2006 CES Report: First look at the Mindstorms NXT (Part 1)
Posted by Administrator in Mindstorms NXT
The recently announced Mindstorms NXT was on display in the Robotics TechZone at CES, surrounded by other robotics exhibits. A number of NXT sample robots were being demonstrated, but in this installment we’ll focus on some of the key features of the new NXT intelligent brick, which replaces the yellow RCX brick used in earlier versions of Mindstorms.
The NXT unit itself is roughly the same size as the old RCX, but most similarities end there. A pearlescent off-white finish and four control buttons (providing left, right, select and escape menu functions) give the NXT a vaguely iPod-ish appearance. Seven ports – 3 output and 4 input — are used to communicate with sensors and other devices. On the old RCX these ports were covered with brick studs and surrounded the central LCD display; on the new NXT these ports are on the top and bottom edges of the unit and take the form of proprietary 6-wire connectors that resemble (but are incompatible with) RJ11 phone connectors. Next to the output ports is a USB 2.0 connector, and the unit also offers integrated Bluetooth compatibility.
Using the control buttons you can navigate through the NXT menu system, which appears to be more flexible and provides more control options that the old RCX LCD display functionality, which only allowed the user to toggle through and select currently loaded programs. Based on our limited time with the device we think the new menu system should be relatively easy for users familiar with iPods and mobile phones to choose and select program functions and adjust NXT brick options.
In our next installment we’ll take a closer look at the new NXT programming software, which is based on National Instruments LabVIEW software and is both Macintosh (Huzzah!) and Windows compatible. We’ll also check out some of the sample models we saw on display at the show, in addition to an early comp of the NXT product packaging. Check out the official Mindstorms site (http://mindstorms.lego.com) for more information as well.
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I’m very curious to see what can the NXT do. I was hoping that the connections were RJ11. Can the display be used as a console, showing sensor data, and things like that?
Sounds quite cool
You mean 4 input and 3 output?
Is this a real diyplay with every pixel can be single set on ord off?
And is there an alternative text-based programming-language?
By the way, how is NXT correctly pronounced? I’m a German and would suppose as the word “next”?!
Keep on informing!
Note: The latest version of the Labview programming environment ROBOLAB is also compatable with both Windoze and Mackintosh.
I’m very curious to see the real thing. I was hoping that the ports were RJ11, so that costum stuff electronics could be built more easily
I’m also curious about the way we can program it, and if we can use the LCD as a console showing states an things along.
Hello
I am so happy there is a new version coming out. I have some questions. Can the unit be powered via USB? I hate replaceing ratteries in the 1.5 kit that I own. How do the new moters function, can you post some pics of them and diagram the movements? Could you post some screenshots of the programming tools?
Tanks for the info, I will be checking daily.
–dan
Hola amigos,
Superb news, my only concerned is what does Lego Mindstorms has to say about the non backward compatibility with 2.0, do you suppose most of the people just shift to this new NXT and leave thousands of hours behind to start over??
Anyway, I’m so exited to see more info on NXT
Saludos
Whoa – awesome.
But is three outputs (thus 3 control systems?) enough to control a robot? Or could you buy a cable splitter to have two motors run whenever the single output is activated? How many motors do you need to make a walking robot? And can NXT-bricks talk to each other over bluetooth? That would be cool, having a couple (or three or four, if you were crazy rich!) of NXT systems working in conjunction on the same ‘bot.
Thanks for all the heads-ups! I’m really looking forward to it!
> how is NXT correctly pronounced?
Yes, we would pronounce it as “next” usually. I’d love it if we could control the display – using the four digits on the RCX was a great help, but I always wanted more.
–
Brian Davis
Awesome!
Does this mean that we cant use the old motors and sensors with this new RCX?
Also can you add more than 4 sensor ports to one RCX?
thanx.
This sounds unbelievably great. C’mon, August!
Any idea why a proprietary 6 conductor modular jack with an offset lock was chosen? One of the reasons that the Mindstorms was so succesful was it’s hackability. Hopefully the connectors/cables will be inexpensively available so that we do not have to chop up existing sensors.
Also, will there be details on the internals available? Arm architechture perhaps?
I can’t wait to get a hold on one of these, especially with the LabView like software. We are a cybercafé participating in the First LEGO league, and have done so since 2003, but have yet to “upgrade” to LabView from RIS.
