LEGO Group Unveils LEGO® MINDSTORMS™ NXT Robotics Toolset at Consumer Electronics Show LAS VEGAS (January 4, 2006) – LEGO Group today announces LEGO® MINDSTORMS™ NXT, a new system that redefines the consumer robotics category the company created in 1998.
Smarter, stronger and more intuitive than ever, LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT is a robotics toolset that provides endless opportunities for armchair inventors, robotics fanatics and LEGO builders ages 10 and older to build and program robots that do what they want. LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT, available in August 2006, was shown for the first time to media who attended tonight’s Digital Experience™, and will be demonstrated in the Robotics TechZone (Sands Expo #70127-C) Thursday, January 5 through Sunday, January 8 during the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show.
Building upon the success of the globally-renowned Robotics Invention System, the next generation of LEGO MINDSTORMS makes it quicker and easier for robot creators to build and program a working robot in just 30 minutes. Simultaneously, new technologies and expanded sensor capabilities add a level of sophistication to excite and challenge more experienced robot creators.
The heart of the new system is the NXT brick, an autonomous 32-bit LEGO microprocessor that can be programmed using a PC, or for the first time in the retail offering, a Mac. After building their robots, users create a program within easy-to-use yet feature-rich software, powered by LabVIEW from National Instruments.
Downloading programs to an invention is easy. Users with Bluetooth®-enabled computer hardware can transfer their programs to the NXT wirelessly, or anyone can use the included USB 2.0 cable to connect their computer to the NXT for program transfer. The robot then takes on a life of its own, fully autonomous from the computer.
The inclusion of Bluetooth technology also extends possibilities for controlling robots remotely, for example, from a mobile phone or PDA. “When LEGO MINDSTORMS launched, we fundamentally changed the way people viewed
LEGO building and play and helped spark the trend of affordable and attainable consumer robotics,” says Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, CEO, LEGO Group. “Eight years later, we’re ready to improve upon the single best-selling product in the company’s history. We’ve developed the new toolset with expanded components and capabilities to challenge our existing community of dynamic fans. Meanwhile, the system’s new software, design and 30-minute quick-start program are geared toward recruiting a new, younger generation of robotics enthusiasts.”
LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT highlights include:
All-new NXT intelligent brick
3 interactive servo motors feature inbuilt rotation sensors to align speed for precise
control
SENSOR ADVANCES
New ultrasonic sensor makes robots “see” by responding to movement
New sound sensor enables robots to react to sound commands, including sound
pattern and tone recognition
Improved light sensor detects different colors and light intensity
Improved touch sensor reacts to touch or release and allows robots to feel
STRUCTURAL HARDWARE ADVANCES
519 hand-selected, stylized elements from the LEGO TECHNIC® building system ensure robot creations will be sturdy and durable while also looking authentic
PROGRAMMING ADVANCES
Opportunities for physical programming of robots and interaction with robots during programming
18 building challenges with clear, step-by-step instructions help acclimate users to the new system to create robots ranging from humanoids and machinery to animals and vehicles
Digital wire interface allows for third-party developments
Information, inspiration, news, community programs and more at www.mindstorms.com
LEGO® MINDSTORMS™ NXT Key Product Features
Smarter, stronger and more intuitive than ever, LEGO® MINDSTORMS™ NXT is a robotics toolset that provides endless opportunities for robotics enthusiasts and LEGO builders ages 10 and older to build and program robots that do what they want. A new “Quick Start” option makes it easy to successfully build and program a robot in 30 minutes.
All-New NXT Intelligent Brick
The “brain” of the robot features a powerful 32-bit microprocessor
4 input ports / 3 output ports and 7 6-wire cords
Matrix display, real sound speaker that can articulate words and notes
USB 2.0 and Bluetooth®
3 Interactive Servo Motors
Built-in rotation sensor in servo motors measures one degree steps for precise movement
New Ultrasonic Sensor: the “eyes” of the robot measure distance, movements and detects
objects
New Sound Sensor: the “ears” of the robot allow creations to react to sound commands
and patterns, as well as recognize tones
Improved Touch Sensor: the “fingers” of the robots react to touch or release
Improved Light Sensor: detects different colors and light intensity
ALL-NEW PROGRAMMING SOFTWARE
Easy-to-use PC and Mac compatible software interface, powered by LabVIEW from National Instruments.
