Why Can't We Just Use Mindstorms Instead of WeDo Parts? Mindstorms is like WeDo but not that type of stuff.

Support for LEGO Mindstorms:

I feel like that we should also have a plugin for LEGO Mindstorms, that way, we would be able to use more sensors and not be slaved to use only LEGO WeDo parts. There should also be a way to let Scratch communicate via BlueTooth so that we don't have to use a USB cable to update the instructions the programmable brick uses.

Plus, it's not like it's going to know when it's supposed to do something by just plugging in a USB cable and then taking it off (example: it won't be able to know that it is supposed to move forward when space is pressed without the USB cable attached). Anyways, with BT we can send it a command any time, and it can give Scratch data from the sensors via variables. I know, I'm taking words from other people from this discussion and re-typing it in my own words here, but all I care about is informing how it would work.

Well, that's the end of my revised version of this post.

_meow_
what

testingscript64 wrote:

Why Can't We Just Use Mindstorms Instead of WeDo Parts? Mindstorms is like WeDo but not that type of stuff.

As I understand it, Wedo is designed so that a computer can control it via USB but Mindstorm is designed so that a program can be downloaded to a controller which then controls motors etc. Scratch runs on a PC so guess which one is the better fit? If Mindstorm is important to you then see here.

Why not a BT application running on the PC that Scratch talks with and a standard Mindstorm program. Scratch talks to BT on the PC which handles IO to the Mindstorm? Similar to the USB driver case but you may not even have to develop your own firmware (just a Mindstorm BT basic program that can talk to the PC).

gatzke wrote:

Why not a BT application running on the PC that Scratch talks with and a standard Mindstorm program. Scratch talks to BT on the PC which handles IO to the Mindstorm? Similar to the USB driver case but you may not even have to develop your own firmware (just a Mindstorm BT basic program that can talk to the PC).

Uhhh… What?

PullJosh wrote:

gatzke wrote:

Why not a BT application running on the PC that Scratch talks with and a standard Mindstorm program. Scratch talks to BT on the PC which handles IO to the Mindstorm? Similar to the USB driver case but you may not even have to develop your own firmware (just a Mindstorm BT basic program that can talk to the PC).

Uhhh… What?

PC can talk with Mindstorm via bluetooth.

Mindstorm generates sensor values and sends them to PC via bluetooth.

PC generates motor actions (sppeds, encoder targets) and sends them to PC via bluetooth.

Scratch on a PC has variables to read Mindstorm sensors and set motor actions. Every cycle requires a BT communication back and forth.

A scratch plugin would have to deal with the BT interface. The Mindstorm would have to run some simple program to handle the BT communication, but it would basically be a slaved robot (no advanced processing logic in the mindstorm, scratch is driving the train).

gatzke wrote:

PullJosh wrote:

gatzke wrote:

Why not a BT application running on the PC that Scratch talks with and a standard Mindstorm program. Scratch talks to BT on the PC which handles IO to the Mindstorm? Similar to the USB driver case but you may not even have to develop your own firmware (just a Mindstorm BT basic program that can talk to the PC).

Uhhh… What?

PC can talk with Mindstorm via bluetooth.

Mindstorm generates sensor values and sends them to PC via bluetooth.

PC generates motor actions (sppeds, encoder targets) and sends them to PC via bluetooth.

Scratch on a PC has variables to read Mindstorm sensors and set motor actions. Every cycle requires a BT communication back and forth.

A scratch plugin would have to deal with the BT interface. The Mindstorm would have to run some simple program to handle the BT communication, but it would basically be a slaved robot (no advanced processing logic in the mindstorm, scratch is driving the train).

okay, dude. The word slaved kinda sounds bad.

okay, dude. The word slaved kinda sounds bad.


It only sounds bad to those with limited vocabulary.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/slave