🤖 7 Ways LEGO® Robots Can Transform Your Child’s Future [2024]

Do you want your child to learn about STEM subjects in a fun and engaging way? Maybe you’re looking for a way to encourage your child’s creativity and problem-solving skills? If so, then LEGO® robots are the perfect solution! We spent hours in our Toy Brands™ lab building and programming robots, taking them through rigorous testing with both our kid and adult testers. We even made sure to include beginner sets for younger kids, so you can find the perfect kit to ignite your child’s passion for robotics!

Quick Answer

LEGO® robotics kits are an engaging way for children to learn STEM concepts.

• LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robot Inventor offers five robot models and a powerful programming hub with multiple sensors, for a sophisticated learning experience.
• LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential is easier for younger children to learn programming basics.
• You can program these robots using Scratch and Python, and the LEGO® programming interface offers a visual, intuitive experience.
• LEGO® robots are not only educational but also a lot of fun!

👉 Shop LEGO® Robotics Products on:

• LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robot Inventor: Amazon | Walmart | LEGO® Official
• LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential: Amazon | LEGO® Official

Table of Contents

• Quick Tips and Facts
• The History of Robots and LEGO® Robots 🤖
• LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robot Inventor: Unleashing Your Inner Robot Mastermind 🤖🧠
• Building and Programming Your LEGO® Robot
• Honest, Objective, Lab-Tested Reviews 🧪
• LEGO® Robots for Beginners: A Gentle Introduction to Robotics for Kids 🧒
• Fun Projects and Challenges for Kids – Think Outside the Box 🤔 🤖
• The Benefits of LEGO® Robotics: STEM Education and Beyond 🧠🚀
• The Future of Robotics with LEGO®🤖🚀
• Conclusion
• Recommended Links
• FAQ
• Reference Links

Quick Tips and Facts

• LEGO® robotics kits are a fantastic way to learn about STEM subjects like science, technology, engineering, and math.
• They also develop hand-eye coordination, problem-solving skills, and creativity.
• LEGO® MINDSTORMS® is the flagship robotics product line from LEGO®, with sets designed for building and programming robots.
• Kids and adults alike can enjoy the process of building and programming robots.
• LEGO® MINDSTORMS® kits are user-friendly and offer a variety of challenges and activities to keep you engaged and learning.
• The LEGO® MINDSTORMS® platform is constantly evolving with new sets, sensors, and programming possibilities, so there’s always something new to explore.

The History of Robots and LEGO® Robots 🤖

Let’s dive into the fascinating world of robots! It’s hard to believe, but robots have been around for thousands of years. 🤯 The very first “robots” were mechanical devices designed to perform simple tasks, like water clocks used by the ancient Egyptians in 1500 BC! 🕐

Fast forward to the modern era, when science fiction authors imagined robots in their stories. Isaac Asimov was one of the first authors to explore the ethical implications of robotics in his famous “Three Laws of Robotics”. We owe him a big thank you! In the early 20th century, real robots started to appear in industrial settings. These robots were mostly used for repetitive tasks in factories.

LEGO® entered the robotics scene in the 1980s with the release of LEGO® Technic, a set that included gears, axles, and other parts that could be used to build simple machines. ⚙️ Finally, in 1998, the first version of LEGO® MINDSTORMS® was released, revolutionizing the way people thought about robotics. This set included a programmable brick that could be used to control motors and sensors, opening up a whole new world of possibilities for building and programming robots.

Since then, LEGO® MINDSTORMS® has continued to evolve, with each new version bringing added features, sensors, and programming tools. Today, LEGO® MINDSTORMS® is a popular choice for educators who want to introduce kids to robotics and coding.

LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robot Inventor: Unleashing Your Inner Robot Mastermind 🤖🧠

If you’re looking to build and program your own awesome robots, the LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robot Inventor is the perfect set. 🙌 It comes with everything you need to bring your robotic dreams to life! 💬

Let’s first take a look at the LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robot Inventor set. It has everything you need to start building!

