The better, stronger, faster, 15th-anniversary edition robotics kit
By Corinne Iozzio Posted 01.07.2013 at 11:00 pm 5 Comments

Lego Mindstorms EV3 Lego

Fifteen CESes ago, Lego unveiled the Robotics Invention Kit, the system that would become Mindstorms. Since then, DIyers have machined 'bots to do everything from flush the toilet to solve a Rubik's cube -- faster than a human being, no less. Today, the Danish company announced a near-gut refresh of the line, the Mindstorms EV3. The 594-piece kit will be the first Mindstorms system with app support, as well as a sensor suite that allows creations to navigate and react autonomously.

Central to the EV3 puzzle is the central Intelligent Brick. The new model runs on a Linux OS and an ARM9 processor, both of which make the Brick faster and more-easily-hackable than its predecessors. Processor aside, the biggest change on the Brick is the addition of a Bluetooth radio, which allows builders to control their robots via an Android or iOS app.

EV3 robots will also be more "sensitive" than they've been before. The robot's eyes are actually infrared sensors, which can signal the system to attack, flee, dance -- whathaveyou -- when something crosses its path. A snake model, for instance, will dive at prey when it sees it. The scorpion [shown] similarly devours its prey.

And react it will! Lego has also spent some time speeding up the EV3's motors, of which it has three. Two main motors feature dual-sided output drives, so they can move twice the appendages at once. While the third, smaller motor spins more quickly for tasks like firing ammo or flicking fingers.

The EV3 will go on sale this summer for $350.

5 Comments

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Robot
01/08/13 at 8:57 am

Until a robot possesses the ability of self-awareness and self-preservation with a desire to grow intelligently and multiply itself, almost all robots in fact are just examples of computerized electro mechanical automated machines.

Though, I do love to see the growth towards robots and look forward to the singularity of where man and machine become one.

At the end, this will make man obsolete.

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Robot
01/08/13 at 9:11 am

│＼＿╭╭╭╭╭＿／│ 　
　│　　　　　　　　　│＼｜／ 　
　│　●　　　　　●　│—☆— 　
　│○　╰┬┬┬╯　○│／｜＼ 　
　│　　　╰—╯　　　／ 　
　╰—┬○————┬○╯ 　
　　╭│　　　　　│╮ 　
　　╰┴—————┴╯

I have come to the conclusion that the person who creates this login and post these spams in PoPSCi is (APROVED BY PoPSCi), since they repeat so often and their past post are not deleted.

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Giacinto
01/08/13 at 12:14 pm

While I am still enjoying its amazing predecessors, namely the RCX and the NXT, I can't wait to get my hands on the EV3. As a Lego robotics coach, I hope that the EV3 can interface with the Arduino boards. Also, it would be nice if the symbolic language used for the EV3 could get automatically translated into some version of 'C', along the lines of ArduBlock. This will allow kids of all ages to learn construction skills, programming and science while having fun.
Cheers!

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dkella
01/08/13 at 12:31 pm

Kids in kindergarten are beginning to use these in school. I know a program where the whole elementary school works with them, learning the basics of programming. Nice work lego.

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technic6490
01/23/13 at 12:03 am

Both my NXT bricks already have bluetooth, that isn't new and the existing motors with the nxt have dual sided outputs, you can put an axle through it or attach parts to each side

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