When I applied for a job at LEGO in 2004, I was told that LEGO Mindstorms was going to get a facelift, but it was too soon to let me in on any secrets … though RIS 1.0,1.5 and 2.0 was simplicity in a nutshell, I am hoping for a more intuitive interface and easier programming environment.
I’ve been thinking about buying an RCX but now I’m going to wait for this new one, it looks really cool ! I am a new lego convert after buying several of the new (large) TECHNIC models.
Through work I am familiar with Labview and I think this is an excellent choice ! Can there however (please please) also be a linux version as I do not have windows…. Also I hate computers so I have pretty old junk (pentium II) and I hope I won’t need to buy a new pc for this exciting new NXT brick…
Keep up the good work LEGO !
i think it’s like RCX, it’s an acronym… i think
i hope it plays mp3 files
what about bluetooth? is it just cool or what?!
Hmm.. sounds like very promising news.. I have a few concerns though.
1. The sleekness of the pieces.. looks like it’s stepping away from regular lego technic design constraints, I wonder if that would restrict the use of the piece when building stuff. Who knows, it may work?
2. The new connecting wire design. Earlier they had those flat lego piece shaped tabs at the ends of the connecting wires.. the advantage being that they were stackable, so one output port could power more than one device. With these new telephone connector style ports, that puts an end to that feature!
Other than that I think this looks really good. I especially appreciate the USB, Bluetooth and MAC support! (at last!!)
As I’m German, too I would pronounce it (for Germans) as
En Äx Tie, like the RCX used to be pronounced as
Ar Sie Äx
It might be interessting that the new motors also own an inbuilt rotation sensor.
For real processing power: it would be cool if the NXT could be configured as a slave with the main program running on the PC. Communication can be over bluetooth…
well – it sounds very cool. we will see whats gonna happen in the next 5 months, when the NXT brick is availible ansd where?
pls keep me informed
Best regards
It seems from all this that we won’t be able to use the old sensors and motors with the NXT. This is a bit disappointing.
Any word on whether the NXT will be able to interface with the RCX?
Those connectors are in fact strandard. they are the DEC 6c (similar to RJ-12 with offset catch)
for instance, available here: http://www.actionelectronic.com/pppto.htm
Looks great! Please tell us more about the servo motors I keep hearing about. Details, we need details!
Should I expect to see a LEGO Robo-One by the end of the year?
I’m working on organizing some photos from CES over the next day or so — look for the next NXT update (on the new LabVIEW software) sometime this weekend, followed by some other random bits from the show.
Will we be able to program this new brick using visual basic and serial comm port commands.
Why oh why not RJ11 jacks? (or RJ45 for that matter). I guess its nice that someone recognizes them as “DEC 6c”. I suppose I’ll need to buy a new crimper.
Man it look’s great.
The Bluetooth fixture will be great for integration with Smartphones and Pocket pc’s. Very nice work indeed… can’t wait to have it.
There is more information floating around. The connectors appear to be mirrored from the DEC variant. The NXT specs suggest no direct link between the NXT and RCX. While the CPU might be capable of decoding mp3 technically, there’d be no point as it sports telephone-quality audio. The memory is also quite restricted, with most of it in flash this time around (no more reloading the firmware when you replace the battery).
http://www.lego.com/eng/service/faqs.asp?section=ConsumerService-FAQ-Products&catid=E8D0CD47-16B8-4B2F-900C-8FC40C163598&faqid=17262&bhfv=0&bhrl=0&bhfx=&bhrx=&bhje=1&bhdv=0&bhdx=&bhqt=0&bhqx=&bhmp=0&bhcd=24&bhsh=1200&bhsw=1600&bhqs=1
Just a guess about the offset RJ11. Like everyone, my first reaction was, “how will we crimp our homebrews?”
But think like a kid: If you saw a vanilla RJ11 plug, your first reaction might be, “COOL! I can phone my Lego!”
I’m sure there is enough current in a live phone line to burn out a little controller like the NXT.
what does it cost?…………..
> Those connectors are in fact strandard. they are the DEC 6c
> (similar to RJ-12 with offset catch)
> for instance, available here:
> http://www.actionelectronic.com/pppto.htm
As far as I can tell, the latch is on the other side
Philo
First, thx LEGO!
My main questions are:
(1) How much adressable RAM do we get. For one of my projects (prototype of a learning switch
I need at least 16KByte (a lot of sensor data should be stored – additionally a 50 x 50 linear equation has to be solved). Does anybody know, how much RAM and program memory will be available?
(2) What about Java – which I (and maybe others
prefer?
