Lego mindstorms NXT support package

Does the MATLAB student package come with Lego Mindstorms NXT support package? If no, how can i install it please?

Answer 1

[Mischa Kim]

Nauman, in MATLAB simply go to Resources > Add-Ons > Add Hardware Support Packages, select and download the NXT package for free.

[Nauman]

I've tried there but it won't let me download.

[Mischa Kim]

Open up, "Why are some rows disabled" in the window you are showing in your screen shot:

 A row is disabled if any of the following conditions is true:
    - The required base product is not installed.
    - Your host platform is not supported.
    - The support package is not available for web-based installation.

I assume it's the first or second option.

• Do you have access to Simulink?
• What platform are you using?

[Nauman]

Yes I do have access to the Simulink. I'm using Mac OS Mavericks 10.9.5 and that qualifies the platforms needed.

[Mischa Kim]

The LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Support from Simulink is available on 32-bit and 64-bit Microsoft Windows only. See the documentation (bottom of page).

[Nauman]

Oh! Thanks a lot for your help.

Answer 2

[Daniele]

Hi Nauman

You can download the RWTHMindstormsNXT library from:

MATLAB/toolbox/RWTHMindstormsNXT/README at master · robEllenberg/MATLAB · GitHub

Some small tuning is necessary (at least on my PC, with Matlab 2022a installed) after having correctly paired between PC and Lego NXT, and having identified the outgoing COM port used by the SPP (in my case COM6).

I naturally installed the original software provided by Lego to check that the robot was properly connected to the PC and working.

Here are the changes.

1. Function “COM_OpenNXTEx.m”

Use the "serialport" Matlab function instead of the "serial" function that will be removed in future releases of Matlab.

Using "serialport" the serial connection speed no longer wants the specification through the pair 'Name', 'Value', but only wants a double value (Value), the baudrate: you must therefore remove 'BaudRate' label.

2. Function “checkHandleStruct.m”

Update the type (class) of the h.Handle variable from 'serial' to 'internal. Serialport'.

Finally disable the warnings at the beginning of each user program (script):

warning('off','all')

These small changes in my case worked. Finally, after countless attempts, I was able to reproduce a tone and read the battery status of my NXT from Matlab! (And also to control the engines ... ).

Bye