| obbyists, come aboard. Lego has come up with the | | | | The addition of sensors to the Lego Mindstorm NXT |
| next generation Lego Mindstorm, NXT. The real easy | | | | give user's creations a whole new level of awareness. |
| way of forming, programming, and manipulating your | | | | Ultrasonic sensors allow robots to "see", sound |
| very own robotic Lego creation. Don’t be | | | | sensors enable robots to react to sound commands |
| intimidated. You need not be a true blue robotics | | | | including sound pattern and tone recognition. Improved |
| expert to enjoy the Lego Mindstorm NXT. Amateurs | | | | light and touch sensors allow your robot to see colors |
| and professionals, kids and adults alike would definitely | | | | and feel or touch objects. |
| enjoy the collection spontaneously. | | | | When it comes to programming, this will be the fun |
| The same concept in Lego building is followed. You | | | | part. Programming gurus would definitely have a kick |
| need to have the usual Lego building blocks that come | | | | out of it. Novices will find it simple and easy. |
| with the kit. The kit includes about 519 parts that you | | | | There’s a series of commands that you can |
| piece together. You can either follow the instructions | | | | select, drag and drop into your set of commands. Click |
| on the guide that comes with it or add your creativity | | | | a button and watch your creation perform the task. |
| and construct your own robot creation The Lego | | | | You can select a series of preset commands in there. |
| Mindstorm NXT guide contains easy to follow guides | | | | This means that no programming knowledge is |
| and pictures. You can deviate from the design as you | | | | required whatsoever. Codes are already in there, |
| wish. Since it’s easy to follow, kids will find it | | | | ready for you to select and activate. Good for |
| simple and enjoyable to do. Big kids would look | | | | newbies. The robot can go different directions, |
| forward to the programming part of the Lego | | | | reverse, or roll over. There’s also an option to |
| Mindstorm. | | | | create your own chain of program codes which |
| The Lego Mindstorm’s robotic ability to execute | | | | professionals will find appealing. The robot can do plain |
| commands is because of the NXT main data | | | | or complicated tasks depending on the user. |
| controller named the "intelligent brick". There it contains | | | | This program will then be beamed from the computer |
| the firmware, the memory and the program needed | | | | via Bluetooth or the included USB 2.0 cable to your |
| for it to work. This is the big yellow Lego brick that | | | | Lego Mindstorm NXT robot. Then just sit back and |
| you’d construct the robot on. You’ll build | | | | watch your Lego Mindstorm NXT robot execute your |
| around this piece. The heart of the new system is the | | | | commands. The Lego Mindstorm is simply not just a |
| NXT brick, an autonomous 32-bit LEGO | | | | toy. It is actually used by universities teaching robotics. |
| microprocessor that can be programmed using a PC, | | | | The simple robotic logic and design will be good for |
| or for the first time in the retail offering, a Mac. After | | | | students to understand the basics of robotics. Lego |
| building their robots, users create a program within | | | | Mindstorm NXT will enhance your creativity, skills, and |
| easy-to-use yet feature-rich software, powered by | | | | technical background. Highly recommended to |
| LabVIEW from National Instruments. | | | | hobbyists out there. |