The LEGO Group will announce their latest innovation of LEGO MINDSTORMS this week at the international Consumer Electronics Show (CES). LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3, the successor of NXT, continues the popular LEGO MINDSTORMS product line, and it’s better than ever.
The new EV3 system makes it easy to start building robots in no time. Beginning users can even use a remote control (or even a smartphone) to make their creations come alive. At the same time it’s a much more powerful tool for hackers and hobbyists. Powered by an ARM9 processor running Linux, equipped with a USB host port for expansions like WiFi, the possibilities are endless.
LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 will be available in the second half of 2013
Specs
I’m sure the LEGO MINDSTORMS developers will soon release more details, but here’s the specs we have so far:
- Stronger and faster ARM9 robotic processor
- Embedded 16MB FLASH memory
- 64 MB RAM plus SD expansion slot
- LINUX operating system, released under open source
- USB 2.0 interface allows for WiFi connectivity
- 4 input ports: Connect up to 4 sensors at the same time, including your NXT sensors
- 4 output ports: Now you can power up to 4 motors (Either Large, Medium or NXT)
- Up to four intelligent bricks to be connected together (Yes, that’s 16 sensor and 16 motor ports!)
- Matrix display with loudspeaker
- Button interface with status indication
- Enhanced on-brick programming
- Bluetooth ® v2.1
- iOS and Android compatible
Hardware
- 3 Interactive Servo Motors: 2 large and 1 medium
- 1 Touch Sensor
- New IR Seeker Sensor measures distance, movements and detects objects, and acts as a receiver for the remote control
- New IR Beacon remotely controls robot from up to 2 meters (6 feet) away
- Improved Color Sensor detects 6 colors as well as the brightness of light sources
- Backwards-compatible with LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT: Connect your NXT Sensors and motors to the new EV3 brick.
- Assortment of 594 LEGO TECHNIC® elements for easy, more stable building with improved functionality and movement capabilities
Programming Software
- Downloadable software is PC and Mac compatible
- Icon-based drag and drop environment for “building” programs with new interactive content that helps de-bug programming
Downloads
If you can’t wait to get this new robotics system, here’s two wallpapers you can put on your desktop in the meantime.
(Click here for 16:9 or here for 4:3)
(Click for 16:9 or here for 4:3)
Links and more info
I’ll post more as soon as I can, so check back! Meanwhile there’s these links to read more about the EV3 system:
Just bought 2.0 (so a little disappointed that this announcement comes out just after Christmas). Will the updated programming environment be available and work on 2.0?
Yes, I think backwards compatibility means that you can still use NXT with the new software.
that’s great to read.
When do you think the software will be available?
Same as product launch: fall 2013.
awesome!
what are the dimensions of the EV3 in holes?
They are the same as for the NXT, only the screen sticks out by 0.5 unit. This makes it slightly bigger than NXT.
The holes on the under side are the same. Those on the left and right side are moved slightly.
Thanks!
Now this looks badass (kinda mecha should I say), that brick is powerfull…gotta starrt some saveup 🙂
BTW Laurens -if it is public- will the brick feature an integrated gyro?
May seem like a stupid question but after checking the specs and since it’s android compatible I thik it would be a quite natural thing if it would…
There is a separate Gyro sensor available for EV3.
Ah I see, thank you for the info.
But EV3 will be compatible with all existing sensors and motors right?
I think..
It would apper so. One of the teaser robots is “Gyro Boy”
Right Corey, that’s why I initially asked my question. Would of been fun if the set or brick included a gyro within the base set, but anyways I’m about to buy a gyro myself, though I don’t know which to choose the Dimu or the HiTechnic.
Can you make us a vidio?or don’t have set
HOW DO YOU GET THIS!!!!!!!
dude can you give me the software for the lego ev3
Does someone know if (by now) the downloadeble software is available for Linux (Ubuntu)?
I do have the EV3 but I don’t have a M$ of Mac machine.