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Introduction:
In this page, we will walk through the steps to use the Data Logging function of the LEGO® MINDSTORM® robots. We have both the NXT and EV3 version, this page is for the NXT. If you are using the EV3 click here.
Preparation Needed for the Activity:
LEGO® Robot
Cable for connection to the computer (use this instead of bluetooth connection to avoid cross robot errors)
Computer with the LEGO® software installed
NXT build files: LEGO Digital Designer file or PDF build file
Programs for NXT: Gait ; Walk40 ; Walk60; Walk80 ; EditVelocity
Handouts: Downloading Programs ; Uploading Data
Part 1 - NXT Data Logging: Time 15 min
The data logging feature is an easy way for students to see what information that robot was able to collect during its navigations. The programs that they have been running all along have collected data, regardless of the knowledge or accuracy. For this section we will walk you through what has to be done to clear the memory for the data logging to store as it could be full at this point. We will then provide the instructions to upload the data after the activity.
Clearing the Memory will remove all the programs from the robot. This should be done prior to the day that you plan to run the Data Log activity as you will have to reload the program Walk40, Walk60, and Walk80 for the activity on each robot.
Downloading Programs to the NXT
Downloading Programs to the NXT
With the computer turned on, Connect the NXT to the computer using the programming cord
Turn on the NXT
Open the NXT program on your computer
When the software opens you should see this screen
To Open an existing file, click on the file button.
This will open the browser to select the program
To Start a New Program type name in "Start New Program" box press Go
It will bring you to a new blank programming window
When you start you will see this screen
With the robot connected, press the download button
Clearing the Memory on the NXT
If you rather have a handout for the students to complete this it is attached here or the bottom of the page.
With the computer turned on, Connect the NXT to the computer using the programming cord
Turn on the NXT
Open the NXT program on your computer
When the software opens you should see this screen
Select Start New Program and press Go>>
It will bring you to a new blank programming window
From the programming window press the brick button (highlighted orange when the mouse is over the button
This is the screen that should appear and should show only the robot that is connected in the list
Select the robot and click connect if not already connected
Once connected select the memory tab as indicated by the arrow here
Depending on how much in on the robot, you will see the colored bar on the left showing memory usage
Click the Delete All button to clear the memory
When cleared click close
Now with the Memory cleared you will reprogram the robot using the walk40, walk60, walk 80 programs.
To reprogram open each program and connect a robot
With one of the programs active you will click on the Download button located just below the button used in step two of clearing the memory. (it looks like a down arrow and should be in the bottom left corner of the button group)
Complete this for each program and on each robot
Now you are ready to complete the data logging activity
When they have completed the activity follow the steps below to retrieve the data from the robot
Uploading the data log results
Uploading the data log results
Open the data logging program on the computer.
When the Data Logging program opens
Select the upload button as indicated in the image here
When it opens, in the Browse Device select the NXT
You will see a list of all log files collected
Select the log that is to be viewed
Verify that the correct location is selected for the path so that it will place the log file there for later use if needed
Select Open or Upload
This will open an enlarged view that they can now analyze
To get exact numbers they should select the microscope button and select point analysis
Now they can click on the line and drag it to the point where they see the valleys in the light sensor data to recored the number of rotations at that point.
This should be a separate icon in that has a axis and graph on it.
If you do not see it, you can open the NXT and in the upper left most corner you will see an icon that shows the NXT --> Data icons
Click that and it will open the Data Logging program
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