Space-robot design competition powered by Hitachi's H8 micro

24 October 2001 News

An Hitachi H8 microcontroller is powering a LEGO Company design competition to develop a working robot that can be used in space. The robot will be built using the LEGO Mindstorm's Robotics Invention System, which is based on the Hitachi microcontroller, and will be expected to undertake useful tasks in a weightless environment. The winning inventor will watch the robot being sent into space and actually operating on-board the International Space Station.

LEGO's 'Ultimate Builder Competition' is open to challengers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The winning robot will be launched into space from Russia on 15 November.

Hitachi's H8 microcontroller is incorporated in the LEGO RCX microcomputer, providing the brains for the LEGO Mindstorms Robotics Invention System. With a high performance H8 CPU core, the microcontroller enables the developer to create a wide range of machines. Past winners of the LEGO Mindstorms contest have created robots as diverse as a mechanical arm, a blackjack player and a toilet scrubber.

As well as the RCX, over 700 elements are included in the LEGO Mindstorms Robotics Invention System, such as light and touch sensors, motors, gears and bricks. The RCX can be programmed using a PC and processes data about the robot's environment, taken using the sensors, as well as signalling output motors to turn on and off. This allows the robot to interact with its environment independently from the computer.

For further information contact Avnet Kopp, (011) 444 2333, [email protected] or www.avnet.co.za

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