The EV3 Mindstorms kits will be available to the public in the fall of 2013. They'll retail at $350 - which might seem like a lot until you realize what you're getting.
Compendium of YouTube videos about the new ev3 Mindstorms
The new "pbrick" - programmable brick - is running Linux. And the new robot programming environment is rock-solid - nothing like the complex, slow, buggy NXT-G environment from the previous LEGO Mindstorms models.
Your EV3 LEGO robots will be able to use wifi, bluetooth, SD cards, USB sticks, and more.
I've compiled here all of the various details I've been able to find online - so, as a result, some of this may be inaccurate. While you'll learn a lot from the following, you'll also be left with almost as many questions as answers. I'll be addressing those questions here as soon as I have answers.
From what I can tell, the Mindstorms EV3 kit is a significant and serious improvement to the Mindstorms family!
Word is, the kit will come with instructions for building 17 different robot models. That's far more than were provided in earlier Mindstorms kits.
The press is touting that the kit has software providing 3D instructions - i.e. you can rotate the instructions to view the build from any angle.
I think the advancements in the educational kit are awesome - some 30 odd hours of instruction, means for teachers to track student progress, and a digital notebook mechanism for students to submit assignments.
"Lego believes that almost anyone can get a Mindstorms EV3 robot up and running within 20 minutes of opening the box, and can even start programming their robots without turning on their computer." - this makes me think they've either (a) made MASSIVE usability improvements to NXT-G, or (b) provided something entirely new for programming the EV3.
Word is, the EV3 does a reasonable job of allowing direct on-brick programming.
Above is the new ev3 "brick" - the controller module. At its heart, a 300MHz ARM9 processor, with 64MB of RAM, 16MB of flash memory, and an SD expansion slot. appears that's a second USB port as well. One report states the EV3 can do wifi. Another states that's via the USB port... but, that's OK! Wifi dongles are reasonably priced.
One report states: "The upgraded desktop development software is backward compatible to earlier NXT bricks, offering object-oriented programming tools and extensions to major robotics languages. It's unclear, however, whether desktop Linux will be added to the earlier Windows and Mac support."
Reviewing that statement carefully, it does NOT say it's NXT-G, nor that NXT-G programs can be ported forward. It says that the older bricks can be programmed via the new software.
This brings up an interesting question - can we get the new software and use it to program older bricks, before the new EV3 is available for sale? ...maybe? ...please? I like NXT-G but the various bugs it has are frustrating.
Answering a pressing question in the mind of everyone who has invested in the current Mindstorms, the new brick is indeed backward compatible with earlier NXT sensors and motors. They're still using the Mindstorms "almost-RJ12" connectors for cabling. However...
Note how it's red/yellow here and green in the top picture - possibly the light's color can be controlled?
Note how there's a graphical image displayed? The old NXT display could do graphics, but they were cumbersome to program - possibly there have been improvements to the graphics subsystem in the new EV3 controller.
The "old" (current) NXT brick talks bluetooth, and works great with a PC via a USB dongle, and with Android devices. There was evidently some compatibility issue with Apple iOS devices which is reported to be fixed in this new brick's bluetooth implementation. Expect the smartphone compatibility to be touted "out of the box".
"As before, multiple bricks can be connected, this time four instead of three."
There are now FOUR ports on the top (for motors, but... also for interconnecting controllers?) and four on the bottom (for sensors)
Press reports are currently saying "As with earlier kits, the EV3 includes four motors and five different sensors." Since the earlier kits had 3 motors not four, I assume the new EV3 will stick with that. None of the pics I've seen show a robot using 4 motors.
The on-screen "eyes" in the above model reinforce my feeling that LEGO has most probably made significant improvements to the graphics subsystem in the EV3 controller.
This model gives a good view of the new motor geometry. Note how the motors are more "boxy". It's not clear if they have different internals or remain with the same power/gearing configuration as the previous NXT kit.
This model also gives a good view of the new sensor box geometry. It appears the senor on this robot's right hand is a color sensor.
