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New Lego Mindstorms Dissected

Turismo writes "The new Mindstorms NXT robotics kit from Lego is put through the ringer by the guys at Ars Technica, and they like what they find. From the article: 'the NXT brick can communicate with three other Bluetooth devices at any one time. This means that if you had four Mindstorms kits, you could create a mega-robot with four brains, twelve motors, and sixteen sensors — all of it coordinated through Bluetooth. The setup also works with cell phone and PDA Bluetooth systems, meaning that you can use your phone as a remote control or an output device.'" Update: 08/31 18:54 GMT by Z : Fixed absent submittor.

13 of 136 comments (clear)

  1. Re:The plural of Lego is Lego by ALeavitt · · Score: 2, Funny

    Also, a ringer is the device that lets you know that somebody is calling on the telephone. It's a wringer that squeezes the water out of laundry, and it is a proverbial wringer through which Ars Technica has put Mindstorms. I'm not a grammar nazi, but I play one on the internet.

    --
    This sig has been stolen. Return it to its original user for a reward.
  2. hunter warrior by legoburner · · Score: 5, Funny

    time to build a lego bot that uses bluetooth to hunt down and destroy people's ringing cell phones. Yay technology!

    1. Re:hunter warrior by spysmily1 · · Score: 1, Funny

      ...or build one that can take my place at the PC, downloading porn, so I can spend more time with the wife and kids.

      --
      Videogames made me kill people...I also eat mushrooms to grow bigger.
  3. Ahh, the real reason to build robots... by Red+Flayer · · Score: 2, Funny
    The confession prompts others--infrared communication on the units was sketchy, and it was difficult for advanced builders to incorporate enough motors and sensors to craft something sophisticated. Something adult[1]. Something that could, in short[2], get chicks[3] (not Steve's words).

    [1] I think I saw one of these robots on a .de website once...

    [2] I think if you're trying to get shorts, you've got electrical design issues

    [3] 'Get' or 'Make' chicks... best prom ever?

    I'm only making these (inane) jokes because I lack the skills to make a really awesome robot of my own. Call it robot envy.
    --
    "Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien on Olog-hai
  4. Right by stoolpigeon · · Score: 4, Funny

    Obviously this is much better than mindstorm. If you have a mindstorm kit, it is officially and woefully inadequate. What I recommend you do, for your own good, is to go out and buy this new kit. Then mail all your old mindstorm stuff to me.

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    It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
  5. Oblig Stargate reference by Akaihiryuu · · Score: 4, Funny

    Looks like the Replicators are finally here. Heh, I wonder if it would be possible to build something that looks like a Replicator from these...it would be fun to set it loose at work and let it meander through the various cubicles.

  6. "The Ugly" by Veetox · · Score: 5, Funny

    Nate Anderson is right to an extent: Building with Legos as a kid involved so much of my time that I did actually eat less (and lose sleep on occasion). But if I could use those legos to deliver dinner to my room, I wouldn't be missing too many meals anymore...

  7. No death ray available by sjwest · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm waiting for the next release.

  8. Re:No thanks, Vex is more fun. by ConsumerOfMany · · Score: 5, Funny

    And I have a Lincoln log House attached to a Ti-85 calculator running Doom hooked up over Ultra Wide Band.....

  9. Thanks for clearing that up for us... by StressGuy · · Score: 2, Funny

    Regards,

    The Amazing Sarcasmo

    --
    A goal is a dream with a deadline
  10. Re:The plural of Lego is Lego by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    lego my legos

  11. Re:The plural of Lego is Lego by Obfuscant · · Score: 3, Funny
    If little Timmy took all the fish out of the tank ...


    Two fish were in a tank. One asks the other "do you know how to drive this thing?"

  12. Re:What about cube/mesh/tree topologies? by gladed · · Score: 2, Funny

    Bluetooth is unlike USB in that a single device can act as either a master or a slave at different times. (With USB you are either host or device, no switching around.) So I guess you could approximate a cube topology by alternately acting as a master or a slave. This would be slower since it can take up to three seconds to establish a new connection. On the other hand, this slowdown will prevent the Mindstorms hive from the high processing speeds required to gain consciousness and overthrow its user.