But anyway – it’s the right step into the right direction!
Thomas Nitsche (Germany, Munich)
The connectors don’t look like DEC MMJ (aka “6C”) plugs to me. Rather, they look like the *mirror image* of MMJ connectors. When looking into the female connector, with the tab at the top, on an MMJ connector the tab should be on the left. (See, for example, http://www.ntua.gr/electronics/hwb/connector/serial/mmj.html, or for a better picture of the male connector http://shop.omc.ch/Artikeldetails-DE-3680-5152973.html )
Then go look at the last image in the blog post.
I really hope that some pictures were flipped left-to-right somewhere along the way, because it really looks right now as though LEGO went with a completely proprietary connector.
I’m very impressed with the new setup that Lego will be putting out soon. Having the rotation sensors inside the motors is a great upgrade. The ability to turn a specific degree or rate will be a significant help. (Or so I hope it will work this way) I am curious about how the servos and NXT will communicate considering it’s only using the RJ-11s.
Looking at Bluetooth, will it be intuitive for one NXT to communicate with the other with individual MAC addresses for each?
I’m speculating that it will be like the RCX communication, sending single variables. What would really be nice to see is true packet sending and receiving.
Just a few thoughts, I have more but wanted to share the most important two.
I’m really excited to see what will be NXT’s full potential.
Those DEC (MMJ) connectors are exactly opposite than the ones on the NXT. The offset clip is on the other side!
What is its computational speed compared to the RCX? Also, with the servo motors, is it easy to have them hold a position or go to a position? It looks like a great upgrade from the RCX.
I wonder if it will be possible to multiplex many inputs or many outputs. I thought that the main limitation of the RCX was having only 3 inputs and 3 outputs. I would like to be able to independently control four or more motors with one RCX.
Yes, looks really cool. Yet limited in its own way. On the RCX, one could double ports, use both light and touch on the same input or light/motor – motor/motor on the same output. This does not look possible here. But with open standards it may not be neccessary- people will develop different sensors. I hope the inputs are not specialized for the 4 supplied sensors.
It would be nice if the NXT can talk to the RCX via infrared. Backward compatibility, like the RCX with scout and microscout.
Cheers,
Alex
I reckon this will be mad!! But it’s a great pitty that the old 2.0 rcx isn’t compadible and that the conectors arnt stackable!! Silly telephone wires!
I reckon they need to have infared sensors and motors so there is absolutely no wires!!!
John the lego fanatic from australia says,
well done lego!!
silly telephone wires
Actually Lego had already release some photos of the nxt. The link goes to their image gallery. The photo shows an actual model named Spike. As seen in the photo, the orange part of the new servo motors rotate and is connect to the “tail” of spike which should spring forward. The other 2 motors connected to the legs (3 on each side) which will power them to move in a synchronized fashion. http://www.lego.com/eng/info/default.asp?page=images&catID=20AD14B4-A565-461E-B15A-3C4D31C39130&itemId=17237
I’ve been reading what is online available about the NXT. As the chief scientific officer (and founder) of the former robotics company Robonetics, mainly working for the electronic toy industry, I’m excited about the NXT. In fact, I believe I can build the majority of our robot prototypes using the NXT with nothing but pure Lego bricks (although I’d need multiple NXT boxes for some designs).
I can wait until August for the actual delivery of the hardware, but I would really love to get going on the design of the software. That’s why I have really two questions:
1) Can you make as much information available as possible on the software side? I understand software is currently in beta, as is many other software available to developers prior to the product launch.
2) Is it possible to pre-order the NXT box?
3) As with Mindstorms, Lego intends to provide a space where great designs can be uploaded. Will Lego also provide a space where components can be sold? Sort of a market place.
When I say components, I mean really complex pieces of robot/software logic that are provided as a single easy-to-use module for your own robot designs?
Lego is still the most inspirational toy out there…
OK, that’s three questions!
If you want a chance to be an advanced tester, check out the developer program: http://mindstorms.lego.com/community/default.aspx
Flilip: There could really be a great community built around this product. The internet has drastically changed since the RCX was released. Blogs, wikis, online cvs, flickr, myspace, ect…
I was actually thinking about hosting a few things. I recently created a site that was going to devote a section to LEGO Mindstorms developments, hacks, and links. Now there will be enough content to actually make an entire site devoted to NXT.
