Mindstorms NXT 3.0 is bound to be released soon to further develop the market and attraction to Lego robotics. Knowing Lego, the Mindstorms NXT Robotics 2.0 will be heavily improved upon, and the Mindstorms 3.0 is thus taking longer than expected to come out. To find out potential improvements of the new robotics development system from Lego, please read the previous post on the 3.0 release date.

Lego Mindstorms NXT 2.0

The NXT 2.0 kit from Lego is quite amazing. Click here to see everything that is in it. You can build some seriously intelligent robots using the vast array of specialty building blocks included in the kit in combination with the Lego Intelligent Brick. The Intelligent Brick serves as the brain of any NXT robot you build, and you can see from the examples below how competent some of these creations can be.

Lego Robotics Examples

Let’s first get into some of the things people have already made with the Lego Mindstorms NXT 2.0 kit before we discuss what all is included and what you could be doing with it yourself! If you are not already interested (which I’m sure you are), you will certainly have gained new passion for building robotics systems with Lego after you see what others have already accomplished.

Click here for tutorials on electronics and robotics engineering.

Mindstorms NXT 2.0 Rubik’s Cube Solving Robot – Impressive Lego Robot!

Yep, you guessed it! This robot can actually solve a Rubik’s cube in full-autonomous mode. What does autonomous mean? It means that after a human being has build it and flipped the “ON” switch, the robot completes tasks completely on its own without any human control. Only the program uploaded to the Intelligent Brick, coded by the programmer, is what is controlling the robot. It is full computer control. This video is nearly 10 minutes long and slow going, but fast-forward to get an idea of what’s going on. This Lego robot is truly impressive!

Lego Mindstorms – Robotics Controlled With Your iPhone

There is now the possibility for you to interact with Lego Mindstorms through you iPhone using a Safari Web App! This means you can sync the Intelligent Brick with your iPhone using one of the optical sensors, and then you can drive your Lego robotics using a simple and user-friendly interface. Watch this iPhone controlled robot in action.

Lego NXT 2.0 Sudoku Solving Robot

This is another incredible Mindstorms NXT 2.0 robot that exemplifies the limitless potential that can come from these development kits. Here, you will see a Sudoku puzzle being solved right before you eyes by another Lego robot, and it is done 100% without any human control. A great advantage to Lego Mindstorms is that there are so many different programming API’s available that you can really work with whatever language you are comfortable with. NXT-G is a graphical programming language that allows novice users to jump right in and get their hands dirty. More advanced applications like the one in the video below require more complex and more powerful programming languages like: NXTGCC, ROBOTC, Robotics.NXT, C# and many others (see Wiki info). RobotC is the more preferred programming language for NXT programs that need to conduct more complex tasks. NXT Programs written with RobotC resemble that of C++, but it is more oriented towards the Lego NXT interface and more simple to comprehend. Don’t forget your FREE instructions kit that includes how to build your own! (See top-right sidebar for details)

What is included in the Mindstorms NXT 2.0 Kit From Lego?

Click here to see what you get in the box. Rather than listing it all here, Amazon.com will do a better job and they are the most trusted online retailer. They also offer 2-day free shipping with your Amazon Prime account. Most likely, Amazon.com will have the best price for the Lego Mindstorms NXT 2.0 kit, and you can compare prices and shop for parts at our Lego Robotics Shop.

Share your own Creations with NXT Log!

If you are an experienced Lego Mindstorms robot builder and you want to be recognized for you work or share your experience with others, you can upload it to the Lego website! Check out the NXT Log to share your own creations or see more Lego robotics.

Click here to learn how to build your own Intelligent Brick. Within the heart and brain of robotics lies the circuity that makes them move autonomously. 

Many enthusiasts are anxiously waiting for the new robotics invention system from Lego. It is expected to provide new technology that will dramatically increase the already immense amount of capabilities the Mindstorms NXT 2.0 system has to offer. NXT 2.0′s advancements and additions include the new and improved microcontroller (the intelligent brick) which features a 32-bit ARM7 microprocessor and a larger LCD display. Bluetooth wireless technology was also added to allow communication and intelligent interaction between NXT robots. If you wanted to make a super-robot, you can even connect three of the Lego intelligent bricks together for an incredible amount of processing power, multi-talking speed, and a vast array of I/O ports. Get the latest release from Lego Robotics, click here!

Has Lego Announced a Release Date?

Since Lego’s release of the Lego Mindstorms Robotics Invention System, the highly evolved Mindstorms NXT platform quickly followed in 2006. The 2.0 version came three years later in 2009, and it can be assumed that NXT Robotics 3.0 will be announced this year (2012) or early next year.

Lego is now competing for the attention of serious robotics enthusiasts with other products like VEX Robotics, Arduino, and other programmable automation education platforms. The release date of Lego’s new Mindstorms system should be soon, however, with the need to oust competition and penetrate further into the academic market, the vast amount of improvements that should blow past our expectations will require a significant amount of time investment. There are a few presumptions of what we might expect to see in the new Lego Mindstorms NXT 3.0.

