Playing with LEGO

So, this is shanksi-nxt-droid-b0. I'm thinking of calling him "Bo" but the next version might be "Bi" and I'm not sure where we go after that.

What is it? It's a simple LEGO Nxt based robot that I constructed.

Why? Well, LEGO's fun, and robots are cool, and it seemed like a good idea.

The idea is to build a (semi) autonomous robot using the LEGO Mindstorms platform and a smartphone. So far, I've just been playing with some modified ripped off code in order to build a system where I can use my phone to control the LEGO. Hopefully I'll blog more with enhancements, thoughts, links to code etc.

Lego Star Wars Advent 2011

Our So Called Advent Blob - Day 24

Day 24. They said it couldn't be done. Well, they said it could be done, but probably not by that lazy sod shanksi. They also said it would be rubbish and no one would be interested. Well, they were wrong - on at least one of those counts.

Anyway, here's today's wonderful Lego gift. It's a good un, in my opinion so get clicking....

Thanks to everybody who has read the blog, clicked the pics, and commented. It's been fun - hopefully we'll be able to do something similar next year.
In the meantime, here's all the bits of this year's calendar, although somebody or something is missing. Blob points for anyone who can say who or what, and bonus points if you can tell me where he, she, or it is.

Our So Called Advent Blob - Day 23

Day 23. Almost there. And today's model is possibly the coolest yet. Click below to see what it is...

Our So Called Advent Blob - Day 22

Fight.....and another new guy - not sure what his intentions are.

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Our So Called Advent Blob - Day 21

Day 21 and still posting. More surprisingly, you guys are still reading and commenting. Really,I can't thank you enough. As for today's little gift, I don't really know what it is - beer bottles maybe, or nuclear warheads? Whatever it is, the bad guys seem chuffed to see it. On the other hand, they might not be so pleased when they see that the diver bloke is back. However, is it just me or does he look a bit familiar?

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Our So Called Advent Blob - Day 20

It looks like the partying bad guys got some new equipment today. Some other sort of devilish ray gun perhaps? Also, an unexpected guest has appeared from somewhere. Click below to see who it is.

Our So Called Advent Blob - Day 19

The party continues - but they forgot about the fireman who still had his radio, and has called in reinforcements...

Our So Called Advent Blob - Day 18

Looks like a party, but only bad guys are invited.

Our So Called Advent Blob - Day 17

Aaaaarghhhh.....

Our So Called Advent Blob - Day 16

This is probably the latest of the advent series posts so far. The reason being that Vikki and I have been out at the Marine with the folks from the Stonehaven Running Club. It was good fun, the company was wonderful, the food was very nice indeed, and the beer was excellent.

Meanwhile, in Lego world, the pap have turned up...

Our So Called Advent Blob - Day 15

Well, looks like the diver/chef team have released the fire dude. Time to get back to base....

Our So Called Advent Blob - Day 14

Action shot...

Our So Called Advent Blob - Day 13

Hey, who's this guy? Where did he come from?

Our So Called Advent Blob - Day 12

So, advent continues as Christmas gets closer and closer and the feeling that I should be getting more ready steadily heightens. Ah well, it's the weekend so a chance to figure out what needs to be done and do some of it.

Of course, what really needs to be done is to continue with the fantastic lego advent blob so click on the pic to see what's been added today. In case you're interested, I've been experimenting with my head torch rather than using the camera's flash so I can get different light, different shadows, and even cast everything in green or red. The kids love the head torch - even Magnus likes to have a shot.

Our So Called Advent Blob - Day 11

Well, it ought to have been a recipe for disaster: a three course meal with a couple of glasses of wine in the early evening, followed by a moonlit run in an icy forest. Although it wasn't the best training session ever, it was good fun - everyone who turned up had a laugh, walking, sliding, and running where possible. I think I'm going to prepare for every run with huge amounts of food and wine in the future.

In the world of Lego, I was wondering where my silly little blog would turn up in a google search for "lego advent calendar blog". The answer was nowhere but try "lego advent calendar blob" and we're number 1! woot! As I was conducting this research I came across a couple of other sites that are doing quite interesting things with Lego advent calendars. Unfortunately what they are mainly doing is making me really regret not getting my act together and missing out on the Castle advent calendar. Oh well, maybe next year will have something even better. Anyway, in today's calendar, something else has turned up - I'm not entirely sure what it is yet, but I think the "chef" has some idea what to do with it.

Our So Called Advent Blob - Day 10

Another late post because I've been out at the local pantomime - The Ury Players production of Ali Baba - with the Beavers. It was good fun with plenty of booing and cheering - the boys all really enjoyed it, especially as most of them were up well after their bed times.

Of course, the Lego people are in involved in a drama of their own. Click below to see who's behind bars, who has control of the radio, and who has arrived on the scene. What is going on now?

Our So Called Advent Blob - Day 9

Looks like things are really hotting up...

Our So Called Advent Blob - Day 8

When we last checked on the Lego people, the fireman was just about to make a call on the radio, but who was he calling, and why? We may never know, because, all of a sudden....

Our So Called Advent Blob - Day 7

Another busy day in the run-up to Christmas. This afternoon, Vikki and I drove over to the Tyrebagger to get a tree - in actual fact, two trees because we got her parents one as well. Here's Vikki with the trees...

...and here's the decorated tree. Actually, there are some more decorations to go, but the boys had to go to bed and we were feeling tired.

Meanwhile, in the world of Lego, another character has arrived on the scene...