LEGO 51515 Distance Sensor - Everything You Must Know

[@Builderdude35]

How do you plan to use the LEGO 51515 distance sensor? Let me know here!

[@RomanRichter420]

I'm trying to make robot that rotates, and when he detects the ball - move to it, but sensor doesn't detect the ball if ball is farther that ~45cm =( Is this always was a problem? Or only SP, RI5 sensors have that issue?

[@Builderdude35]

@@RomanRichter420 The Distance sensor is going to have a hard time seeing an object like a ball. Because it is round, a lot of the sound pulses will reflect off of the ball in the wrong direction. The Distance sensor is best used with flat surfaces.

[@RomanRichter420]

@@Builderdude35 I'm trying to do something like NXT TriBot, but yeah, you were right, sensor have hard time with ball =(

[@cuda7189]

Hi Builderdude35, I've one question about force sensor. In Spike app we have blocks for force sensor but these blocks for force sensor are lost in Mindstorm Inventor app. So do you think it's possible to use force sensor in Inventor . I didn't find anythink about this on internet, so if it's possible did you plann to make a video tutorial about this ? Thnaks

[@Builderdude35]

@@cuda7189 I thought about it and originally I had it in my plan. The force sensor should, in theory, work just fine with LEGO 51515, but as you noted, there is no programming support for it in the MINDSTORMS app. Until that happens, I am afraid I cannot make a tutorial on it.

[@Unbrickme]

I personally never use events in the scratch code. I find the "if" or "wait until" blocks more universal so I just use those

[@Builderdude35]

That's a good practice, because it is more along the lines of how most other programming languages work.

[@Maximilian-Willert]

Thanks so much for this VERY Clear demonstration!

[@dluders]

Your videos are so well produced! :) I'm wondering if a Lego Sumo bot could successfully use the newly-designed Lego Distance Sensor/Ultrasonic Sensor to "home" in on an opponent's Sumo bot. If you noted that the Distance Sensor is only good at detecting PERPENDICULAR ultrasound reflections, if the Sumo bot is spinning around to locate the opponent, could it work? Lego Sumo bots sometimes use Dual-Range infrared sensors (like the Mindsensors "Dual Range, Triple Zone Infrared Obstacle Detector for SPIKE Prime"), but it is "not Lego" and costs a lot....

[@Builderdude35]

Thank you for noticing the improvement in production quality! I've been putting in some more time to make sure video quality is up to a higher standard now, and I am glad it is paying off!

[@Builderdude35]

As for Sumo bots, I believe I used the EV3 infrared sensor back in the day, and got better results using IR than ultrasonic-based sensors. I can't remember exactly why. You can certainly make an ultrasonic sensor work if your robot sweeps around slower and the opponent robot has wide, flat sides.

[@Tonygamer1234-k6p]

Hey man can you tell me if this idea is good? I’m going to get this to make a Halloween animatronic so when someone is close to it it will spin its head also do you have to buy the motor or use the technic motor

[@emilianoortiz8795]

I really like the set, I used to have an NXT and the cables always were problematic for me. Things I would improve about it could be that it used USB C instead of micro, longer cables (this could be actually improved by lego if they make extensions) and the color led in the light sensor, it looked cool sometimes. Also how can I get a bulk of technic pieces? Are there good sets just to buy for this?

[@Builderdude35]

For buying pieces in bulk: LEGO Education makes parts add-on packs of 30-ish brocks that you can buy on their website. Other than that, buying a LEGO set to uses as a "donor set" and using its bricks is the way a lot of people do that.

[@75STARFISH]

Thanks man!. I'll play around with this this weekend

[@Builderdude35]

Excited to see what you make! Let me know!

[@75STARFISH]

@@Builderdude35 I made Blast's light change colour based on distance. Green then yellow then red. I wrote it in both scratch and python. I am going to add a reaction from the robot to. Apparently the distance sensor can be opened up and 3rd party sensors added through a breakout board with 8 pins!

[@Builderdude35]

@@75STARFISH Yes, there is a breakout port in the Distance sensor, which only I learned this week as well! I hope to have a few words on it soon

[@Builderdude35]

@@75STARFISH Nice job on the light color change program too btw! Keep up the great work!

[@city8456]

I would like to use this facing down and if it will sense a moving object to the left the it turns 45 degrees left and move forward same goes to for the right condition. Can you help?

[@carbonk4764]

Nice! I love watching your videos

[@Builderdude35]

Very glad to hear that! I love making these videos for you all!

[@Builderdude35]

For my own research and curiosity: what do you like the most about watching my videos?

[@dluders]

@@Builderdude35 I like how you have a split-screen of you talking to the BIG display of the robot programs. You mix some humor into what would normally be "dry" topics. The pacing is just right too. :)

[@Builderdude35]

@dluders thanks for sharing! I am happy to hear the extra humor and attention to detail is paying off!

[@laurenaddante1570]

I love bald eagle units 😂 I also saw “freedom units” honestly, us Americans will use anything but the metric system

[@ericsnyder2841]

Could you build your dinosaur robot better with robot inventor?

[@annisaaisma9738]

what's the different between motors block and movement block?

