I'm a big Lego fan, always have been. Add to that, a big robot fan as
well (Michael Bay's Transformers is a milestone in my life). A
nd then, as we all well know, a Mac fan too. Put them all toge
ther, and what have you got? The Doodler's dream toy: Lego Mindstorms NXT!
I own an older set, gifted to me by my wife several years ago, which I've buttr
essed with upgrade kits and accessories like more sensors and remotes and motor
s and blocks from Technics sets through the years. I've yet to
upgrade to the NXT version (I'm time- and resource-challenged at the moment),
but I now have more reason to expedite the process.
National Instruments and the Lego Group annou
nced yesterday a much-awaited software update for the Lego Mindstorms N
XT Robotics Invention System, which, among other important things, add
s support for Intel-based Macs (alright, for Windows V
ista too, but who's keeping score?) as well as improving memory manage
ment on the NXT Intelligent Brick.
If you've never played with this kit, it's advanced Lego for older folk, improv
ed with all kinds of high-tech sensors and motors, and controlled by a programm
able and powered "brick" which acts as the brain of the whole thing. Using spec
ial software, you program what the robots do, based on your design, and what yo
u've built into them.
The software used here has now been updated to Version 1.1, wh
ich with the optimized memory usage allows for more complex programming and ins
truction, and better system performance. The software runs on the Natio
nal Instruments LABView graphical programming environment, is compatib
le with the National Instruments Toolkit that comes with the s
et, and was made in close collaboration with the Lego Group.
You Lego blockheads can get the update and more info here.
(I'm such a geek. I find this so cool, it disturbs me.)
