January 28, 2006

NXT Education Version!

More Mindstorms NXT news. Lego's educational version of the NXT is going to have a bunch of interesting features that go beyond the orindary consumer product...

Legoeducation.com has started a blog where they have answered several questions about the Education NXT. The school-oriented version of the NXT is going to include:

  • A rechargable battery system - yay!
  • Converter cables that adapt old mindstorms sensors and motors to the NXT - double yay!
  • An extra touch sensor and lamp bricks.

The converter cables are pretty welcome - you'll probably be able to control standard LEGO motors or trains.

In the description of the education NXT, it's noted that the NXT brick includes a built-in rotation sensor - is this in addition to the four inputs? Maybe they mean that you can read rotation values off the motors.

One item that has been available from the education site for the old RCX was the remote control. It was indispensable, but the fact that the NXT doesn't have IR support suggests that they might not do a remote for it. But perhaps one is possible using bluetooth, or using a wired connection. I hope they offer a remote control for the NXT - it is incredibly valuable to be able to test what you've built without having to fool with a computer.

They do say they will be offering Technology Resource Kits for the NXT. And they also promise a new educational software package, scheduled for 2007.

The Education NXT should be available the same time as the regular NXT, in August of this year. Pricing is supposed to be announced February 1.

Read about it here

Posted by David at January 28, 2006 08:39 PM
Comments

Hi David,
I think I can clear up some of the confusion regarding the rotation sensor. The rotation sensor itself is not built into the NXT brick, but rather into the servo motors. The NXT can display rotation values that the sensor detects, but it's the motors that get to do the actual sensing.
If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to send them to NXT@LEGOeducation.com!
Lisbeth White
Product Specialist
LEGO Education

Posted by: Lisbeth White at February 1, 2006 05:08 PM

Thanks Lisbeth! That makes a lot of sense.

Posted by: David at February 1, 2006 10:56 PM

Hi just trying to comunicate with you guys if I do, then I will have some questions for you

Posted by: Elis at January 22, 2007 02:51 PM

how fun is it? give me more info.

Posted by: parker at December 9, 2007 07:52 PM
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