The Programming and Alternative Learning Group is a collection of undergraduate students at the University of Maine studying robotics programming languages. The primary objects of scrutiny are programmable bricks, microprocessors capable of receiving sensor data and powering motors accordingly. The main concern is not the bricks themselves, but rather the wide array of languages that may be used to program them. These languages range from commercial products to those created by independent enthusiasts. The languages are also vastly diverse in their difficulty and functionality.
The LEGO Group has recently released a product line named Mindstorms that we shall be utilizing in this project. The focus of the LEGO Mindstorm product is on providing children with the tools necessary to create their own robotic inventions. The focus of the Programming and Alternative Learning Group is the analysis of the languages which may be used to bring the robots to life.
This venture has many different facets: