Lego-Mindstorms Programmable Robots

An Instructional Tool for Freshman Programming Course

In recent years robots have transformed from creatures in science fiction to an indispensable tool in manufacturing, exploration, medical research and performance of hazardous duties. The miniature robots, designed by leading universities and marketed by Lego-Mindstorms, originally developed for school going children to make science more appealing, can also be used as an effective tool for the first college level course in computer programming language. The robots are created by snapping together conventional LEGO blocks around a programmable RCX brick (a handheld computer), which has its own microchip and operating system. The RCX uses sensors to take input from its environment, processes the data and signals up to three motors or lamps to turn on or off in any one of five power levels. The task-oriented programs are written in an icon based programming language derived from LabVIEW, the most widely used language for data acquisition and instrument control. Students create the programs by placing icons representing physical objects and stringing them together to simulate the flow of commands to be performed by the robots. Conventional control flow structures in a text based programming language such as If – Else, For Loop and While Loop can be learned with confidence when taught in an icon based language structure such as Fork or Land and Jump. The project oriented, team-based approach to construct and program the robots is an effective teaching / learning tool to improve the critical thinking ability of the students.