[@taylorveltrop]

Does this sensor work with the Powered Up app and 88012 Technic hubs?

[@alextrujillo7849]

Im looking to get into lego robotics for cheap, i mean dirt cheap. Is nxt still an option to code with at all. I was looking at those just to run a few large mototrs off of. If so, would I use the Lego Mindstorms Home application to do so

[@Builderdude35]

Not sure whether LEGO still allows you to download NXT software, but you can probably find the CD with the software for sale somewhere. I can't guarantee it will be cheap though -- probably just the opposite, considering the NXT is not produced anymore.

[@alextrujillo7849]

@@Builderdude35 So if I bought the brick and motors then I couldn’t use them!

[@Builderdude35]

@@alextrujillo7849 Quite possibly. I recommend doing some research to see if you can get the LEGO NXT software. Which reminds me, you actually can program the NXT using the EV3 programming, which is still available. Check out this video for more info: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5PZamt5drF0qpY

[@JustAnotherGuy132]

your videos are great

[@bobcubsfan]

How can the Remote blocks for Sony Playstation 4 Controller be added to a project? Tricky has it, for example.

[@Builderdude35]

I will cover that in a future tutorial, coming soon. Stay tuned!

[@bobcubsfan]

@@Builderdude35 Great. I got it working. Seems the system requires a conduit such as an iPhone to make it work. Pairing both, the the Mindstorm app allow switching from the iPhone to the PS4.

[@Builderdude35]

@@bobcubsfan that's exactly correct, you need to connect both the robot and controller to your smart device (phone, tablet) to use as an intermediate. Have fun with it!

[@largewallofbeans9812]

My ultrasound sensor doesn't work. It'll detect a define object like a wall, but only while the sensor is stationary. It also has trouble a less define object like a hand. Anyone know why this is?

[@FlorinBalanescu]

I found the precision of the sensor is very poor when in Streaming mode and I expected that because it executes the loop at a lower speed. But I didn't find it acceptable even in Download mode.

[@Builderdude35]

I found the same thing, and if you see my demonstration example at the end of the video (where I assign motor speed to the distance measurement) you can see velocity changes are very sloppy and not smooth at all.

[@bryannepeterson2288]

any tips for how to account for this in the code @@Builderdude35 ?

[@asharfarooq7475]

Inquisitive!

[@Builderdude35]

Cultivating the intellect!

[@bobcubsfan]

I was wondering it the sensor could be used to do something while using the Playstation 4 remote to control a build. So I built a little car and had the right joy stick start and stop a motor. But I inserted some blocks that had the sensor test to see if it was closer than 8 cm, and if so, stop the drive motor. Guess what? It worked!

[@Builderdude35]

That's super cool! Thanks for sharing your project with us!

[@bobcubsfan]

@@Builderdude35 Thanks. Added the light sensor to detect if the car was "going off a cliff" like the edge of a table. That worked too.

[@Builderdude35]

@@bobcubsfan that sounds like a pretty sweet project! Congrats!

[@bobcubsfan]

@@Builderdude35 I am wondering about coding a subroutine. For example, I put together a block that makes the car go backwards when the PS4 joystick is in the down position. What if when the light sensor stops the car I want to use the same code to have it back up? The section My Blocks might be the key, but I don't see a way to do it.

[@bobcubsfan]

I figured it out how to make reusable blocks

[@christiannesbitt1080]

hey @Builderdude35 is there any way to make a robot that turns on the lights from the distance sensor when the lights from a room turn off?

[@almas7766]

I like it!

[@Builderdude35]

Glad to hear! Thanks!

[@Laugny]

But i actually hear it when i put it to my ear

[@rammaddirala6857]

can I communicate with a dolphin with this thing?

[@Builderdude35]

Perhaps... maybe this is a topic for a future tutorial? ;)

[@korisilivri]

This kit is really amazing, sorry ev3 fans but I am enjoying this much more.

[@Builderdude35]

I am glad to hear! What do you like better so far?

[@korisilivri]

@@Builderdude35 First of all it is neat that it comes with a battery. It would be better if the port was Type-C but still. It boots up so fast. I boot it up, test my creation, shut it down and improve the creation. That preserves the battery life for me. This whole kit and the software is like a QOL update. The ease of use is amazing, it is like plug and play, straightforward. Apart from not supporting daisy chaining and not being backwards compatible I had no problems with the set.

[@Builderdude35]

@@korisilivri You pretty much summarized my thoughts exactly! I hope you continue enjoying 51515!

[@korisilivri]

@@Builderdude35 thank you I hope that you continue to enjoy your set as well 👍

[@Builderdude35]

@@korisilivri Much appreciated! I have a few exciting projects in mind, so stay tuned!

[@JustAnotherGuy132]

please do a python tutorial

[@larrytong3498]

Nice video First also

[@Builderdude35]

second! and thanks!

[@asharfarooq6334]

Always first!

[@asharfarooq6334]

@@larrytong3498 what does first even mean? you lose some. you win some.

[@asharfarooq7475]

@@asharfarooq6334 what he said^

[@Builderdude35]

🤯

[@carbonk4764]

I think Ashar is right here

[@Builderdude35]

Don't count Ashar out just yet, he's got some valid points too