turtle coding kit (Re: How would we (the rest of us) communicate ideas to the MDP?)

In lugnet.robotics, Steve Hassenplug wrote:
> In lugnet.robotics, Mike Walters wrote:
>> But, that doesn't mean that I wouldn't like to at least share my ideas.  I
>> imagine that everybody who is on the MDP will have plenty of their own ideas,
>> but if we (the rest of us) had a place to just post suggestions and ideas, isn't
>> it possible that it could lead to something good?
>>
>> I wonder if anybody knows.  Do you think we'll just do it through lugnet or
>> through a blog somehow?
>
>
> Mike,
>
> You must already know over the last year, all of us have brought ideas from
> LUGNET, and other sources into our MUP discussions.
>
> LEGO is smart enough to know they don't have all the answers, so they invited us
> inside.  We (MUPs) are smart enough to know we can't speak for everyone, so we
> look at places where people are talking.
>
> I suspect there's a good chance you can post your ideas almost anywhere, and
> someone will see them.  I prefer LUGNET.
>
>
> So, what sort of ideas are you talking about?  Something you want to build?
> Something to write?  A contest?  Personally, I'd love to hear about them all.
>
>
> Just to give you a glimmer of hope, I believe the first people invited to
> participate need to respond by today or tomorrow.  You have to think at least
> one of the 100 are on vacation, and your name is 101 on the list...
>
> Steve

I'll chime in here (I lurk way too much):

Given the choice, I'd like to see included in NXT
a software module for coding dead-reckoning
navigation for turtle-type robots, kind of like
here:

  http://www.seattlerobotics.org/encoder/200108/using_a_pid.html

But since the NXT motors have built-in encoders,
the code would be much simpler.  In fact, the inputs
to the routines would be just the diameter of the
wheels and their separation.

With such a code module included in NXT, this
would put just about all FLL teams using it
on even footing for navigation.  (Credit Evan
Ryker, a member of my recent FLL team, for the
sending me this excellent link.  Apologies if
it's been seen before here.)

I'd be willing to develop this myself, but I
consider myself an unlikely MDP member at this
point.

-Tim