Tag Archives: toys

Open Source for LEGO Mindstorms

Lego Tribot

Open Source Firmware, Developer Kits for LEGO® MINDSTORMS®:

“Most often, innovation comes from the core community of users. Our ongoing commitment to enabling our fan base to personalize and enhance their MINDSTORMS experience has reached a new level with our decision to release the firmware for the NXT brick as open source,” said Søren Lund, director of LEGO MINDSTORMS.

photo: Lego TriBot – a flexible 3-wheeled driving robot with sound, light, touch and ultrasonic sensors – see more details.

Related: Books – Building Robots With Lego Mindstorms and LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Hacker’s Guide – Posts Lego Learning – Fun k-12 Science and Engineering Learning – Building minds by building robots – Buy the Lego Mindstorms NXT kit online – $250

Science Toys You Can Make With Your Kids

Simple steam boat

Science Toys You Can Make With Your Kids

Photo: the simplest steam engine you will ever see. It has no valves, no moving parts (in the traditional sense of the phrase), and yet it can propel it’s little boat easily across the largest swimming pool or quiet duck pond.

The site includes many simple projects to create toys and teach scientific principles in a fun way with simple materials. Gonzo Gizmos, is the book the site is based on.

Projects include: the impossible kaleidoscope, a simple rocket engine, building a radio in 10 minutes and building your own solar battery.

This cool site is definitely worth a visit.