The above model leads me to believe that the basic kit provides a gyroscopic sensor - one or the other of those is required for an NXT to balance on two wheels. confirmed, below.
The sensor on the left hand is a new LEGO sensor - it's infrared. That's much preferable to the previous ultrasonic (SONAR) sensor. As a dual infrared sensor, it can "locate" the provided infrared remote control, and provides an "IR receiver" capability for the EV3. I.e. the infrared remote can indeed "control" a robot. The IR sensor also has some sort(s) of lens covers.
You can see the new motor clearly in the above model.
The motors moving parts appear to be the same as with the earlier model motors, excepting that they're offset 1L down from the centerline of the motor arm. This is an excellent change. It appears there are also some new ways to mount the motors - a 3L beam across the top of the back of the motor.
If you're paying attention you'll note the kit has (a) wheels with tires - two different sizes (b) rubber treads for "tank drive" style robots, (c) locking plastic tread as well.
The model above shows the bottom view of a sensor (to the right of the controller) and a side-view of a sensor (to the left of the "feeder mechanism") - we can see that, for sensors, the changes to the case are mostly cosmetic.
So... above we see that one of the three motors is different than the other two. It's not clear if its power would be that of a technics "medium" motor, or the newer "large" motor, or if its something entirely new.
Also we see the kit has a color sensor, gyroscope sensor, the infrared sensor, and two touch sensors. From this angle you can see the new 3L beam mounted at the back of the motors.
The above shows there IS a minor structural change with the new sensors - the center hole in the beam is an "axle hole" rather than a "pin hole".
Looking closely - they've replicated that new (pin-hole/axle-hole/pin-hole) pattern in other places - on the top of the two "drive motors", on the bottom of the new "third motor" as well.
The above geometry makes me think this is probably a repackaged "large" motor! That'd be awesome if it's true; the power capabilities of the "large" technics motor are much better than the "medium" in nearly the same space.
You can see the top of the controller from this angle. FOUR motor connectors, and a more standard sized USB connection for downloading programming from a PC.
On the side of the controller you see slots for a speaker. There are considerably more slots than were on the older Mindstorms controller - leading me to speculate that the sound capabilities for the new EV3 may be considerably improved as well. It appears it has more than just a "piezo beeper"
It's not clear if the above model can be made solely with elements available in ONE kit... if so, I'm very happy with the quantity of structural components as well.
...if the elephant CAN be constructed with just one kit, the kit has 12 of those rectangular structural elements rather than the 3 shown above.
All in all... exciting changes for Mindstorms! Also, a big thank-you to Sparra McNamara for the awesome images.
Here's a present for everyone who's made it this far - the "first look" from CNET TV.
And even better, a video playlist: EV3 MINDSTORMS
Late breaking news - as more info comes in, we get some answers! EV3
And, there's now a facebook group about EV3 as well!
facebook dot com /groups/legomindstorms
Compendium of YouTube videos about the new ev3 Mindstorms
The new "pbrick" - programmable brick - is running Linux. And the new robot programming environment is rock-solid - nothing like the complex, slow, buggy NXT-G environment from the previous LEGO Mindstorms models.
Your EV3 LEGO robots will be able to use wifi, bluetooth, SD cards, USB sticks, and more.
I've compiled here all of the various details I've been able to find online - so, as a result, some of this may be inaccurate. While you'll learn a lot from the following, you'll also be left with almost as many questions as answers. I'll be addressing those questions here as soon as I have answers.
From what I can tell, the Mindstorms EV3 kit is a significant and serious improvement to the Mindstorms family!
Word is, the kit will come with instructions for building 17 different robot models. That's far more than were provided in earlier Mindstorms kits.
The press is touting that the kit has software providing 3D instructions - i.e. you can rotate the instructions to view the build from any angle.
I think the advancements in the educational kit are awesome - some 30 odd hours of instruction, means for teachers to track student progress, and a digital notebook mechanism for students to submit assignments.
"Lego believes that almost anyone can get a Mindstorms EV3 robot up and running within 20 minutes of opening the box, and can even start programming their robots without turning on their computer." - this makes me think they've either (a) made MASSIVE usability improvements to NXT-G, or (b) provided something entirely new for programming the EV3.
