Target group: Enthusiastic hobbyists and Papas

LEGO Mindstorms is probably the most interesting for Papas Packet, which comes from the house of LEGO. This target group may have been deliberately and unofficially set by the manufacturer so. An age ratings 10+ I can understand only in moderation, because the programming and setting up should succeed only very few children at this age.
With the help of a "playful" parent but this point is no longer a problem.
My son (7 years old) and I (electronics hobbyists and software developers) have a lot of fun with the models and the opportunities that arise. Under the guidance, children learn quickly and easily the relationships of mechanical processes. Especially children have always new ideas simple for them, which can grow to new challenges in construction.

Go To Content:

1 NXT block:
- 4 Input ports (for sensors or lamp)
- 3 Output ports (for 3 servo motors)
- USB 2.0 connection
- Bluetooth (Class II)
- Speakers

3 (somewhat overgrown) servomotors:
- Rotation sensor (accuracy in 1 ° intervals)
- Synchronous motors run more possible

1 ultrasonic sensor:
- Measures distances between ~ 3cm to 250cm ~ to an object by ultrasound
- Measurement is carried out in ~ 3cm steps

2 Touch Sensors:
- Respond to pressure and releasing

1 light sensor with 3farb lamp function:
- Acts as a lamp with integrated RGB LED
- Color Detection (Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, Black, White)
- Brightness measuring rooms (with the LED is off)
- Grayscale measurement of surfaces (with activated LED)

With the start-up package can create his first machine in a very short time. On this basis, the first logical sequences can already be tested. This simple and gradual introduction leads the user very quickly into the user interface and functionality of the LabVIEW program. This software uses a graphical user interface that allows you to very easily add logical chains using drag and drop. The working window and the symbols of the individual process steps are, however, kept a little too big, that you will hardly have fun when creating more complex program sequences under a 1600 screen resolution.
Pleasing to the "extended" hobbyists are the possibilities for the expansion (additional sensors) and programming (NBC / NXC - NeXT Byte Codes / not exactly c).

Where there is light, there is shadow:
However LEGO itself seems to have no interest in compatibility with in-house systems. There are officially no way Technics elements or the old RCX with the NXT to combine. Desirable would have adapter cable to the smaller engines or other elements of the Power Functions. The use of remote controls is probably not desired. This could be understood, if the technical implementation would be problematic or not possible, however: with little soldering experience tend to appropriate adapters manufactured and even the remote control can be very simple tricks about connection to the IR receiver module in function as a sensor for the NXT integrate. Why LEGO not officially offer this banal solutions as part remains a mystery to me. Another flaw is the totally unnecessary rigid connection cables and plug system. Here is an RJ12 connector system was sinnfrei modified (centrally seated locking area was attached to the side) to prevent the user from the manufacture of its own connection cable or any adapter. Whether the expensive modifications to a standard connector system will bind the customer when buying extensions and cables to LEGO, I doubt it. Resourceful third have since long been responding.
A not quite so tragic downside is the shockingly low memory capacity of NXT (64Kbytes RAM + 256KByte Flash). Already two major programs could not be loaded together on the device. In today's storage prices, it should have been more peaceful. Solution: through the Bluetooth interface allows sensor data to evaluate and control processes, which on every x-belibigen system with this interface is possible (mobile phone, PDA, PC) - The program must therefore not necessarily on the NXT run (programming skills required).

Conclusion:
+ Great facilities
+ Easy operation
+ Many new parts
+ Ease of use of the software with a good introduction
+ Remote control via Bluetooth possible
+ Openly documented firmware (open source)

- No official combined for RCX or the Power Functions
- Inflexible cable system with modified RJ12 connectors
- Low memory capacity of NXT
- Building instructions only in LabVIEW (only a basic model without sensors as a guide in paper form) => Children need to build compelling a computer

Despite the negative points I would recommend 2.0 LEGO Mindstorms NXT to anyone who wants to deal with the matter and have fun making
For the ambitious hobbyist / programmer the "deficiencies" all solvable.

For children alone but I can not recommend it for the specified age group, because they are so sure overwhelmed. Even better is a common building and tinkering with the parents or the larger siblings.

Fun: to 4 out of 5 stars> as the shortcomings mentioned above frustrate
Educational: 5 stars => Children learn playfully logical processes
Durability: 5 stars => clearly, the production quality of Lego is unbeatable (despite plastic)
Total: 4 out of 5 stars => the point deduction mainly for compatibility issues to its own components