of this bachelor thesis is to introduce the LEGO pneumatic set. The LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT set is a standard set for schools. For advanced students, however, the introduction to additional efficient sensors and advanced options is required. In this research we would like to introduce one of these air pressure sensors and the pneumatic set accordingly. The work presents a detailed description of the set of pneumatics, including the explanation what is the pneumatics, how a set of LEGO pneumatics and air pressure sensor work.
Aimsof the work are:
- to create LEGO MINSTORMS NXT pneumatics detailed description in the Estonian language;
- to investigate an air pressure sensor and describe it in the Estonian language;
- to prepare the tasks for students in order to develop their skills in operating an air pressure sensor as well as to prepare task solutions for teachers;
This thesis consists three parts: The first part presents in detail the pneumatics and pneumatic equipment. The various pneumatic components with their operating descriptions are reviewed. The concept of air pressure sensor is introduced. According to the subject of Lego set, a set of LEGO pneumatics is also described in more details.
The second part provides an overview of the air pressure sensor operation and its usage in programming.
In the third part there are tasks and solutions combined together with ideas how to solve them and solution programs.
This work contains the references to the English Lego pneumatics set descriptions from [2, 3], "Pneumatics and pneumatic devices: learning material" prepared by the Tallinn University of Technology [7], Kooliroboti project website [4] and the various portals which provide the information about LEGO pneumatic set [1, 6].
The set of options of LEGO pneumatic set are thoughtfully analyzed by the author with the help of videos about various model pneumatic systems, literature about pneumatic etc. In the beginning of the work the principles of pneumatics and pneumatic equipment are described. Afterwards, the details on the LEGO pneumatic set are provided. An overview of the pneumatic equipment and air pressure sensor operations are given. The work has also a special emphasis on the tasks and their solutions. The author presents a sample pneumatic system, programs to control it and gives instructions throughout the thesis. All the tasks are explained in detail and many diagrams are given for better visualization. Teachers who might use this degree thesis would have an opportunity to create tasks for the pupils on their own. In the future, this work can be extended to other major tasks. It would be also of great interest to organize competitions in schools with an attempt to put the major pneumatics systems together.
Graduation Thesis language
Estonian
Graduation Thesis type
Bachelor - Computer Science
Supervisor(s)
Anne Villems, Taavi Duvin
Defence year
2010