O’Reilly Network: Lego MindStorms: An Introduction

“The Lego MindStorms Robotics Invention System was clearly the
coolest toy of 1999. A surprise bestseller, this set from Lego has
captured the imaginations and wallets of people of all ages. It
offers the chance to breathe life into Lego creations-to make them
move and think. Lego robots are a fun, surprisingly easy way to
explore the fascinating and complex field of mobile
robotics.“

“What makes Lego robotics such a success?”

• First, cheap electronics make small robots affordable.
• Next, Lego bricks have always been a good mechanical
  prototyping tool. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
  researchers have been combining Lego bricks and small computers in
  interesting ways for years.”

“And the fast-growing Internet is an excellent medium for robot
builders to gather and share ideas. In the rest of this article,
I’ll talk about what MindStorms means, what the Robotics Invention
System really is, how MIT is involved, the Internet connection, and
how all this has changed the Lego company itself.”

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