| View Larger Image | LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 (8547) | Toyby LEGO
| List Price: | $279.99 | | Price: | $271.97 | | You Save: | $8.02 (3%) | | | Available: | Usually ships in 24 hours |
| | Sales Rank: | 387th |
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FEATURES | - The intelligent NXT Lego brick features 32-bit microprocessor, a large matrix display, 4 input and 3 output ports, and Bluetooth and USB communication link; batteries not included
- Three interactive servo motors; four sensors (Ultrasonic Sensor, 2 Touch Sensors and the all-new Color Sensor)
- Color Sensor has triple functionality: Distinguishes colors and light settings, and functions as a lamp
- Easy-to-use software (PC and Mac) with icon-based drag-and-drop programming and 16 fun building and programming challenges; building instructions for 4 new amazing robots
- 612 pieces
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EDITORIAL REVIEWS |
Product Description
New! Upgraded and Stronger than ever! LEGO Mindstorms NXT is back and better than ever: new models, more customizable programming and all-new technologies! Mindstorms NXT 2.0 combines the versality of the LEGO building system with all-new technologies, an intelligent microcomputer brick and intuitive drag-and-drop programming software. The new 2.0 toolkit features everything you need to create your first robot in 30 minutes and then thousands of other robotics inventions that do what you want! The intelligent NXT LEGO brick features 32-bit microprocessor, a large matrix display, 4 input and 3 output ports, and Bluetooth and USB communication link |
Amazon.com Review
Take LEGO to the next level with MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0. Combining the versatility of the LEGO building system with a microcomputer brick and intuitive programming software, this building kit enables you to construct robots that see, speak, feel, and move. Designed for ages 10 and up, the 2.0 robotics tool set features everything you need to create and program your first robot in approximately one hour. After that, you can create an endless lineup of robots that do what you want--if you can dream it, you can build it. MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 Ages: 10 and up Pieces: 619 Requires: 6 "AA"/LR6 batteries (not included) What We Think Fun factor: Durability: Ease of assembly: Educational factor: Novelty factor: The Good: Brings LEGO to life. The Challenging: Booklet only includes instructions for one basic robot. In a Nutshell: Everything you need to build and program robots -- jump starts inventive play. With MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0, you can construct robots that see, speak, feel, and move. View larger. Use the included software to program your robot and watch it come to life. View larger. Build, Program, Go Creating a MINDSTORMS robot is challenging -- but not too difficult -- with an illustrated step-by-step booklet and software showing the way. The booklet gives you instructions for building a basic "Quick Start" robot only, which is an easy introduction to the MINDSTORMS experience. This robot took our two adult testers about 30 minutes to build and 30 minutes to program. After that, they spent a lot of time just playing with their creation and testing its abilities. Once you master the basics of MINDSTORMS, you'll need to use the included software to get instructions for more advanced creations. You can also use the MINDSTORMS web site to find instructions for many other robots, or you can create robots on your own. No matter what you choose to create, the principles are the same: just build the robot using the LEGO elements in the kit, and program it on your computer using the software. Then watch your robot come alive. NXT Technology Brings LEGO to Life MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 features the latest in robotic technology: an advanced programmable microcontroller, Interactive Servo Motors, smart sensors, icon-based drag-and-drop programming software, interactive challenges, and wireless Blue tooth and USB connections -- all the smart technologies you need to create your custom robot. First, the brain of the MINDSTORMS robot is NXT, an intelligent, computer-controlled LEGO brick that features a 32-bit microprocessor, a large matrix display, input and output ports, and a speaker. Second, three Interactive Servo Motors give you precise control over the robot and ensure that the robot moves with precision -- the built-in rotation sensor can measure one-degree steps. Third, there are four robotic sensors. The first is the Ultrasonic Sensor, one of two sensors that gives your robot vision. You can use it to make your robot avoid obstacles, sense and measure distance, and detect movement. And fourth of all, two Touch Sensors give your robot a sense of touch. They detect when they are being pressed or released, and you can use them to make your robot pick up things or act on command. For example, by pressing a Touch Sensor you can make your robot walk, talk, close a door, or turn off your TV. There's also a Color Sensor that functions three ways: it distinguishes colors -- black and white, as well as a range of bright and pastel colors -- it distinguishes light settings, and it can be used as a color lamp. And finally, the MINDSTORMS Software lets you program your robot. Use the software to create a program, and then download the program to the NXT by using the USB cable or the wireless Blue tooth connection. Mac- and PC-compatible drag-and-drop software gives you 16 building and programming