Lego PC Bot NXT

The NXT brick is at the center of the construction. It is used to start the web that becomes the laptop base. The NXT is mounted upside down to provide quick access to the on/off buttons that are now accessible from the bottom of the robot. The battery back can still be removed without requiring the robot to be deconstructed and would only require the laptop to be removed in order to change batteries. Normally we run the system with the batteries exposed (i.e. with the battery back) as they are held in place and are easier to switch out without having to remove the battery back (while removable it tends to stick to the sides when being removed).

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Also note the packing of the USB cable underneath the NXT. We chose not to cut the USB cable down to size as this would require careful reassembly of the cable. You could probably purchase a shorter usb cable to reduce this packing requirement. We chose to use USB as apposed to bluetooth as the NXT connected via a USB cable is much more reliable than using bluetooth especially when in an unknown environment. USB also starts up quicker than the bluetooth connection and offers a audiable beep when the USB becomes connected or disconnected from the NXT.

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The USB connects to the NXT in the rear just above the castor framework. The other end is connected to one of the 3 USB connections on the Asus Eee.