MexiLEGO International Space Apps Challenge project

1. MexiLEGO Project
April 2013 México, D.F.

2. This project consist in develop a Graphical Interface to simulate a space
missions for children. Allowing control a Lego Mindstorms robot.
The idea is to motivate children to explore the world and the universe.
Playing and enjoying the moment.
The interface was designed thinking in children. For an easy and funny use.
The application can simulate the delay in telecommunications between the
remote console and the robot in different scenarios.
City 0 delay
Earth 500 ms delay
Moon 1,3 s delay
Mars 3 min delay
MexiLEGO

3. Mission Panel
Mission: The type of mission and its
corresponding delay in telecommunications.
Speed: The forward robot speed.
• Very slow
• Slow
• Medium (default)
• Fast
• Very Fast
Turn Speed: The robot speed when
its rotating.
• Very slow
• Slow
• Medium (default)
• Fast
• Very Fast
Action Steps: Rotation steps when
execute “Do It!”. Depending of robot
configuration.
Do It: Send the command to activate the
third motor. Per example to shoot a
marble.
BEEP: The robot plays a tone

4. Sensors Panel
1. Touch Sensor (Port 1) - When the sensor is pressed, the circle changes to
GREEN and displays “ON” legend, otherwise it is red and displays “OFF”
legend.
2. Touch Sensor (Port 2) – The same as above.
3. Color Sensor (Port 3) – The circle color changes according the color
detected.
4. Ultra Sonic Sensor (Port 4) - It displays the distance to the near object
detected in centimeters or 255 value when no detect any object.

5. Action Pad
In this area the child triggers the
movements commands and sends
them to the robot.
The turn angle and the
displacement depend of the point
inner the circle where you click.
The movement is relative to the
image of the robot at the center
of the circle.
For demo purpose at the right
bottom corner the app displays
the value of the distance and the
angle. But the child doesn’t need
to take care about this, only clicks
into the circle and learn about the
movement.

6. Action Pad (cont.)
The circumference represents the maximum forward displacement, meanwhile
the center means no displacement.
The robot can turn 180° to left or right, in 1° step.
The maximum displacement value depend of the zoom level. You can select one of
the five different zooms level (10, 20, 30, 40 50 cm. for max. displacement
approximately)

7. Mission Parameters
In this panel you can specify the behavior of the robot at certain situations
according to the sensors readings.
The rule is enable or disable depend of the state of its checkbox.
To apply the rule you have to send parameters to the robot. Because the rules
are applied locally by the robot.

8. With ultra sonic rules you can set the distance to the object (less or equal) and one of
four actions.
1. Emergency Stop – The robot stops as soon possible and avoid to
move until the danger of collision disappear.
2. Do IT! – Execute the third motor action the amount of steps of
“Action Steps” field.
3. BEEP – The robot plays a tone.
4. Run Away!! – When the robot detects an obstacle turn around and
scape of the strange object.
With color sensor rules you can select the color to be detected and one of three
actions.
1. Stop – The robot stops as soon possible, but in this case if you send
another movement command the robot continues its path.
2. Do IT! – Same as above.
3. BEEP – Same as above.
Mission Parameters (cont.)

9. Mission Parameters (cont.)
With Touch sensors rules you can set one of four actions trigger when the sensor been
pressed
1. Emergency Stop – Same as ultra sonic sensor.
2. BEEP – Same as ultra sonic sensor.
3. Do IT! – Same as ultra sonic sensor.
4. Run Away!! – When the robot touches an obstacle go
backward, turn around and scape of the strange object.