Now those snap-together colored bricks of childhood yore can do even more. Assemble the appropriate wickets, wheels, pulleys, pumps, clamps, gears, and hinges, turn it on - and, thanks to the Robotics Invention System, your Legobots come to life.
This new generation of smart Legos is the result of a 10-year collaboration between the Danish toymaker and researchers at the MIT Media Lab. Each kit includes a programmable brick that serves as a rugged, battery-powered Lego brain. Using a PC and a simple programming language (a version of Seymour Papert's Logo), kids build their own Robotics programs by linking a chain of iconic commands in a drag-and-drop interface, and then download the instructions to the brick via infrared ports. Here's how the Legobot building blocks stack up.
The standard Robotics kit includes:
RCX Brick
The RCX brick has an 8-bit processor and memory for five programs, each capable of executing nine tasks simultaneously.
Light Sensor
Does the light stay on when the refrigerator door shuts? Plug a light sensor into one of the brick's three input ports, build a body and some arms and legs, stick it in the fridge, and you'll have an answer. Or at least the Legobot will.
Touch Sensor
Touch sensors prevent the robots from falling off tables or thrusting themselves repeatedly into corners. With a few basic commands, a bot can be instructed to clutch an empty beer can in its claws and drop it into a nearby recycle bin.
Motor Ports
Three control ports can be programmed separately to switch a motor on and off or vary speeds. Combine a series of gears and you've got a Sojourner-like vehicle with enough torque to maneuver over a phone book.
Infrared Ports
Two infrared ports are included: one on the brick itself and one for your PC. Future robots will be able to talk to each other, mimicking movements or working together on preassigned tasks.
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