Expectations of the NXT Robots 3.0 Automation Development System

The capabilities of wireless communication are expanding with today’s rapidly growing field of science and engineering, and many DIY robot building kits already include 802.11g or n WiFi communications protocols. This technology allows for complex interactions between autonomous robots and modular or network-based robotics. WiFi compatibility in Lego Mindstorms NXT Robots would also eliminate the need for the serial or USB cable now needed for programming the intelligent brick (or microcontroller). New code could instantly be downloaded to the robot without any need for tethering the bot to a computer.

Although already an essential part of the current version, a vast array of improved sensors and actuators will surely be a part of the new Mindstorms kits allowing for more intricate and customized creations. Sensors for light, color, sound, sonar, touch, rotary position, angular velocity, temperature, etc. should be revolutionized to make for more organic combinations and highly advanced tasks. Motors, solenoids, linear actuators, and other powered components will most likely be more powerful and more efficient, and a better battery life in general is something we can all certainly hope for.

The ARM7 based microcontroller is already an extremely powerful processing platform, and its 32-bit capability is not expected to be improved anytime soon. Thus, the necessity for completely replacing an existing NXT 2.0 kit (or the intelligent brick) may not be a necessity, and the NXT 3.0 kit will be geared more towards new developers. Add-on kits for the 2.0 version will allow veteran enthusiasts to utilize their existing system without the need to purchase an expensive replacement. To save money, you could also purchase NXT Robots now, and easily get new add-ons later so that your system will be very similar to the new release without added expenses. Click here and check out what awesome add-on kits exist right now.

Click here to teach yourself about the electronic circuits that makes all types of robotics function. This is only for those who want to learn the more advanced aspects of electronics engineering but caters very well to beginners.

There have always been many eager builders, engineers, techies, and creative minds from all walks of life. The great thing about today’s technology is that it has become so incredibly easy to conduct research and take action to actualize your passion to create and develop new and interesting things. For many, interesting things are things that move (especially on their own), and are completely customizable – limited only by one’s imagination.

Lego Mindstorms NXT Robots are the doorway to extremely fun, educative, and diverse projects! First of all, if you are still reading this you must have loved Lego has a kid… right? Maybe you still are a kid (or perhaps only at heart). Click here to find out how you can launch your limitless robotics hobby or career with Lego Mindstorms NXT Robots.

The Power of NXT Robots to Execute Your Dreams

The amazing thing about Lego Robotics is that it combines two amazing passions in one. You guessed it, robotics and Lego! Lego Mindstorms Robotics (NXT is Lego’s new and improved platform) allows anyone to create fully autonomous (or even remote control) machines using Lego blocks, pieces, motors, and the all-important microcontroller (the brain/main computer).

“This ain’t just child’s play anymore guys!”

The different kits available suit children and adults of all ages because ultimately you are the decider of the level of difficulty of your build. Lego has also provided an extensive wealth of tutorials, manuals, and information on how to get started or further develop your NXT Robots.

As you already know from working with Lego pieces, there are an unlimited number of combinations for extremely cool builds. Imagine if you could make them move; imagine you could make them move… by themselves! You can make your Lego creations come alive and do what you have pre-programmed them to do. These creations can consist of wheeled robots, a self-balancing ball robot, humanoid robots, animal robots, industrial machine replicas, battle-bot type robots… the list goes on! Lego Mindstorms NXT Robots is certainly one of the most exciting platforms Lego has ever released, and they’ve really outdone themselves in gearing it towards anyone ages twelve and up. This ain’t just child’s play anymore guys!

A New Era of Fun – Lego Makes a Comeback

When kid’s from the generations of the information age became less fixated with building blocks (like Lego, Lincoln Logs, etc.) and more concerned with video games and computers, Lego decided to revolutionize their entire product line. Lego has done an amazing job integrating a lot of their Lego pieces and kits into the Lego Mindstorms robotics kits, and they made sure that existing pieces (even many specialty pieces) would work with all of the robotics kits. Can you imagine how powerful the diversity of this motorized and computerized building-block platform really is? The possibilities are truly endless, and I’d recommend checking out some YouTube videos about what some people have already made; you’ll be impressed!

Henceforth, the amazingly diverse and infinite plethora of unique and extremely cool projects that can be built with NXT Robots is something not just recommended for children alone. Many high schools, and even engineering and technical universities and colleges, incorporate these Lego robotics kits into their curriculum to stimulate critical thinking and spark their student’s creative imaginations. There are even official, nationwide (US) and even worldwide, robotics competitions revolving around these intricate creations from Lego Mindstorms. Read enough and ready to get started? Click here.

NXT Robots information for the creative minds! The power to execute your dreams and fuel your imagination.