The new Lego Mindstorms EV3 is already expected to be one of the top toys for Christmas 2013. To much fanfare, Lego finally unveiled LEGO Mindstorms EV3 at CES. Many show goers are already declaring it to be one of the hottest toys of the year. The Lego Mindstorms buildable robotic kits allow kids to program and build their own robots. The product reflects 3 years of product development from the LEGO group. The new set will be available in the Summer of 2013 and will retail for $349.99.  A number of people had a chance to go hands on with the new set from LEGO. All of the designs are engineered with a great attention to detail for both casual and advanced audiences.

It’s been about 15 years since the original Mindstorms hit the market.  Many people think it was the world’s first smart toy. A lot has changed since then. Kids are becoming more and more tech savvy. LEGO wanted to expand the reach of the product by making it simple enough for younger users while at the same time making it advanced and powerful enough for the diehard enthusiast.

Mindstorms are now powered by the EV3 Intelligent Brick. It sports a faster processor with more memory. This time around you don't even need a computer to program basic routines as basic commands can be programmed using the brick itself. Advanced users can also use a computer for more complex programs.

It also comes with new sensors. The new sensors give the robots an even greater sense of personality.  So far we have seen an infrared sensor and color sensor.  The color sensor is extremely cool because it allows the robot to see color which makes for some interesting things you can program. For example, you could theoretically program the robot toy to stop when it sees the color red.  When it sees green, it could be programmed to move again.

LEGO has obviously updated the line to take advantage of current technology. More and more kids are growing up with mobile devices. Builders can use their smart devices to control their creations. It works with both iOS and Android devices.

When it launches, there are going to be building instructions for 17 different robots. Our favorite robot is called "Reptar." The Reptar is a robotic snake the slithers on the ground with its wheels. The coolest part is that it can snap at your hand thanks to the infrared sensor that can see your hand. It can be controlled with your iPhone or other smart device. There is also a Tracker robot that can follow a given path on the ground. There are a number of different tools that can be attached to the robot like a working hammer.

If you have got an iPad, Lego has designed an app with the help of Autodesk that allows 3D step by step instructions. So cool. It makes it easier than ever to build even these complicated robots. LEGO is always at the forefront of technology and they are always trying to use new technology to help children explore their creativity. We can't wait to see what young builders do with this new Mindstorms set for 2013.

Do you think Lego Mindstorms has a shot at being one of the top toys for Christmas 2013?

For More Details Click Here



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    The top toys for Christmas list is written by Melissa Rodriguez. She started blogging on Squidoo since 2012. She loves writing about kids and parenting. At the end of each year, she compiles a list of the season's hottest toys to make the lives of gift givers easier.

    Archives

    March 2013
    November 2012

    Categories

    All
    Toys