Word is, the EV3 does a reasonable job of allowing direct on-brick programming.
One report states: "The upgraded desktop development software is backward compatible to earlier NXT bricks, offering object-oriented programming tools and extensions to major robotics languages. It's unclear, however, whether desktop Linux will be added to the earlier Windows and Mac support."
Reviewing that statement carefully, it does NOT say it's NXT-G, nor that NXT-G programs can be ported forward. It says that the older bricks can be programmed via the new software.
This brings up an interesting question - can we get the new software and use it to program older bricks, before the new EV3 is available for sale? ...maybe? ...please? I like NXT-G but the various bugs it has are frustrating.
Answering a pressing question in the mind of everyone who has invested in the current Mindstorms, the new brick is indeed backward compatible with earlier NXT sensors and motors. They're still using the Mindstorms "almost-RJ12" connectors for cabling. However...
- It's not clear if it uses NXT-G or some new programming environment.
- It's not clear if NXT and EV3 modules can be intermingled in a bluetooth network.
- From the looks of the following, it doesn't seem the existing rechargable batteries/chargers will be compatible.
Note how there's a graphical image displayed? The old NXT display could do graphics, but they were cumbersome to program - possibly there have been improvements to the graphics subsystem in the new EV3 controller.
The "old" (current) NXT brick talks bluetooth, and works great with a PC via a USB dongle, and with Android devices. There was evidently some compatibility issue with Apple iOS devices which is reported to be fixed in this new brick's bluetooth implementation. Expect the smartphone compatibility to be touted "out of the box".
"As before, multiple bricks can be connected, this time four instead of three."
There are now FOUR ports on the top (for motors, but... also for interconnecting controllers?) and four on the bottom (for sensors)
Press reports are currently saying "As with earlier kits, the EV3 includes four motors and five different sensors." Since the earlier kits had 3 motors not four, I assume the new EV3 will stick with that. None of the pics I've seen show a robot using 4 motors.
This model gives a good view of the new motor geometry. Note how the motors are more "boxy". It's not clear if they have different internals or remain with the same power/gearing configuration as the previous NXT kit.
This model also gives a good view of the new sensor box geometry. It appears the senor on this robot's right hand is a color sensor.
The above model leads me to believe that the basic kit provides a gyroscopic sensor - one or the other of those is required for an NXT to balance on two wheels. confirmed, below.
The sensor on the left hand is a new LEGO sensor - it's infrared. That's much preferable to the previous ultrasonic (SONAR) sensor. As a dual infrared sensor, it can "locate" the provided infrared remote control, and provides an "IR receiver" capability for the EV3. I.e. the infrared remote can indeed "control" a robot. The IR sensor also has some sort(s) of lens covers.
The motors moving parts appear to be the same as with the earlier model motors, excepting that they're offset 1L down from the centerline of the motor arm. This is an excellent change. It appears there are also some new ways to mount the motors - a 3L beam across the top of the back of the motor.
The model above shows the bottom view of a sensor (to the right of the controller) and a side-view of a sensor (to the left of the "feeder mechanism") - we can see that, for sensors, the changes to the case are mostly cosmetic.
Also we see the kit has a color sensor, gyroscope sensor, the infrared sensor, and two touch sensors. From this angle you can see the new 3L beam mounted at the back of the motors.
On the side of the controller you see slots for a speaker. There are considerably more slots than were on the older Mindstorms controller - leading me to speculate that the sound capabilities for the new EV3 may be considerably improved as well. It appears it has more than just a "piezo beeper"
All in all... exciting changes for Mindstorms! Also, a big thank-you to Sparra McNamara for the awesome images.
Here's a present for everyone who's made it this far - the "first look" from CNET TV.
And even better, a video playlist: EV3 MINDSTORMS
Late breaking news - as more info comes in, we get some answers! EV3
And, there's now a facebook group about EV3 as well!
facebook dot com /groups/legomindstorms
