NXT Memory

The NXT memory brick is large enough for the FLL Challenge. It has 10 times as much memory as the RCX brick. The NXT brick has 256 Kbytes of memory, and approximately 125 Kbytes are used for firmware and thus not available for programming.

A number of programs and files have been preinstalled on the NXT brick, which take up about half of the available memory space.

Teams can maximize memory space by:

• Downloading the newest firmware from inside the NXT software
• Deleting unused programs
• Deleting unused sound and graphic files
• Deleting preinstalled files and programs
• Create subroutines to reduce the number of programming blocks needed

Please read the MINDSTORMS Education NXT Users Guide (included on a separate CD with the LEGO MINDSTORMS Education NXT software) for a detailed description of how to manage NXT memory and firmware downloads. This information can also be found when activating the Help function from inside the NXT Software.

LEGO is producing documentation that describes how to create efficient NXT programming in order to assist teams. In addition, LEGO is developing a number of new, additional programming blocks that will be more memory efficient.

The expected release date for the documentation is mid to late September and the programming blocks should be available early to mid October. Additional improvements to the NXT platform are continuing and LEGO is planning to release an upgrade patch in 2007 that will further improve the compression of NXT programs.

Teams can access documentation and new programming blocks through the FLL International Web Site once they are ready and will receive an email blast once these links are active.

Answers to NXT memory questions can be found in the MINDSTORMS Education NXT User Guide and the HELP function. For LEGO MINDSTORMS Software (NXT, Robolab and RIS) support in North America only, contact LEGO Education Customer Service – 866-349-5346.