LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 (8547)

I first encountered the MINDSTORMS series in 2001 when I bought the Robotics Invention System 1.5 out of curiosity. Since then, I've purchased and used numerous MINDSTORMS sets, written two MINDSTORMS books, developed and taught a LEGO robotics course, and given LEGO presentations. So when I heard that LEGO was releasing the NXT 2.0 set in summer/fall 2009, I was curious to discover how LEGO would improve its flagship product. After finally getting my hands on a 2.0 set, I've been busy building, programming, and analyzing the kit's features. And I think this is the best MINDSTORMS set to date.

The original NXT set released in 2006 (I'll call it the "1.0 set") enjoyed enormous success but still had some shortcomings. The NXT 2.0 set addresses some of those flaws and really is everything the 1.0 set should have been. As a robotics kit, the NXT 2.0 set mainly involves building and programming, so I'll take a look at how the kit performs in each of these areas.

First, the building experience is fun and challenging while offering some exciting new additions. For the electronic elements, the NXT microcomputer and servo motors remain the same in both design and quantity; however, the selection of sensors has changed. There are now two touch sensors, an ultrasonic (distance) sensor, and the color sensor. The new color sensor boasts three functionalities. It can detect colors (6 basic colors), measure light intensity, and act as a lamp (emitting a red, blue, or green light). Unlike the 1.0 set, there is no light sensor or sound sensor: the new color sensor can function as a light sensor, and LEGO apparently thought that having two touch sensors would be more useful than having one touch sensor and one sound sensor as in the 1.0 set. I agree.

The building elements are, once again, studless LEGO TECHINC pieces rather than traditional bricks. The 1.0 set included a few TECHNIC bricks, but these are gone in the 2.0 set, which focuses entirely on studless construction. Overall, there is still a good selection of beams, pegs, and axles (including a new #9 length axle) as well as the addition of two small rubber bands. Also fun is the special ball shooter equipment along with 12 small, brightly colored balls.

There are only a few gears included, though. Whereas the 1.0 set included a fairly good variety and quantity of gears, the 2.0 set includes only a handful of double bevel gears and a single 12t bevel gear. This is a bit disappointing but also understandable. People like to add lots of gears to their robots to make them look cool, but lots of gears introduce lots of friction. The 2.0 kit's sample robot designs demonstrate how to connect pieces directly to motors rather than using gears to transmit the motion. This works fine and takes a little bit of getting used to, but I would still encourage new LEGO users to expand their collection of gears after purchasing the 2.0 set.

As for the programming, the 2.0 version of the included NXT-G software offers some welcome new features. A remote control, sound editor, image editor, new programming blocks, improved performance, and other features make programming a more enjoyable experience. Performance is noticeably better than in the 1.0 version but can still be sluggish.

The software includes a number of fun challenges spread across four robot designs: Shooterbot, Robogator, Color Sorter, and Alpha Rex. The sample robots are durable and work well, although some of the instructions for using Color Sorter were a bit confusing. The new version of Alpha-Rex is a truly fascinating robot: in addition to being a fun "advanced" model to build, new users can learn a lot from its incredibly compact and elegant design.

The NXT 2.0 set is leading the MINDSTORMS series in the right direction. I like what I see in this set, and I believe LEGO has a winner on its hands. The 2.0 set is more expensive than the 1.0 set--by $30--but I believe the improvements and added functionality justify the extra cost. In sum, the NXT 2.0 set is a great toolset for any robotics enthusiast and a must-have for MINDSTORMS fans.

SUMMARY:

I think that the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 is a great set for the creative youngster (and for the inventive adult!) This robotics kit can offer hours and hours of fun. While playing with it, you'll (your kid) be able to interact with people all over the world, and you'll have a great start in engineering.

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At the moment of writing this review, 4 customer reviews have been posted: two 1-star reviews and two 5- star reviews. This gives an average of 3 stars, which is way below what the kit deserves. It deserves 5 stars.

Another customer (D. Perdue) has already posted a great review (5 stars) about the new features in the set, and in this review I'd like to add some more to this. Furthermore, I'd like to respond to the two negative reviews posted so far.

I have been into MINDSTORMS for about 4 years now, and my first robot set was a RIS 2.0 set (the older MINDSTORMS system). I purchased my first NXT set in 2007 and I still have not stopped playing with it. This is what I like about MINDSTORMS: the possibilities are endless. You can not only build and program robots, but you can also design, invent and even interact with the MINDSTORMS community.
By corresponding with others in this community, you'll get to learn new building and programming techniques, and you can share your knowledge and robot inventions with other LEGO - minded people. As a result, you can get in touch with people all over the world. This has been so for all the MINDSTORMS system, and now that the NXT 2.0 is introduced, I expect the community to grow even larger.