challenges, from beginner to expert. Overall, this set scores an excellent rating for its clever design elements. Our testers enjoyed the way the set brought a new level of interaction to their LEGO experience, and appreciated how easy it was to create their first robot. They also loved the way this set encourages inventive play -- all the cool hardware that makes up the set can be used to build any robot you dream up. Finally, our testers liked how this set offers a great balance of learning and fun, and encourages interest in science, computers, and engineering. Microsoft Windows Requirements Windows XP Professional or Home Edition with Service Pack 2 or newer Intel Pentium processor or compatible, 800 MHz minimum (1.5 GHz or better recommended) Windows Vista Service Pack 1 or newer Intel Pentium processor or compatible, 1 GHz minimum (1.5 GHz or better recommended) CD-ROM drive Apple Macintosh Requirements Apple MacOS X v10.4 or v10.5 PowerPC G3, G4, G5 processor, 600 MHz minimum Intel processor (1.3 GHz or better recommended) DVD drive General System Requirements 512MB of RAM minimum 700MB of available hard-disk space XGA display (1024x768) 1 available USB port Compatible Blue tooth adapter (optional) What's in the Box NXT programmable LEGO Brick, Ultrasonic Sensor, Color Sensor, two Touch Sensors, three Interactive Servo Motors, USB cable, 7x6-wire cables, building instructions for four robots, user guide, software, test pad, and 619 LEGO pieces. |
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 19 reviews)
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From a middle and high school teacher by B. Lamore (Texas)  4 Stars
November 27, 2009
I've had 10 sets for a few months now. I've started a Robotics group with 6-8th graders. I'll explain my ratings.
The kids love the kits, so fun is up there.
The educational value is middle-of-the-road. If you already have NXT/Mindstorms programming experience then this kit has educational value. But if you are just starting out it is difficult and unnecessarily so. I have programming experience so I am OK with it, but 6th graders can get frustrated -- exactly what you don't want. The included s/w offers too few example robots and programs. For those examples that are there, the instructions are clear and the programs work. But students will not learn programming without additional instruction. So teachers beware: you will need to create a tutorial in your curriculum. There is a site for more robot instructions (NXTPrograms.com), but there's not much there yet for this new 2.0 version. There are also some tutorial videos available online (e.g., ortop.org) for the previous version.
Another complaint I have is the kit is not backward compatible. In other words, you can't make all the kits from the previous version (you can make a few). LEGO should come out with a compatibility upgrade kit so that all the robots and programs that were invented for the previous version don't just die out.
As far as durability goes, we have had one motor seize, but LEGO replaced that fairly quickly.
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It doesn't teach robotics. by Forest7  1 Stars
November 14, 2009
Contrary to some of the other reviews, I haven't found LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 to be a significant advancement over Robotics Invention System Version 1.5: Mindstorms Power of Robotics.
I taught a high school robotics class for two years using the Mindstorm 1.5 Version and the students found it challenging to their inventive capabilities. The forms and purposes the robots could take were almost unlimited. The students were learning robotics, or the function of robotic devices.
With the Mindstorm NXT release students went from learning robotics to constructing preconceived robots. This change is similar to going from learning creative concepts to learning craft concepts. That is, changing from using basic elements to assembling parts from a kit, or to "painting by the numbers."
The same criticism can be found in reviews of basic Legos, and the parents' reviews who find their children much more creative and happy with basic Legos than with the many specialized kits being sold now.
Perhaps some other company will see the potential in making a basic robotics kit that allows free creativity, and includes the improvements in technology and software that have occurred since Mindstorms 1.5 was produced.
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worth the wait and the money.  5 Stars
October 18, 2009
this product is probably the most exspensive, but yet the best by far product i have bought in my whole life. this product is very educational as i have learned more about robotics after one day than i have in my whole life. so bottom line is that this product is worth the money and the wait and i highly recomend it.
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Lego Mindstorms by R. Siegel 5 Stars
October 18, 2009
The Lego Mindstorms Kit is a good introduction to robotics for young children. The basic components and the programming software are well tailored for young children to master quickly.
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Mr. Roboto NXT 2.0 by A. Hurdt (Okinawa Japan) 5 Stars
October 10, 2009
Big fan of Legos Technic. I have been wanting to get a mindstorms kit and finaly got this one. I am thrilled with the possabilities. Still need to get some adapters to be able to add in my Technic Power Functions, But otherwise it has greatly increased the quality and abilities of the projects i can make.
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