My LEGO Nexus Organization

(http://us.mindstorms.lego.com/en-us/community/NXTLog/showmedia.aspx?id=b6e08912-1e53-4ddb-b070-978445ecb49b&width=175&height=132)

This contest is unofficial, but it is fun! (http://us.mindstorms.lego.com/en-us/Community/NXTLog/DisplayProject.aspx?id=7c71789e-cdf6-46ff-b508-238d9caeeb51) Created by droidfreak36, the contest challenges NXTLOGgers to build a robot that can clear a table of LEGO bricks in as small an amount of time as possible! I have finished my entry, and will be posting it sometime next week (I'm still working on the description and pics). If you have an NXT, I suggest you join the competition. It is a very well made challenge, and even if you don't win you can still get honorable mention (to get honorable mention, you need to get a better score than droidfreak36 himself). I mentioned that "if you don't win you can still get honorable mention" because I'm going to win.  ;D

Good luck, and I hope you enter!  ;)

I will make sure Mak sees this!!

CC didn't start the contest, though. =P

One thing though; where's the link to the contest? Just curious, there. =)

Droidfreak36 created the contest. I am simply entering, and winning.  :) You're right though, it does seem like it should be cheating of some kind. Not only that, but now that the contest has started he is entering another LEGO pusher. I have implied to him that I'm not going to post mine until after he posts his (doesn't it make sense to know the score you have to beat to get honorable mention before you enter?). He didn't post a deadline, either, so he can easily just keep posting creations trying to beat mine (not that he would... or would he? I think the awesomeness of mine will blow him away 8)). bottom line is that no one should be able to enter their own contest.

Thanks, Blade. I can't believe I forgot the link. :P I'll add it.  (http://us.mindstorms.lego.com/en-us/Community/NXTLog/DisplayProject.aspx?id=7c71789e-cdf6-46ff-b508-238d9caeeb51)

Hmm. It does sound interesting.

It also sounds like it should be fun to watch unfold. =P Though, technically that goes for anything that goes on in local LEGO sites.(Aka, not fansites.)

The NXTLog brings back memories though. =D

Yes. It will be interesting. Right now I can't stop thinking about the Sensor Overload Competition, which ends tomorrow (June 30th). With 93 entries, it should take the judges a while to judge. The last contest it only took them 4 or 5 days, but this contest has more than twice as many entries.

The NXTLOG brings back memories?

Yeah, awesome memories involving the LMBs in it's good ol' days. ^_^

Question: Can someone who does not own Mindstorms offer challenges?  because I've got about five challenges (one specifically with you in mind!) in my head right now, and I'd love to see what people do with them.

EDIT: Even if not, would you guys be interested in hearing them?

Well hey; even if it can't be put onto the Mindstorms site(Though... I wouldn't see why not, given that normal users could comment, though waiting for confirmation would be best. =P); they could always be put up on here, right?

Flipz. Yeah! You can totally make a contest on the NXTLOG!  :) However, just as a warning, you might not get a ton of entries (this contest, although it has been up for over two months, has gotten zero entries (a more general contest such as a "tank building" contest would get more entries. Also, you must remember to be clear on the types of entries that are acceptable in your contest, detailed rules, and judging criteria (not that I doubt you would be vague). I suggest using an official NXTLOG contest  (http://us.mindstorms.lego.com/en-us/Community/NXTLog/DisplayProject.aspx?id=7ecd97e4-4730-480e-ab92-d09c4668cd4c)as an example, and not doing more than 1 contest at a time. I think it would be awesome if you made a contest!!  :)

By the way, I'm sorry if I'm not very active here for the next 6 weeks. I just started an intense summer college class. Yes, my NXT building will have to be put on hold too.  :(

Huh, they must have changed the rules. I tried once before and got rejected because it wasn't an official challenge.

Hi Jayko! It's good to meet you here. You haven't posted an NXT on the NXTLOG for a while, do you still NXT? By the way, I really like your Sleepy Tabby entry for the Robot Pet contest, and quite a few of your other projects.  :)

Yes, it seems they have. How long ago was it that you tried submitting it? If you don't mind sharing, what was your challenge? I'm interested to hear what it was.

@CC: I'll PM you the challenge I have specifically for you (it requires 2 NXT units), and then you can tell me what I need to improve before I give any others. ;)

Yea, I know I haven't posted much. My schedule has gotten twice as busy since last fall, but I look on the bright side: Durring that time, I was on an FLL team, and we made it to the world festival! Got a lot of NXT there!
Right now Im juggling a lot of things at once, a stop motion movie, a technic creation, and a brick built creation, all due at different times this month. So not a lot of room for NXT

Glad to have met someone who recognizes my work! And thanks for the complements! I just took a look at your work, quite amazing! (not to mention the LEGO Launcher, which about blew my  head off!)

The contest I submitted was about 2 years ago. And was about building a cup stacking robot. Build a robot that could 3 cups into a tower.

It's times like this that make me wish I had NXT... Oh, well.

Jayko, FLL is AWESOME!! Congrats on making it to the world festival!! That is fantastic, and every FLLer's dream. Congratulations to your team.  :) Do you think when you're old enough you'll move on to FRC or FTC? And do you see mentoring an FLL team in your feature?

I actually took an FRC summer camp, and I hope to join the team this fall!

Cool! Perhaps we'll see each other at the championship.  ;)

The team made it to the championship 2 years in a row form '08 to '09. So would be awesome to go with them this year!

My team didn't make it to championships this year. We were a rookie team, so all odds were against us (especially the fact that there were only 8 kids on our team, while most teams have at least 40). However, every team we met at the competition informed us that they would have guessed we were at least a 3 year team, and we did amazingly well for being rookies with 8 members. Overall, it was a fantastic experience being on an FRC team... and we're making it to championship next year.  ;)

Did you manage to watch a regional (online or live) of last year's game (Logomotion)?

Wait...what is FRC?  Is that like FLL but for AFOLs?  (Keep in mind, everything I know about FLL comes from a single Brickmaster article, so I'm a little vague on the whole thing.)

FRC is FLL's older brother. The age range for FLL is 6(?) through 14, while FRC is 14-18. You must be in highschool to be a part of FRC. In FLL, you build with Mindstorms. In FRC, you build with metal (the robots are also a lot bigger, and are usually about 120 pounds and 5 feet tall).

...Ah.  That would explain it.

BTW, I AM working on those other challenges i promised!  I just have to get them typed up.  ;)

Awesome! I can't wait to see them.  :) But no rush... I have college tests I'm studying for atm. It's great that you're sharing challenges with us, have you considered getting an NXT?

If I could get one cheap, I would!  But alas, my discretionary spending is limited for now.  :/

I found one on Craigslist.org a few weeks ago, at a good price, but it was from a smoking household, so I passed. CL has awesome deals on all kinds of used and sometimes new LEGO.
But you do have to know your prices because some people are like LU traders!

Here is an example.

http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/ele/2494250384.html

There is a craigslist in almost every town in the US and in many other countries.

I actually watched a live tournament near me! Pretty interesting stuff!

Flipz, I totally understand.

MsRR, yep, CL is a good place to buy them it seems.

Jayko, I'm glad you got the opportunity! The minibots were my favorite part of the whole season, and watching them live was way more exciting than on the computer (I watched 2 regionals live, and 2 on the computer). However, it is also harder to see them.  :)