As others have noted, they still have an education focused robotics set, it’s just not called Mindstorms:
<a href="https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/lego-education-spike-prime-set-45678" rel="nofollow">https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/lego-education-spike-prim...</a><p>As a now-successful robotics engineer, I was the target age when the first Lego mindstorms set came out. Due to the cost it had to be a combined birthday and Christmas present (still obviously very privileged). The simple scratch-like programming system that kit used was great for me as a tween learning robotics.<p>Today I am designing an open source farming robot as a non profit project! (See my profile)<p>The early history of Lego Mindstorms is interesting. I didn’t realize Seymour Papert was involved but that makes a lot of sense! Especially with the name Mindstorms:<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Mindstorms" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Mindstorms</a><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindstorms_(book)" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindstorms_(book)</a>
I got the original Lego Mindstorms 1.0 kit for my 8th birthday - there was no programming interface, just a way to select one of 256 possible sequences of high-level actions the robot would perform in a loop. I paid for my first car by working at summer camps that taught kids how to use the Mindstorms 2.0 and NXT, and built my first 3D printer with Lejos (<a href="https://lejos.sourceforge.io/" rel="nofollow">https://lejos.sourceforge.io/</a>), Lego Technic parts and a tiny spindle router that could sculpt shapes into floral foam.<p>While I'm saddened by this news for nostalgic reasons, I personally believe that today's young learners are better served by the proliferation of hobby robotics platforms like Arduino/Raspberry Pi. Every summer camp I worked at would claim that Lego robotics teaches real-world engineering skills, while in reality the students were just happy to stay within the comfort zone of playing with Legos and using a block-based programming environment (one that has quite frankly gone from bad to worse to absolutely horrible with each product cycle). Also, FIRST Lego League does nothing meaningful to prepare students for FIRST - when I donated supplies and a few weeks of mentorship to my former high school's FIRST team, I was dismayed to see how much dead weight the team was carrying in students who participated in the middle school Lego league, who did not have even the basic coding/engineering skills to make any contribution to the high school team other than paying the membership dues.
Sad to see this as someone who enjoyed these as a kid and entering robotics competitions based off of them; hopefully the new products will keep the spirit alive.<p>There was even some decent FOSS tooling that developed on top of Mindstorms: I used NXC (Not eXactly C, <a href="https://bricxcc.sourceforge.net/nbc/welcome.html" rel="nofollow">https://bricxcc.sourceforge.net/nbc/welcome.html</a>) which was a C-like language for programming Lego Mindstorms. It looks like the last release of NXC was in 2011.
Mindstorms has a long compelling history before LEGO, that includes cybernetics, the Logo programming language, turtle graphics, Braitenberg vehicles, and the rise of the MIT Media Lab.<p>See the book "Mindstorms: Children, Computers, And Powerful Ideas" by Seymour Papert. Free from MIT.<p><a href="https://mindstorms.media.mit.edu" rel="nofollow">https://mindstorms.media.mit.edu</a><p><a href="https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Logo_(programming_language)" rel="nofollow">https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Logo_(programming_language)</a><p><a href="https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtle_graphics" rel="nofollow">https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtle_graphics</a><p><a href="https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Braitenberg_vehicle" rel="nofollow">https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Braitenberg_vehicle</a><p><a href="https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Seymour_Papert" rel="nofollow">https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Seymour_Papert</a>
That's somewhat bittersweet. The company I now work for and lead was inspired by mindstorms. Our founder had written a DOS based software for alarm receiving centers. Even back then he and his prime customer were unsatisfied with the restricting logic of managing alarms by only having a few choices how to react to an alarm. Usually show some text, and have a person call someone and then write up a protocol. So he build some sort of programming environment for alarm receiving software.<p>Now they could implement individual alarm workflows for their customers. But that was still nothing his customers could use themselves, because they still would have to know how to program.<p>But then he saw an ad for mindstorms in the Lego catalogue his son brought home from the toy store. That inspired him to write a completely new software. Windows based with a their own graphical programming environment embedded.
> <i>That said, SPIKE Prime is effectively LEGO Education’s implementation of MINDSTORMS, so it’s tricky to envision how the two platforms could co-exist under a single banner.</i><p>And <i>SPIKE</i> web app[0,1] does not work in <i>Firefox</i>:<p>> <i>Browser not supported</i><p>> <i>Use Google Chrome to access the
LEGO® Education SPIKE™ App.</i><p>[0] <a href="https://education.lego.com/en-us/downloads/spike-app/software" rel="nofollow">https://education.lego.com/en-us/downloads/spike-app/softwar...</a><p>[1] <a href="https://spike.legoeducation.com/" rel="nofollow">https://spike.legoeducation.com/</a>
Although they claim to not be abandoning the idea and the trademark altogether, I don't really understand the reasoning behind not using such a seemingly strong brand. Mindstorms appeared pretty popular with hobbyists and in education.
