Recently, artificial intelligence has become more and more available to the general public. I don't mean just extensive college programs, but children. Yes, children! This is because Lego has recently released a new Mindstorms series to its already vast collection.

Mindstorms works on basic programming skills. Once you've loaded the software onto you computer you will be able to program simple tasks to complicated missions. Controlling your Lego robot is the RCX (Robotic Command Explorer), a mini computer that sends commands to the robot and receives input from it as well which is transferred to your computer.[probably images of the RCX and the Box]

How does it receive input? Sensors attached to the robot. These can go from simple touch sensors that respond when a small knob is pressed on it to temperature sensors which are constantly receiving information. Based on how you have programmed your creation, a simple touch could change it's whole mission.[images of the varios sensors, convenient if we had pop-up descriptions of each, can send you info]

Programs very similar to the Mindstorms software are available to schools with the Lego Dacta Robolab kit.

Continue on to expansion kits.
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