Nothing Can Stop The Lego Mindstorms Automated Bridge Layer

Lego Mindstorms Bridge Layer

Back in 2012 the Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences built an automated Lego Mindstorms Bridge Layer. The Bridge Layer is some sort of truck that carries a folded up bridge. When it comes across a gap it can unfold the bridge, and travel over the gap. Once across, the truck then picks up the bridge, folds it up, and moves on. The Department of Electrical Engineering built this robot with Lego Mindstorms 2.0. It has been programmed with Robot C, and it communicates using Bluetooth. On board there are 4 servo motors, 2 linear actuators, 2 ultrasonic sensors, 2 touch sensors, and 2 color sensors. Check out the video below to how everything works together to create a seriously impressive Lego vehicle.

Nothing can stop the robot future.

Hispabrick 021 Out Now!

Hispabrick 021, Lego Magazine

It’s Christmas early. Hispabrick #021 has just been released. The new issue has major features on Lego Star Wars, Aliens, Miniland, Mindstorms, reviews, and interviews. This 101 page digital magazine is available as a 40+ MB PDF and best of all it is free.

Hispabrick is one of the best Lego magazines out there. Their content is top notch, and contains a lot of exclusive stuff. Even awesome instructions for your own Lego projects.

Hispabrick 021, Lego Magazine Details

You can find Hispabrick 021 over here: http://www.hispabrickmagazine.com/en/content/english-hispabrick-magazine-021

HispaBrick 019 – Technic Snowspeeder, The Minifig, The Lego Movie & More!

Hispabrick 019 Cover

Hispabrick Magazine is back with a brand new issue. Issue 019 is available now for download in English or Spanish. Make sure to get it now, it is easily the best Lego digital magazine out there. And, best of all it is free.

This issue features a great Technic Star Wars Snowspeeder, a massive Tiger’s Nest Monastery MOC, the Lego Movie, and Minifigs. The usual suspects are here too, with Miniland, Technic, and Mindstorms. Plus many interviews and reviews from the world of Lego. A total of 107 pages of content!

Hispabrick 019 Details

Download the full issue here: http://www.hispabrickmagazine.com/en/content/english-hispabrick-magazine-019

HispaBrick 018 – Kaneda’s Bike, Miniland Building, Mindstorms & More!

Hispabrick 018 Lego Magazine

It’s time for another issue of HispaBrick. Issue 018 is available for download now. This is easily one of the best Lego Magazines out there. Even better, it is free. There is no excuse for not checking it out.

HispaBrick 018 features some great articles about, Kaneda’s Bike (Akira), Miniland Figure Building, Mindstorms, Legostar Galactica, Game of Thrones, Technic, and LDD. Plus many reviews and interviews. The 101 page magazine keeps getting better.

Hispabrick 018 Lego Magazine Pages

Download the English version here: http://www.hispabrickmagazine.com/en/content/english-hispabrick-magazine-018

The Spanish (Español) version here: http://www.hispabrickmagazine.com/content/hispabrick-magazine-018-0

HispaBrick Magazine 017 – Vehicles, Mindstorms, Reviews & Interviews

HispaBrick Magazine 017

The best digital Lego Magazine is back. HispaBrick Magazine 017 is available now for download as a PDF in english or spanish.

Featuring articles on Lego vehicles, Mindstorms, Robotics, Modular Landscapes, & Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Plus many reviews and interviews. This 100 page PDF is full of so much Lego content it might be the greatest issue yet.

http://www.hispabrickmagazine.com/en/content/english-hispabrick-magazine-017

Lego Mindstorms EV3 (31313) Reviewed by Lee Hutchinson @ Ars Technica

Lee Hutchinson's Mindstorms EV3 Review (31313) 01

The new Lego Mindstorms EV3 (31313) is almost here with an official release of September 1st. The early reviews are starting to be published, with an especially good review by Lee Hutchinson over at Ars Technica. The whole 601 piece set includes an Intelligent EV3 Brick, 3 servo motors, a remote control, a color sensor, a touch sensor, an infrared sensor, an instruction manual, and Mac/Win software. And, to no surprise, no batteries.

Lee Hutchinson's Mindstorms EV3 Review (31313) 02

“Still, price is really the only downside to this set. They’re ludicrously fun to play with, and I had a great time sitting on the floor like a kid piecing a robot together (and the whole process was made even better by the fact that I got to do it on the clock!). It’s hard to deny that making robots and then programming them to do your bidding is just straight-up awesome.”

Lee Hutchinson's Mindstorms EV3 Review (31313) 03

Check out Lee Hutchinson’s full review of the Lego Mindstorms EV3 (31313) over at Ars Technica: http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/08/review-lego-mindstorms-ev3-means-giant-robots-powerful-computers/ 

For a quick video review, Lee Hutchinson made a great video:

The Amazing Lego Great Ball Contraption (GBC) Layout 2012.9

http://youtu.be/sUtS52lqL5w

The Lego Great Ball Contraption (GBC) Layout 2012.9 is an incredibly famous MOC. The whole thing is built using a modular system. A total of 17 modules combine to create this massive contraption. It runs 500 Lego balls, at a rate of 1 ball per second, through a 31 meter course. Featuring zigzag stairs, pneumatics, shooters, trains, screw and spiral lifts, elevators and conveyor belts. Lego bricks, technic and Mindstorm, all come together in a very unique machine. One thing is certain this Lego machine is loud.

The Lego Great Ball Contraption (GBC) 2012.9 is a creation of YouTube user Akiyuky, more contraptions can be found on his blog: http://legokarakuri.blog91.fc2.com

BrickPi: Lego Bricks with a Raspberry Pi Brain @ Kickstarter

BrickPi: Lego Bricks with a Raspberry Pi Brain: Robot

BrickPi is a simple system for joining together Lego bricks with the Raspberry Pi. The Raspberry Pi is a super small open-source computer that is powerful enough to play high definition video. The standard connections available are USB, RCA, LAN, Audio, HDMI, GPIO, and SD Cards. With this system you will be able to hook a Raspberry Pi computer into the Lego Mindstorms sensors; specifically 3 motors and 4 sensors. These things combined can be used to create smart robots. BrickPi is looking for funding on Kickstarter, check out the video for more details:


BrickPi will be powered by Arduino and Python. As an added plus, the designers will be providing examples and libraries for all your robotic needs.

BrickPi is made by the people over at Dexter Industries.

“We were founded by John Cole, an engineer who had never touched a soldering iron before 2009, but had a burning desire to make robots. Most of our products before this were for the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT or Arduino.

When we saw the RPi, we saw the future and ordered six of them.  After setting up the Raspberry Pi, we were a little frustrated that it stood still. So we looked for a way to make it into a robot.

Thus was born the BrickPi.”

BrickPi: Lego Bricks with a Raspberry Pi Brain: Robot 2

Kickstarter: http://kck.st/13vuWtb
Dexter Industries: http://www.dexterindustries.com/BrickPi/