Re: Direct control of NXT mindstorms

[Jeffrey Creem <jeff@thecreems.com>]

Alex R. Mosteo wrote:
> Hi people,
> 
> I'm studying the options for Ada direct control of a NXT brick from an 
> external computer using the USB connection (as opposed to flashing a new 
> firmware, which is the way that GNAT for Mindstorms does). After looking for 
> what's available out there I've come to the following options:
> 
> a) Pure Ada library, would require binding to libusb.
> b) Binding to some of the other libraries out there. I couldn't find a C/C++ 
> one that has USB implemented, so next good candidate seems Python or OCaml.
> c) Completing the libnxtc (the one in C) with the missing USB bits.
> 
> Probably the less work is b) or c), and then bind to it from Ada if wanted. 
> Anyway, just for the sake of completeness, I'd like to ask the group for any 
> related experiences or missing bits. More precisely:
> 
> p) I'm missing some approach in the above?
> q) Are there any Ada bindings to libusb already? Not according to my 
> googling, and only some early efforts in old threads that didn't get 
> reported here afterwards.
> r) Experiences in binding to Python/OCaml? I guess a C glue layer is the 
> way?
> 
> Kind regards,
> 
> Alex.

I never finished it but another approach with a start that is present is 
at http://nxtada.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/nxtada/trunk/

This controlled it from a computer over bluetooth essentially using a 
serial API and a bluetooth virtual serial port.

Suggested as another initial source of ideas and approach.