Intuitive, icon-based drag and drop environment for “building” programs
18 robot challenges with step-by-step building instructions to acclimate beginners to the
process of building and programming robots and inspire experienced users.
LEGO Elements
Streamlined, highly versatile collection of 519 LEGO TECHNIC® elements for easy, more
stable building with improved functionality and movement capabilities.
LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT will be available at most toy and discount merchandise retailers,
select consumer electronics retailers or online at www.LEGOshop.com in August 2006, at a
suggested retail price of $249.99 (USD) and $ 379.99 (CAD). A special version for school and institutional use is also releasing later this year.
LEGO® MINDSTORMS™ Issues Call for “NXT” Great Developers
-100 People Invited to Pioneer Development of Next Generation of LEGO Robotics- -MIT Media Lab’s Mitch Resnick to Chair Selection Panel for Participants- LAS VEGAS (January 4, 2006) – The LEGO Group’s robotics development team today
announced a call for entries to secure one of 100 seats on the newly expanded LEGO®
MINDSTORMS™ Users Panel (MUP), an exclusive group of MINDSTORMS enthusiasts who have helped guide the NXT product development process. Beginning today through
February 5th, 2006, individuals can apply to be part of the developer team by filling out a
simple form at www.mindstorms.com, and if selected, will have four months to experiment with the product prior to its availability to the public. The recruited developers will be chaired by Mitch Resnick of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab, a pioneer of the original LEGO MINDSTORMS platform and consultant on the development of the next generation product.
Participants will have an opportunity to work within one of four areas: testing, development and hacking of either software or hardware, creation of unique and innovative robots or development of community programs and activities.
Developers will be encouraged to let their imaginations run wild, building robots that communicate with each other or remote devices through Bluetooth® communications, creating training modules for the FIRST LEGO League program, writing a book or articles, developing an NXT technology website or blog, or helping leverage the tool set for educational purposes.
“We are delighted to open up the development of MINDSTORMS NXT to the passionate fans and enthusiasts who can truly bring the product to the next level,” said Søren Lund, director of LEGO MINDSTORMS. “Because we are in the business of making a robotics toolset, not robots per se, we feel that inviting pioneers from the community will broadly enhance the new product and experience for all MINDSTORMS users in ways that will exceed expectations at both building and programming levels.” The Developer Program runs from February 15, 2006 to June 15, 2006. Individuals selected to participate in the program will have an opportunity to purchase a final production unit of MINDSTORMS NXT at a reduced price of $149.99 (USD) five months prior to its public availability (shipping and batteries will be included free of charge).
The CD-ROM shipping with the unit is a beta candidate of the NXT software and packaging will not be final. All active participants will receive the final CD-ROM and a special Power Pack of elements, selected by the participants during development, at the program’s conclusion. Participants also will have opportunities to share their experiences with the community and MINDSTORMS fans at large.
ABOUT LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT
LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT is a robotics toolset that provides endless opportunities for
armchair inventors, robotics fanatics and LEGO builders ages 10 and older to build and
program robots that do what they want. Building upon the success of the globally renowned Robotics Invention System, the next generation of LEGO robotics is smarter,
stronger and more intuitive than ever, leveraging new technologies and expanded sensor capabilities to add a level of sophistication to excite and challenge more experienced robot creators.
LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT includes 519 LEGO TECHNIC pieces, the NXT intelligent brick, touch, light, ultrasonic and sound sensors, 3 servo motors, Bluetooth, USB 2.0 cable and PC/MAC compatible programming software powered by LabVIEW from National Instruments.
LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT will be available at most toy and discount merchandise retailers, select consumer electronics retailers or online at www.LEGOshop.com in August 2006 and will have a suggested retail price of $249.99 (USD) and $ 379.99 (CAD). A special version for school and institutional use is also releasing later this year.
Want to Know What’s NXT? Find the Latest News on Global Robotics
- Writer and robotics enthusiast Jeff James to author new robotics blog -
LAS VEGAS (January 4, 2006) – Beginning today, LEGO® MINDSTORMS™ fans and
robotics enthusiasts alike can keep up to date on the latest news from the ever-changing
field of robotics at www.nxtbot.com. Hosted by writer and robotics enthusiast, Jeff James, nxtbot will serve as an online community where like-minded individuals can share commentary and observations about this exciting and emerging field. In addition to regular postings about his online discoveries, James will also write monthly features and interviews.