I have many fond memories of Mindstorms...<p>In college I started out a math major. The first CS class I took was a robotics class based on Mindstorms, as a sophomore. I remember it was restricted to only juniors and seniors, but it sounded cool, and I found a bug in the course registration system that let me sign up anyway.<p>It was a great class. It's fun that in computer science there are so many different ways to solve your problems. Within the year I was getting bored of mathematics, and all I really wanted to do was take more CS classes....
This is sad. Lego Mindstorms played a huge role in my life trajectory. I discovered RCX and NXT in middle school, absolutely loved building stuff with them and went to robotics competitions.<p>It got me really interested in robotics to the point where I decided I would move halfway across the world for college to get educated further in robotics. I did that and I am now a professional roboticist. None of that would’ve happened if it wasn’t for Lego Mindstorms. Sad to see it go. Their spike prime kit looks way too basic compared to how mature and extensible the mindstorms ecosystem is.
RIP
My Robotics professor developed ROBOLAB with Lego + LabView. In return, Lego funded part of the robotics department. We had the most amazing Lego lab. Bins of every shape piece you could ask for. It was really a childhood dream come to life.
I fondly remember the Mindstorms RIS 2.0 set my parents got me for Christmas in 2001. It was the starting point of my fascination with and eventual love of computers. I'm sad to see it go (although it does live on sort of as Spike).<p>-- Remainder of comment is a personal story --<p>Using this thing my dad gave me access to called "the World Wide Web", I eventually learned that people were making custom sensors for the RCX like distance sensors and proximity sensors.<p>The first website I found is still up 20+ years later and the design is delightfully unchanged (<a href="https://www.philohome.com/sensors.htm" rel="nofollow">https://www.philohome.com/sensors.htm</a>, <a href="https://www.philohome.com/mindstorms.htm" rel="nofollow">https://www.philohome.com/mindstorms.htm</a>)<p>Trying to follow these projects eventually led me to become frustrated with the block environment and I arrived at something called NQC (Not-Quite-C). It's a C-like language/environment for the RCX stock firmware.<p>Wait, <i>stock</i>, there are <i>other</i> firmwares??<p>Then I learned about something called "lejos" (a Java VM for Mindstorms) through a MacWorld magazine my dad left laying around, which is how I ended up starting to learn Java.<p>Next thing I picked up was the BASIC Stamp through the Parallax Boebot kit.<p>I eventually started going to a local robotics club (Chibots), which exposed me to even more stuff. One member was trying to start a business making AVR eval boards for hobbyists and gave me a few samples, which is how I picked up AVRs (Arduino was still a few years away). His website went offline a few years ago. Hope he's doing alright.<p>He and most of the club were using an environment for AVR called BASCOM AVR, which feels a lot like VB6, but for AVR. I couldn't afford the $80 it cost as a kid, so I ended up learning C because avr-gcc was free and open source software, which eventually let me to Linux and more.<p>Being a kid was fun, but I always had trouble relating to the other kids :)
A fantastic feature of Lego Mindstorms is that they provided developer kits for both hardware and software, including schematics, datasheets, and source code. It was really fun to build a custom motor controller board which interfaced with Mindstorms, just because their open interface and information made it simple. Sad to see it go - hoping that their new offerings keeps the hacking alive.<p><a href="https://education.lego.com/en-us/product-resources/mindstorms-ev3/downloads/developer-kits" rel="nofollow">https://education.lego.com/en-us/product-resources/mindstorm...</a>
My very 1st programming experience was on this baby as a ~10yo kid.<p><a href="http://www.technicopedia.com/8479.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.technicopedia.com/8479.html</a><p>Still remember how instane it felt.<p>I remember that when constructing the truck I forgot to add in some gears so the claws didn't rise properly and I had to dissasemble the entire cabin again: my dad almost had to force me to do it because I was constructing it for so long that I was totaly tired and just wanted to be done with the damn thing.
Bummer, I feel like Mindstorms landed right in that gap for me where I was a bit too old for them when they first came out (in high school, already having a blast with web programming), and now I have a two year old who builds giant Duplo castles, has conversations with our household robots, wears robot pajamas, and I'm super excited for them to age into robotics toys.<p>This SPIKE Prime thing seems neat, but as others have mentioned, a bit bland. Hopefully LEGO comes out with some rad space robot themed sets at some point.<p>Does anyone know if LEGO has or is working on some sort of Minecraft style environment where you can build cool stuff, and then develop the programs and run them in the simulated environment? Then maybe you can build the machines IRL and run the same code to get the same behavior? Even a single player simulator would be pretty neat, though multiplayer would be ideal. Maybe what I'm hoping for is something like a MuJoCo for kids, and it seems like LEGO would be a perfect match to have a product like that.
In case anyone cares, there is an open-source Python library for interfacing with Lego Boost/Mindstorms [0]. Last time I checked, it worked quite well with the Boost and needed some minor work with the actual Mindstorms hub.<p>[0] <a href="https://github.com/undera/pylgbst" rel="nofollow">https://github.com/undera/pylgbst</a>
Part of the problem is Lego is horrible for robotics. It's very hard to build complex mechanical systems in Lego. It's also degenerating; newer kits are less and less creative (kids follow instructions and build models, rather than creative inventing).<p>The kits I use with my child are Engino Discovering STEM. Each kit lets you build a bunch of interesting, complex mechanical systems. It's not just a little better than Lego; it's in a different class for building robotic systems. It's also a lot cheaper.<p>What it needs, though, is a competent software platform. I'd love to have this integrated with something like the BBC Micro:bit.<p>My general feeling is that Lego is in cash cow mode. A lot of money flowing in, but weakening fundamentals.
