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High Altitude LEGO(R) Extravaganza (H.A.L.E.) Commemorates 10 Year Anniversary of LEGO MINDSTORMS(R) by Launching Robotic Experiments to Near Space

Written by thomas · Filed Under Aeronautics News 

July 29, 2008

thomas

– Science experiment leverages best-selling LEGO product to study outer
atmosphere, proving play and learning go hand-in-hand –

RENO, Nev., July 29 /PRNewswire/ — College professors, middle school
students and robotics hobbyists unite today to launch seven robots into the
Earth’s stratosphere to collect data, explore conditional effects and to
set a world record as part of the High Altitude LEGO(R) Extravaganza.
Joining The LEGO Group to support the science experiment are Nevada Space
Grant, the University of Nevada-Reno, Energizer and National Instruments in
commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the LEGO MINDSTORMS(R) robotics
platform.

The MINDSTORMS robots will be launched from a desert location 30 miles
East of Reno, Nevada into near space on an atmospheric weather balloon that
will reach an altitude of more than 100,000 feet (30km). Once it reaches
maximum altitude, the balloon will burst and the robots will parachute back
down to the Earth individually or as a group depending on the robot’s
desired experiment. Results from the experiment will be posted online at
http://www.mindstorms.com.

“When we developed MINDSTORMS, our goal was to pioneer a revolutionary
play experience that combined the best of LEGO building with the power of
new technologies to enable children to design, build and program robots,”
said Steven Canvin, global manager for The LEGO Group. “Little did we know
that the potential of the kit would spark the imagination of users of all
ages and lead to such innovative, playful and practical applications;
MINDSTORMS is now used around the world to entertain, educate and energize
innovation in homes, in schools, universities and businesses.”

“The H.A.L.E. project underscores how play can lead to discovery and
learning for children and adults alike,” Canvin continued. “This is what we
believe has made MINDSTORMS so globally successful over the last 10 years.”

Brian Davis, a part-time professor at Indiana University, contributed
two of his custom robots to the experiment. The first has been programmed
to automate an off-the-shelf digital camera to take both still and video
images while in the balloon. The second robot will attempt a world record
for the longest MINDSTORMS NXT free-fall; the robot will detach from the
balloon at maximum altitude and fall until a pre-programmed parachute is
deployed.

“I love building LEGO mechanisms because the inherent limitations and
versatility of the medium offer unique design challenges,” said Davis.
“Additionally, since LEGO bricks are infinitely reusable, I can build and
test prototypes much faster than I could in other mediums. I’m excited to
take my experiments to a new level; I’ve never tried to build a robot that
could function under these conditions and function right the very first
time. 100,000 feet above ground is no place for a mistake.”

Children are also getting involved in H.A.L.E. FIRST LEGO League Team
90 from Virginia is getting a head start on this year’s annual challenge,
“Climate Connections”, by sending up a robot they created that has been
programmed to measure and log UV radiation as a function of altitude while
on board the weather balloon.

“I am confident that the team will learn something about earth science
and Global Warming through this program,” said David Levy, coach of the
team. “We are treating our participation as a FIRST LEGO League research
project for the upcoming season’s challenge, so I expect that the team will
learn how to seek out the advice of experts in the field, come up with
their own solutions through experimentation, document their work and have
lots of fun in the process.”

Other robots will seek to collect data in relation to ozone
concentration, the impact of varying temperatures and air pressure on
objects, particles in the air, impact of flight conditions and varying
g-forces as a function of altitude.

Energizer provided H.A.L.E. participants with long-lasting Energizer(R)
Lithium AA batteries, which are 33 percent lighter than ordinary alkaline
batteries and perform in extreme temperatures from -40 to 140 degrees
Fahrenheit (-40 to 60 degrees C), which are ideal for the conditions the
robots are anticipated to experience on the balloon.

About LEGO MINDSTORMS

LEGO MINDSTORMS provides LEGO pieces, a microcomputer, high-tech motors
and sensors and programming software to create endless opportunities for
armchair inventors, robotics fanatics and LEGO builders ages 10 and older
to build and program robots that do what they want. The original Robotics
Invention System(TM) launched in 1998, featuring the first “smart” LEGO
brick — the RCX — a microcomputer developed in conjunction with the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab, and was re-invented in
2006 with the launch of LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT.

Since its launch, users have created amazing robotic solutions to some
of life’s most ordinary — and extraordinary — problems. From sorting
candy, opening a door and shuffling and dealing a game of Poker to watering
plants, scrubbing a toilet and even solving a scrambled Rubik’s Cube, the
versatility and potential of the MINDSTORMS platform is constantly tested
and proven by its community of users.

To date, LEGO MINDSTORMS is the best-selling product ever in LEGO Group
history, with well over one million smart bricks being used worldwide
today.

About The LEGO Group

The LEGO Group is a privately-held, family-owned company based in
Billund, Denmark. One of the world’s leading manufacturers of creatively
educational play materials for children, the company is committed to the
development of children’s creative and imaginative abilities. Employees are
guided by the motto adopted in the 1930s by founder Ole Kirk Christiansen:
“Only the best is good enough.” Find more information online at
http://www.LEGO.com

LEGO and MINDSTORMS are registered trademarks of the LEGO Group.
(C)2008 The LEGO Group.

The H.A.L.E. Missions

Brian Davis, Indiana, USA
Project: Little Joe    This robot will perform an automated free-fall in an attempt to set the
record for the longest MINDSTORMS NXT free-fall. The robot will be detached
from the main balloon near maximum altitude and will free-fall until the
parachute deploys.

Project: Gypsy

The robot will be an automated camera platform that will take both
video and still images. The MINDSTORMS NXT will control all image timing as
well as pitch angle

FLL Team 90/David Levy (Coach), Virginia USA

Project: FLL Team Challenge: Climate Connections

A FIRST LEGO League Climate Connections team will build a robot to
measure UV radiation as a function of altitude. The MINDSTORMS NXT will not
only data log the UV sensor readings, but will also be used to rotate the
UV filters in position as well as control the robot heater with a
temperature sensor.

Barbara Bratzel & Chris Rogers, Tufts University, Massachusetts, USA

Project: Fourth Graders

A group of 4th grade students will investigate the impact of flight
conditions on yellow marshmallows (a.k.a peeps). The MINDSTORMS NXT will be
recording temperature and pressure during the mission.

David Martinez, Jurgen Leitner, Sweden

Project: SpaceMasters

The robot will be measuring the change in g-forces as a function of
altitude. The robot will repeatedly drop a tethered Wii-mote at different
altitudes to measure the acceleration experience.

Claude Baumann, Francis Massen, Jean Mootz, Luxembourg

Project: LUXPAK

The robot will be using an RCX to measure ozone concentration, air
pressure, temperature (inside and outside) and reflected light from earth
during the descent.

Eugene Tsai, Taiwan

The robot will be using filtering papers to capture particles and/or
chemicals in the air during the balloon ascent and descent periods. The
LEGO Mindstorms NXT will be used to provide a mechanism to switch filtering
papers to capture the materials in the air and then keep the papers in a
secured compartment. The filtering papers will be retrieved and analyzed to
see what chemicals and particles exist in different altitudes.

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