The consumer robotics category was essentially created with the 1998 launch of LEGO MINDSTORMS, and today is one of the fastest growing product and trend categories in today’s market, with both child and adult fans. “With my background in gaming, robotics and community development, I’m looking forward to providing this ever-growing fan base with access to robotics information in one place,” said James. “I’m eager to help foster a community where we can all spark lively dialogue that examines the role personal robotics will have for us, both at home and at play, in the
22nd century.”
Jeff James has been an editor, columnist and freelance writer for a variety of computer gaming and technology publications since 1990. His extensive history with the LEGO Company includes helping to launch the first LEGO video games into the U.S. market in 1998 and producing the first BIONICLE® game for the Game Boy Advance in 2001. He also contributed to the development of the Junior FIRST LEGO League (JFLL) pilot program, and has been an active event organizer, judge and volunteer for FIRST LEGO League (FLL) robotics events. Prior to leaving the LEGO Group in July 2005, James served as Editorial Director for LEGO Magazine, distributed to more than 1.5 million registered LEGO Club children in five countries.
Distribution
LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT will be available at most toy and discount merchandise retailers, select consumer electronics retailers or online at www.LEGOshop.com in August 2006 and will have a suggested retail price of $249.99 (USD) and $ 379.99 (CAD). A special version for school and institutional use is also releasing later this year.
In related news, LEGO Group also announced the launch of www.nxtbot.com, a blog written by writer, gamer and robotics enthusiast Jeff James, focused on the growing and fascinating world of consumer robotics. The company also announced details for a
Developer Program. Information can be found at www.mindstorms.com
LEGO MINDSTORMS History
The LEGO Group, a privately-held, family-owned company based in Billund, Denmark, is one of the world's leading manufacturers of play materials for children. The company is committed to the development of children's creative and imaginative abilities, and its employees are guided by the motto adopted in the 1930s by founder Ole Kirk Christiansen: "Only the best is good enough."
Since its introduction in 1998, the LEGO® MINDSTORMS™ build and program robotics
toolset has become the best-selling product in the LEGO Group’s history. Garnering
worldwide acclaim, the Robotics Invention System™ has fueled the imaginations and
satisfied the inner tinkerer of generations of LEGO and robotics enthusiasts alike.
1980: LEGO Educational Products Department established.
1986: The first-computer controlled LEGO products are released.
1988: Collaboration between the LEGO Group and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) begins on development of an “intelligent brick” that will bring LEGO creations to life via computer programming.
1989: Dr. Seymour Papert, of Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Development
Laboratory of Computer Learning becomes “LEGO Professor of Learning Research.”
January to February 1998: LEGO MINDSTORMS and the Robotics Invention System are unveiled to the public at Toy Fairs in Nürnberg, London and New York.
July 1998: RoboTour™ ’98 launches from the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, kicking-off a two-month, 30-city odyssey across America in search of learning about and seeing everything robotic.
September 1998: The Robotics Invention System is launched simultaneously in the United States and the United Kingdom. Two expansion sets – RoboSports and Extreme Creatures – also are available.
December 1, 1998: Robotics Invention System 1.0 sells out before the Christmas rush.
February 1999: The Robotics Discovery Set™, a derivative of the Robotics Invention System allowing users to program right on the smart brick instead of through the computer, and the Droid Developer Kit™, a pre-programmed, remote controlled constructible robot kit, are unveiled at the International Toy Fair in New York.
September 1999: The Robotics Discovery Set, Ultimate Accessory Set, Droid Developer Kit and the Robotics Invention System 1.5 are released in the United States. The Droid Developer Kit and the Robotics Invention System 1.5 are released in Europe and Asia, and The Robotics Discovery Set and the Robotics Invention System 1.5 are launched in the United Kingdom.
September 1999: RoboTour ‘99™ Europe launches.
February 2000: The Robotics Invention System 2.0, Dark Side Developer Kit™ (a preprogrammed, remote controlled constructible robot), Vision Command System™ (a PC camera expansion kit for the RIS) and Exploration Mars™ (themed robot challenges, building instructions and games for the RIS) expansion set are unveiled at the International Toy Fair in New York.
September 2000: The Robotics Invention System 2.0, Dark Side Developer Kit and Vision Command System are released in the United States.
February 2001: SpyBotics, a spy gaming-oriented series of remote controlled and
programmable robots, are unveiled at the International Toy Fair in New York.