When you first open the NXT 2.0 box, you'll find a special bag with building elements called "start here!". With these parts you can start of building your first robot with step by step building instructions.
I have to admit, the next step is a little harder: programming. The drag-and-drop programming software is really easy to use, but the documentation isn't always very clear: there is not a step-by-step guide in the kit which teaches you all the ins and outs about programming (but there is a good reference manual in the software). Fortunately, there are enough sample programs to get you started. Everyone with a little creativity can do the trick.

As you finished playing with the basics of robot programming, you can start building some of the other robot models that appear on the NXT box: an alligator, a ball color sorter and a humanoid: Alpha Rex. I recommend to start with the training vehicle (Shooterbot) first, though. But, having built these four models doesn't end the fun yet!
There are a lot of websites dedicated to MINDSTORMS (NXT 2.0). Some of them offer building instructions so you can build even more robots. Apart from these websites, there are also plenty of MINDSTORMS books, which teach you how to make the best of your NXT set. Also, there are a few books, especially dedicated to NXT 2.0, coming out at the end of the year.

As you gain more MINDSTORMS experience you'll be able to invent your own robotic creations. Then, you can take photos, or even create a 3d model of your robot on your computer, and share it on the MINDSTORMS NXTLOG website.

In the rest of this review, I'd like to respond to the two 1-star reviews posted on Amazon as of now.

- Re: "Buyer beware!" (Customer support issue and technical problems)
I'm sorry to hear about your problems with the NXT 2.0. I know that a lot of MINDSTORMS sets are being returned to LEGO, but sometimes that is because people do not know how to use it. If this is the case, the mistake can often be solved easily (An example problem is an incorrectly placed motor or sensor cable).
In general, I would recommend to post issues on MINDSTORMS forums by the community (just Google for "the NXT step" or "NXTasy"). The people there usually know more about it than the technical support service.
I have to add that the programs on the NXT Intelligent Brick actually did correctly work on my end. These programs are not faulty, and regular programming using the software also worked with no problems.

Of course, when there is really a problem with the hardware in the set, it is good to let LEGO know and to request replacement parts. This turns out to be the case for this reviewer. Hopefully, this problem doesn't occur in too many sets. I've experienced the LEGO customer service to be quite helpful. In the past, I have had two broken electronic LEGO pieces, and I received new, working parts after a call with them.

UPDATE: I've just checked the NXT 2.0 User Guide, and found a small, but important error on page 15: The colored annonations that instruct the user to plug the cables are incorrect. With these cable configurations, the programs do not work indeed. You can follow the building steps in the software instead - these are correct.

- Re: "Better than ever?"
I agree that NXT 2.0 (as apposed to NXT 1.0) was not improved on the hardware side apart form a new Color. I think this is great. Why? All NXT 2.0 sets are still compatible with the NXT 1.0 sets, simply because they use the same intelligent brick. This way, existing users can upgrade without throwing their old system away. Furthermore, all the useful information made up by the community for NXT 1.0, is still just as valuable for NXT 2.0.

SUMMARY:

I think that the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 is a great set for the creative youngster (and for the inventive adult!) This robotics kit can offer hours and hours of fun. While playing with it, you'll (your kid) be able to interact with people all over the world, and you'll have a great start in engineering.

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Laurens Valk, the Netherlands

Designer of the Manty robot which appears on the back of the NXT 2.0 box,
[...]

I purchased the original Mindstorms 1.0 way back in the nineties. I absolutely loved it; it was a great workout for both my imagination and my ingenuity. It was also a great family toy: I could get the gears aligned and programmed, and my 8-year old daughter would supplement it with additional Legos for fun. That was what I loved about the original set: it did a wonderful job of straddling the line between robotics set and sheer silliness. The computerized brick looked like a giant yellow Lego; there were lots of colors, and it was compatible with other Legos. It even had an expansion set that allowed you to built animals and monsters, and came with Lego eyes, fins, and all kinds of fun little additions. The creations were functional (usually!), but also seemed to fit into the World of LegoLand.

This new set looks like...well, a robotics set. That's not a bad thing, but it means that this set needs to be compared to other robotics sets out there. Before, Mindstorms was completely unique, in a class all by itself. Now it looks like a very well-designed robotics set. The colors are drab, the 600+ pieces all have a specific practical function, there is less room for customizing.

Don't get me wrong, this set is a huge step up in functionality. The new color sensor alone is an enormous improvement. I will have hundreds of hours of fun with NXT 2.0. But I'm not sure my current young daughters will have much interest in it, and that makes me sad.

One last note: the box itself is pretty poorly designed. It's...a box. There are no dividers or compartments to keep organized. Not a huge issue, but you would think that at nearly $300 a pop the Lego folks would be willing to spring for a little extra cardboard.