Lego Mindstorms NXT is an intelligent, computer-controlled LEGO brick that lets a MINDSTORMS robot come alive and perform different operations. It takes input from four sensors- touch, sound, light and untrasonic- and contains ports for attaching upto three motors. NXT features a loudspeaker to listen to sounds from the robot and allows USB and Bluetooth connectivity to transfer programs or send commands wirelessly to and from any compatible device.

Below are three mobile applications for Nokia S60, Sony Ericsson and Windows Mobile devices that let you control a LEGO NXT Robot in different ways:

+ NXT-Symbian is a program aimed at Java J2ME based Nokia S60 mobile devices that lets you control NXT via Bluetooth. However, latest version of the program introduces a new Python script to read sensor values from the inbuilt S60 accelerometer of S60 mobile devices such as Nokia 5500, N93i, N95 or N82 and convert it to commands that are sent to LEGO NXT through Bluetooth.

Click here to download the NXT-Symbian program files while the Python script can be downloaded here.

The program files consist of a remotec.rbt file that needs to be customized and sent to your NXT robot and a JAR file that needs to be installed on your mobile device. You can then use the included PY script from your cellphone using the latest version of Python and start controlling the NXT Bot using motion detection and gestures.

+ LEGO itself provides an unofficial Java J2ME based NXT Mobile Application that lets you control your own custom programs or have your NXT take pictures using your mobile phone. It offers two different ways to control your NXT Robot– Remote Control or Program Control. In Remote Control you just have to move the joystick/command wheel to get your NXT going. In Program Control you move the joystick/command wheel to select the right program, then press the numbers and send messages to that program on your NXT.Click here to download NXT Mobile for Nokia & Sony Ericsson from LEGO.

+ OnBrick is another Bluetooth based twenty button programmable NXT remote controller for Windows XP and Windows Mobile Pocket PC devices. Each remote control button can execute a user defined program and there are 36 actions that can be customized including calibrated moves, waiting for sensor events, simple sounds, individual motor control & power settings, loops, etc.

Click here to download the Windows Mobile version while the Windows XP version can be downloaded here.