New Lego Mindstorms and a FLL One Liner

[Noah Melamed]

http://wired.com/wired/archive/14.02...ego&topic_set=

A look into how the New Mindstorms kit were designed, with a short one liner about FLL keeping Mindstorms 2.0 sales going.

Some Quick Stats:
BUILDING BLOCKS
Mindstorms 2.0 2001: "Two-by-four" Lego blocks
Mindstorms NXT 2006: Technic blocks, aka "studless Legos"

COMMAND CENTER
Mindstorms 2.0 2001: 8-bit RCX programmable brick
Mindstorms NXT 2006: 32-bit, iPod-like brick with larger LCD

USER INTERFACE
Mindstorms 2.0 2001: Nonintuitive interface, RCX-code commands, PC only
Mindstorms NXT 2006: Intuitive GUI, drag-and-drop icons, PC and Mac

SENSORS
Mindstorms 2.0 2001: Two touch sensors and one light sensor
Mindstorms NXT 2006: Redesigned touch and light sensors, new sound sensor and ultrasonic sensor

POWER
Mindstorms 2.0 2001: Two motors
Mindstorms NXT 2006: Three motors, redesigned for smoother operation

CONNECTORS
Mindstorms 2.0 2001: Two-wire analog cables
Mindstorms NXT 2006: Six-wire digital cables