Regarding number 2, go to http://www.mindstorms.com. There’s a link on the right that says: “Can’t wait for fall 2006? Be a pioneer: [Join the Developer Program]” Only 100 slots are available, but if you are chosen you can buy a preproduction NXT kit for $150 instead of $250.
I’m also curious what kinds of observation or perception the bot’s sensors will be capable of. I’m interested in artificial intelligence, but just the simple stuff you find in textbooks. (I’m no AI researcher.) I think children and young teenagers would be pleased to build toy robots with basic artificial intelligence.
Any kind of machine learning requires a way to observe the outside world (sensors), a way to internally represent a model of the outside world (brains), and a way to act upon the machine’s state within that world (motors). If the world is simple enough and the sensors are complex and capable enough, maybe we could see some impressive intelligent behavior from these robots.
Nobody is realistically expecting these bots to move around a kid’s bedroom with any kind of plan, or perform useful work while it does. But the bot might be capable of solving a sliding tile puzzle, navigating a simple bot-friendly maze, etc.
I was rather disappointed by the “toy-robot-plus-AI” capabilities of the original Mindstorms kit. If NXT is much more capable of sensing its environment, we could see some very interesting robots. I can’t wait.
32-bit ARM7 microprocessor
256 Kbytes FLASH, 64 Kbytes RAM
This seems to be very cool. And the size ot the RAM is also enough for bigger projects. I can’t wait to speak with my robot. But the best new thing is the ultrasonic sensor with that incredible things will be possible.
hey, cant wait to get my hands on a set
will the ultrasonic sensor have
a, (possible) the abiltly to “know” where a thing is (eg, knowing what direction within the range of the sensor is?)
b, (unlikly but still possible) shape reconginition software
I have a couple of questions:
1) Will the NXT brick be able to communicate with other NXT’s (presumably yes through bluetooth)
2) Will it be able to utilize old motors/sensors through some sort of adapter device
3) Will it have an Infrared port for communicating with RCX’s
4) Will it be possible to power 2 motors from one output or attach 2 sensors to one input (again through an adapter)
5) Did we decide the connection (which I believe is very similar to RJ45 network cable, not RJ11 telephone) is proprietary or is relatively common
Overall I am very excited to see the possibilities, but I hope I don’t have to do away with all of my lego motors/sensors and my 2 RCX’s — most of my coolest designs call for 2 RCX’s working together to form a 6 sensor / 6 output robot — this is the true power — to bad we have to be limited to only 4 sensors / 3 motors
I REALLY hope they let me be a developer for this, I would love to have some input on this before it goes mainstream — Very exciting!
Nice CG Photos at:
http://www.lego.com/eng/info/default.asp?page=images&catID=20AD14B4-A565-461E-B15A-3C4D31C39130&itemId=17237
I do hope they have some kind of adpater or something maybe to connect with the RCX? I have two of them and would like to be able to use them also with NXT blocks. Also, The connector is a bit of a downer, but I would give it a chance as long as I can get the connectors and add other sensors and motors if possible other than the ones they come with.
Awesome design! It looks really cool and I am glad that LEGO is finally updating their Mindstorms department. Lots of the questions above cam be answered here. It says that the NXT and RCX can’t communicate because infrared and bluetooth can’t communicate. Also, I find it somewhat upsetting on how uncustomizeable their making the NXT: you can’t connect multiple wires to one port without splicing the two together, none of the existing sensors, motors, and other equipment will work — and they’re really expensive (at least they are from my 13-year-old perspective). The new sensors are cool, though, the new ultrasonic and sound sensors are really cool, plus they’ll probably be more reliable than their homemade counterparts. It looks cool and I can’t wait until August!
Well I finally got to see the specifications. Funny how they hide stuff on their site like that.
Two processors seems a bit odd – especially when one is 8-bit and the other is 32-bit. Probably could be put to interesting use.
Only thing I hope concerning the sensors is if LEGO will continue to develop new sensors. No more of this make a few sensors and stop. The older kit seriously needed more than touch, light, and rotation.
Thanks for the new generation of Mindstorms. Sounds good, what has been announced.
Does the NXT allow firmware replacement or add extensions ? The major reason for RCX success was the broad usage and addons for academic and other robotics environment, e.g. leJOS, BrickOS and a lot of others.
Like other stated here, the RAM seems again very limited, 64 RAM is not too much for more complex applications.
What about Java support ? I am using leJOS as my favorite programming environment ? Any chance to get a J2ME running as firmware addon ?
Thanks, Jochen
(from Germany, member of leJOS project, maintainer of leJOSUnit)