I was introduced to Lego Mindstorms while programming on the Apple II in elementary school. It was a fun way to let kids that were a little on the nerdy side get to try some new things.<p>We did things like write security systems (beam cross triggered alarms), or make little cars.<p>It was called "Lego LOGO" at the time, I believe. (confirmed: <a href="http://lukazi.blogspot.com/2014/07/lego-legos-first-programmable-product.html" rel="nofollow">http://lukazi.blogspot.com/2014/07/lego-legos-first-programm...</a>)<p>Don't worry hackers. Lego has a long history of integrating with computers. This isn't their first attempt and won't be the last.
Sad news. My dad got me Lego Mindstorms (the $200 original set) when I was in 5th or 6th grade. It was one of those toys that is so addicting, while also getting you exposed to science, engineering, and computers. I used it for a year and had my fun; I didn't think about it for years after, but it was probably why I ended up joining the Robotics Club in high school. Also probably why I picked up programming classes in college even though my major wasn't programming. I'm grateful to have been exposed to this wonderful, and limitless toy. I really hope the replacement product is as magical as this.
The differences between Robot Inventor and SPIKE Prime are pretty minimal and there's nothing stopping consumers from buying SPIKE Prime through LEGO Education other than simply being aware that the option exists.
Man, playing with Mindstorms is some of the most fun I’ve had as an adult. This announcement is a shame.<p>I spent some time going through all of their basic examples in Rust, which was just delightfully silly.
I was given a Lego RCX kit for Christmas in about 98 at the age of 12. It was my first exposure to “proper programming” with its visual flowchart based language (I was already playing around with HTML). I spent days building various inventions with that set. It very much set me in the path I’m still on today.<p>I’m sure someone will come out with a new product range that fills that gap. My eldest kid is 8, I was planing to introduce her to Mindstorms in the next year or so…
It’s a shame but I can see how it’s a harder sell than the nth iteration of a scene from say Harry Potter.<p>IMhO, they could do well by combining programmable elements with thematic sets, say add programmable motion to a haunted house. They have already tip-toed down this path, eg. the roller coaster has an optional motor function. However the pure approach of Mindstorm clearly has too narrow a
market.
I had this nightmare vision where children "program" a robot by showing it's electronic eye a schematic representation of it's desired motion and/or reactions, from the manual, and the on-board AI converts the image into a working program. Although now that I write it out, it's perhaps not very nightmarish.
This is sad news. I hoarded a bunch of lego mindstorms and other robot sets over the news as my kids are still young. I cracked open a littlebits set (the star wars one) and was very dissapointed that the app that goes with it was removed from the app store.<p>My investment in a bunch of these devices will be devalued a lot :(
For me the Mindstorms failed at updates and could not work despite heroic customer service that did not include a refund. They are not a tech company and can not do tech.<p>Since then I've proven that things like ESP32 Arduino etc actually work to teach small kids real robotics. Mindstorms was always a gimmick.
In my opinion they tried to hard to make it easy.<p>The scratch-like interface is a nice idea but limited and probably expensive for LEGO to create and maintain.<p>They should have gone the Arduino direction and made it so that you could run Python or C++ directly on the bricks.<p>Kids are smarter than they get credit for, it’d work great!
Well, good riddance, I guess. The software side of this product has been completely mismanaged and community-hostile for a long time, and the hardware has always been overpriced.<p>Hopefully this will make market room for alternatives that give better value for money for STEM kids.
Does anybody remember any of the Mindstorms flash games on the old Lego game website? Those were pretty great. I especially liked the game where you tracked the spies in the vaguely Eastern European city of Telgrade.
They are currently hiring engineers to build their new API services and event-based systems.<p>Sure, they are ending a particular line - but not the concept. It's just moving more to the cloud I guess.
Hopefully this is simply a rebranding to allow code and robotics into any line of Lego set. The market for simple Lego robots can only grow over time as they continue to drop in cost.
Honestly, Lego Mindstorms are the main reason why I love computers and engineering. I owe a tremendous amount to those formative years well spent building away with my legos.
Looks like <a href="https://pybricks.com/" rel="nofollow">https://pybricks.com/</a> is a usable alternative firmware for the Robot Inventor hub.
They released a new generation not long ago (last year?). Sounded like it wasn't warmly received initially but later they were sold out. Something to do with that?
Can anyone here recommend the best entry point into robotics for adults? Is Spike a good product, or too kid focused? Background is that I'm a software engineer.
Lego is similar to Nint€ndo and Di$ney, they do not support the free culture, instead their lawers fight agains to free software projects or charity events.<p>Any educational tool/toy must be public domain or free license.