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Components Used:
2 Motors
1 Touch Sensor (Mounted on RCX for Remote, Wired Control)

Required Parts:
RIS 1.0
Electrical Connector Plate (White, Comes With 9V Motor Set)

Description:
Moves from one end of the string to another. When it gets there, the touch sensor hits the wall, (Or whatever is used to hang it) and it reverses directions.

Well… What can I say? This is probably (I have yet to be proven wrong) – the LEGO Mindstorms’ Community’s First One-Legged Walker, and both simple and complex at the same time.

Two months of planning, failed designs (and waiting for my Vision Command webcam unit to arrive) has lead me to this point, getting to write all about my robot.

“Hop-Along Cassidy” uses both 9V Motors, which have been geared up and connected to create a sort of “Pulsating Shaft” (See attached videos) which quickly lifts up the foot by kicking the front “toe” (If I can call it that) into the ground, which lifts the robot up, then moves the foot so that it lands on the "heel" and moves the robot forward, and starts again. Doing this really fast creates a “Hopping” Motion. The motors are "additive", which means they combine their power so it is as if there is one, more powerful motor. This allows for a proper “Hopping” action, and also having 2 motors on opposite sides helps balance the robot.

“Hop-Along” has a generally low center-of-gravity, since the motors are the lowest part (besides the gears and the ‘foot’). This helps keep it from tipping over. As the walker progresses, it actually sways back and forth, as seen in the movies. This, I find, is actually unnoticeable because it happens so fast, though the VC Camera seems to slow it down enough.

(This is an independent site not authorized or sponsored by the LEGO Group.)

Components Used:
2 Motors
2 Touch Sensors
1 Light Sensor

Required Parts:
RIS 1.0
Parts from other LEGO Sets

Description:
Lil’ Buggy can:
1) Dance to the Macarena
2) Run around a room by itself without bumping into anything
3) Play a game with you
4) Massage tense muscles (like the ones you get after programming a bugbot for a few hours…)

His switch (seen in picture) allows him to change between modes:

• Game Mode (Switch Right)
• Autonomous Mode (Switch in the middle)
• Dance Mode (Switch Left)
• For a Massage, you can use either Autonomous Mode or Dance Mode, depending on whether or not you want music.

GAME MODE

– Switch to the Right
In this mode, Lil’ Buggy will give you anywhere from 5-10 seconds, then it will beep. Once it has beeped, you have 1/2 a second to shine flashlight at the light sensor. (Don’t complain, it is possible, it helps to have the flashlight on and be ready to point it at the sensor.)

If you are able to do this, it will reward you with a sound like when it finishes downloading something. (Fast ascending sweep). If you can’t do this, it gives a low buzzing sound.

AUTONOMOUS MODE

– Switch in the Center
In this mode, Lil’ Buggy can roam free through a room without hitting anything.

This is done thanks to Proximity Sensing (the RCX sends out an infrared signal, which, if the RCX is close to something, will be picked up by the light sensor, and a certain string of codes will be executed)

For more information on Proximity Sensing, try searching in the LEGO Mindstorms Forums.

DANCE MODE

– Switch to the Left
In this mode, Lil’ Buggy burns up the dance floor dancing to the Macarena!

If only I had a video camera…

Not really much to explain about this mode – Lil’ Buggy dances to the Macarena, which it plays out of it’s internal speaker.

MASSAGE

– Either Switch to the Left or in the Center
This mode lets you relieve your stress while Lil’ Buggy massages you. (Quite handy after spending hours on the net… Trust me, I know.)

If you have the Switch to the Right, Buggy will dance on your back while playing the Macarena.

If you have the Switch in the Middle, Buggy will move forward.
(Both ways give you a good massage…)

I think this is my best robot so far.
“Go Little Buggy!”

(This is an independent site not authorized or sponsored by the LEGO Group.)

Components Used:
2 Motors
2 Touch Sensors

Required Parts:
RIS 1.0

Description:
In essence, this is Dave Baum’s BugBot, (No copyright infringement intended). I added an extra set of antennae (To be able to sense further up, so it wouldn’t get stuck under the bottom of a chair, counter, etc). I also made the speed faster in the program so it can run around the room a little more efficiently.

Instructions:
Building instructions for Bugbot are found on page 109 of Dave Baum’s Definitive Guide to Lego Mindstorms Robots

(This is an independent site not authorized or sponsored by the LEGO Group.)

Components Used:
2 Motors
1 Light Sensor

Required Parts:
RIS 1.0

Description:
The robot can either be used as a line follower or it can be used to spin aimlessly in circles (Woo!) if the light sensor arm is removed.

(This is an independent site not authorized or sponsored by the LEGO Group.)

Components Used:
2 Motors
1 Light Sensor
1 Touch Sensor

Required Parts:
RIS 1.0

Description:
The robot moves forward until it hits something, (The wheel is forced upwards enough to activate the touch sensor behind), then it moves backwards, turns slightly, and moves forwards again. It also has a light sensor on the back for line-following.

(This is an independent site not authorized or sponsored by the LEGO Group.)