User's Manual

Common palette

To simplify its use, the programming palette has been

divided into three palette groupings: the common

palette (containing the most used blocks), the

complete palette (containing all of the programming

blocks), and the custom palette (containing blocks you

download or create yourself).

Record/Play block

This block lets you record a physical

movement with your robot and then play back

the recorded movement elsewhere in the

program.

We recommend that you to start with the blocks in the

common palette. You should be able to ﬁ nish all of the

starter challenges in the Robo Center with just these blocks.

The software’s help area has more information about the rest

of the programming blocks when you are ready to move on.

Wait block

This block lets your robot sense its environment

for a speciﬁ c condition before it continues with the

program. For example, use the Wait block to make

the robot wait for a speciﬁ c sound, touch or time,

before it moves on with the program.

Sound block

Use this block to play a sound ﬁ le or a single

tone. To compose a melody of tones, arrange

several sound blocks in a row.

Loop block

Use this block if you want your robot to do the

same thing again and again. For example, make

your robot move forwards and backwards

continuously until the Touch Sensor is pressed.

Display block

Use this block to display an image, write some

text, or draw a shape on the NXT’s display

screen.

Switch block

This block lets your robot make its own decisions,

such as going left when it hears a loud noise and

going right when it hears a softer noise.

Move block

This block controls the robot’s motors and

synchronizes its movements. Use this block to

set your robot to go forwards or backwards in

a straight line or to turn by following a curve.

SOFTWARE