Feedback

Abstract

Your LEGO Mindstorms NXT kit comes with a collection of motors and sensors. And the NXT Brick has three built-in timers plus the buttons on the Brick. Would it surprise you to learn that all of these items are able to provide some sort of feedback to the NXT Brick? The sensors are a little obvious; a sensor is designed to respond to external conditions such as light, touch, color, or sound and report this information to the Brick. But what about motors? And how can a timer be used as input or feedback to the Brick? All these questions have answers, and this chapter provides them. It’s a little longer than most chapters, but you’ll find this information very useful for giving your robot the ability to monitor external conditions (as well as time) and make decisions on its own.