The LabVIEW program I ordered arrive last Friday (see post below)! Because I was watching a
FIRST robotics tournament yesterday I was too busy to try it out. I plan on installing it today, though, and I can't wait to give it a try. Despite my knowledge of LabVIEW from robotics, I'm sure it will take a while to get used to. Wish me luck! I'll be sure to post shortly how it's going.
UPDATE: It's installing as I write this. It's taking quite a long time, but that was to be expected. :)
UPDATE: It finished installing and I've been using it for the past couple of hours. I don't currently have an NXT built, so I can't really try out my programs. I am, however, having a lot of fun exploring all the options and new features (compared to the basic NXT LabVIEW). I thought when I bought the program that I would only get the program and I'd have to figure out how to use it by myself. As it turns out, however, it comes with a lot of options for learning. These options include:
- A 111 page PDF file explaining the program (this I was particularly excited about because I love reading PDF files. 111 pages is a lot of information, and it was very nice of them to include being that I would have paid the money for the program alone).
- An instructional video (about 15 minutes long) showing someone actually using the program- building a very basic program- with them explaining it as they go.
- A free, downloadable, classroom-ready curriculum.
- Dozens and dozens of already made example programs including instructions on how to build an NXT to go with them.
So, yeah. Right now I'm just messing with the settings, playing with wires, calculating random bits of data that don't have anything to do with the NXT, exploring all my options, and trying to think of something to build with the NXT. I have a few ideas, but I don't have time to build them right now anyway (I'm going to watch a movie with my family, then go to bed). Unfortunately, Mondays I always have a lot of homework so I can't do it tomorrow either. I'm hoping to build something soon, though. :)
Is buying LabVIEW Education Edition worth it? So far, I'd say
yes, it is. Any true Mindstorms programmer would definitely enjoy the large amount of features and options included in this software.
UPDATE (Tuesday): I was hoping to do a lot of programming today, but I'm having some issues with it that I don't feel giving details about. I contacted National Instruments and am getting it fixed. I don't know how long it will take, but with engineers solving the problem it shouldn't take long. :) I better get back to my homework while I'm waiting...
Detect a line is the third activity in the New Green City Challenge Activity Pack from LEGO® Education. In this activity students learn the basics of how to program a robot to differentiate between light and dark using the NXT Light Sensor.
