LEGO Mindstorms: Robot Building Made Simple

LEGO Mindstorms EV3 will hit the shelves next month. For around $350, hobbyists will have the chance to build a fully functioning robot.

Four years ago, LEGO released the Mindstorms NXT 2.0. The newest version has been promoted as smarter, faster, and easier to use.

As reported by PC Mag, the EV3 kit includes everything needed to create several robot projects. The brain of the robot is the LEGO Mindstorms EV3 Intelligent Brick.

With the upgraded brick, Bluetooth control is now included. Users can control their robots with a mobile device. The 3D Builder app includes preset control panels for five different robots.

Along with the brick, the kit includes 550 LEGO blocks, three motors, a remote control, a color sensor, an infrared sensor, and a touch sensor.

The kits include instructions for building five different robots including the TRACK3R demo, and the more advance R3PTAR walking robot.

The robotic parts can be purchased separately. However, they are not cheap. The Intelligent Brick alone costs $150.

The LEGO Mindstorms EV3 kit is compatible with all previously sold LEGO Technic sets.

Product tester Will Greenwald was impressed with how simple it was to build a robot using the kit:

“… the instructions were simple, direct, and demonstrated just a few of the very clever mechanical and programming things you can do with the set.”

The sets are quite pricy. However, a lot of work went into LEGO Mindstorms development. Despite being labeled as toys, the robots are powerful and complex.

As reported by Journal Gazette, the Intelligent Brick uses a Linux operating system. The open source software will open up even more possibilities for creative hackers.

The debut of LEGO Mindstorms EV3 is anticipated by children and adults worldwide. The kits provide hours of fun, inspire creative thinking, and offer endless possibilities.

[image via Flickr]