Gizmodo Gifts
We're no stranger to Lego Mindstorms NXT around these parts, and it should be included in every gift guide for the next decade (unless of course a next generation Mindstorms Nanobot set comes out). Mindstorms NXT takes traditional Legos and brings it to life with the NXT, a Bluetooth- compatible, computer-controlled and programmable brain. You can build completely customized robots and devices capable of accomplishing tasks and doing other things automatically. The NXT can link up with touch, sound, light and ultrasonic sensors as well as servo motors. If you're still confused about the NXT, check out all of our past coverage of Mindstorms NXT projects here and here.
The starter kit includes the NXT processor, 4 servo motors, 577 Lego Technic blocks for creation and the NXT's computer software. The kit currently sells for $250 and is great for kids and adults. It can teach the kids about robotics and creativity, and it can just be a fun project for adults. [Buy][Product Page]
sweet. I have the original Lego Mindstorms, but it's so old it doesn't even work on XP, let alone OS X. (Needs a serial port anyway for the IR transmitter.)
Still fun to play with though. Ah robots... good times.
We used these in our engineering classes, the things they can do are mind blowing o_O
I just built a really neat knitting robot thats controled (with VNC) with an iphone!
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I'm in University, taking Engineering, and we have to build "space elevators" using Lego Mindstorm. it's pretty kickass
i remember back in the day when legos were more basic shapes instead of all these prebuilt complicated parts. i think maybe i would be interesting in these robot kits if i was a kid but it seems a waste of effort to learn to program robots in a style that is not very transferable to real robot programming.
@illustriouschin: National Instruments LabView can be used to program Lego NXT. LabView skills are prized in embedded engineering circles, so I'd say this is indeed "transferable to real robot programming".
I don't like the direction that Lego is going in. I have the old Mindstorms, and they kick ass. But these new ones are so badly designed and are incompatible with other pieces colorwise. Why the hell are those motors so damn big? And the new cables suck! Lego, what are you doing to yourself? Augh!
Great stuff to be use, but I agree the programming shouldn't be a dead end.
You guys are nuts! sure... "out of the box" the programming experience isnt so great. but the brick is open source, and therefore there are a plethora of programming languages available to use.
Remember... its NOT a childs toy, its a full embedded computer. and it can be programmed IDENTICAL to an actual robot. the timings are amazing. it has built in support for threads etc etc.
As to the pieces clashing with other legos... I dont think you understand how technics legos work. they are epecting torque to be applied to every single piece. in fact, the kit comes with no "lego" legos. they are all what you may know as "technics" legos.
Look at the code sample and machine from my blog post above and youll see the tip of how deep the code can get.
The motors are also larger because they're not your average DC motor, they're stepper motors that can actually count steps and sense it's exact degree while spinning!! The cables are much easier to replace, make and are a lot tougher!!
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