In-Program NXT to NXT Bluetooth connection

[Matt.H]

What I would like to do is create two programs, one for a master NXT and the other for a slave NXT, which pairs  and unpairs two previously unpaired NXTs via Bluetooth.  Does anyone know of a brick which does this or does anyone have some suggestions for creating my own brick?

The reason for this is that I would like to have the NXTs alternate between pairing with each other and pairing with a computer which will analyze data and give instructions.  The type of data analysis would involve a webcam used to determine the position of the robots and the relay that information to the NXTs.  The NXTs would need to be paired with each other in order to communicate while not receiving instructions from the computer.  I have tried having them both paired to the computer as slaves and having the computer relay information between the two, but the data transfer is too slow in this method for my purposes.

Any suggestions?

[JamesB.]

I'm pretty sure you mean "connected," not "paired."  An NXT (or any Bluetooth device) can be paired with several other devices at the same time -- it simply maintains a list of every other device it is paired with.  But it can only be connected to a small number of devices (sometimes only one).

So, what you're asking for is programmatic control of the Bluetooth connection during a running program.  I'm pretty sure the factory firmware (still) doesn't support that, but I think the Robot C firmware might.

[Matt.H]

Yes, I do mean connected, not paired.  Do you know of a good resource for the commands in RobotC which control the BT capabilities? I've tried BT programming in RobotC but the commands are nowhere to be found in the software's help guide. If you could suggest an online resource for that it would be very helpful.

[JamesB.]

I don't have much experience with Robot C, so I don't know off the top of my head of any helpful online resources.

However, I do know that the primary developer, Dick Swan, often visits the forums at nxtasy.org.  Perhaps if you post there, he'll notice and be able to answer your question.

http://forums.nxtasy.org/