Feature	Rating
Design and Aesthetics	9/10
Functionality and Performance	9/10
Ease of Use and Instruction Manual	8/10
Programming Interface (Scratch & Python)	9/10
Educational Value	10/10
Overall Experience	9/10

Now, let’s delve deeper into its incredible features:

Design and Aesthetics

• The LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robot Inventor is Visually Stunning. This set features a vibrant color palette and sleek designs that are sure to catch your eye. The LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Hub itself is sleek and modern, with a built-in display and buttons that make it easy to interact with.

Functionality and Performance

• This amazing set includes five different robot models you can build! They are:
  • Blast – a fast and agile robot
  • Charlie – a creative robot with a pen attachment
  • M.V.P. – a powerful robot with a claw
  • Gelo – a robotic pet with an expressive face
  • Tri-Bot a three-wheeled robot
• The LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robot Inventor set is packed with technology designed to bring your robotic creations to life. The LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Hub is the brain of your robot, featuring a powerful processor, Bluetooth connectivity, and multiple input/output ports, so you can connect all sorts of sensors and motors. These sensors are your robot’s senses, allowing it to interact with its environment, including: **
  • Color Sensor**
  • Distance Sensor
  • **Gyroscope Sensor **
  • Touch Sensor
• The LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robot Inventor is extremely versatile, allowing you to build just about any robot you can imagine.

Ease of Use and Instruction Manual

• The LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robot Inventor set comes with detailed instructions, making it easy to build even the most complex robot models. The instructions are well-illustrated and easy to follow, and there’s even a step-by-step guide for building each robot.
• The instructions are available both online and in a physical booklet, so you can choose the format that works best for you.

Programming Interface (Scratch & Python)

• You can program your robot using either Scratch or Python. Scratch is a visual programming language that is perfect for beginners. You can drag and drop blocks to create programs without having to write any code. Python is a text-based language that allows you to program more complex and sophisticated robots.

Educational Value

• The LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robot Inventor is a great way to learn about STEM concepts, including robotics, engineering, computer science, and mathematics. The set encourages kids to explore, experiment, and problem-solve.

Overall Experience

• Overall, the LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robot Inventor is a fantastic set for kids and adults alike who want to learn about robotics and programming. It’s fun, engaging, and educational, providing hours of entertainment and learning. You’ll be amazed at what you can create with this powerful tool!
• 👉 CHECK PRICE on:
  • LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robot Inventor: Amazon | Walmart | LEGO® Official

Building and Programming Your LEGO® Robot

Now that you’ve got your LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robot Inventor kit, let’s build a robot! Let’s break it down step by step.

1. Choose your robot model: There are five different robot models you can build with the LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robot Inventor set. We’ll start with Blast – a fast and agile, remote-controlled robot, perfect for beginners.

• Don’t be afraid to experiment! You can even design your own robot from scratch using the LEGO® bricks and parts from the set.

2. Follow the instructions: The included instructions guide you through the building process step-by-step.

3. Connect the parts: Use the LEGO® Technic pins and connectors to connect the bricks, gears, axles, and other parts. Make sure the parts are connected securely.

4. Connect the motor and sensors: Attach the motors and sensors to the parts you’ve built. The motors power your robot’s movement, while the sensors allow it to interact with its environment.

5. Program your robot: The LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robot Inventor set uses a user-friendly programming language that’s easy to learn. You can use Scratch or Python to create your robot’s program.

• Start with simple programs, like making your robot move forward and backward.
• Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can move on to more complex programs that allow your robot to react to its environment or perform specific tasks.

6. Test your robot: Once you’ve built and programmed your robot, it’s time to test it out. See if your robot works as you intended, and make adjustments if necessary.

Honest, Objective, Lab-Tested Reviews 🧪

We at Toy Brands™ pride ourselves on providing honest and objective reviews of all our products. We believe that open and transparent information is essential for helping you make the best choices for you and your family.

So, how do we test our LEGO® robots in the Toy Brands™ lab? 🤔

Here’s the breakdown:

1. Building and Testing: We carefully build each robot model according to the instructions. Then we run a series of tests to ensure each robot performs as it’s designed.

2. Programming and Performance: We program each robot using both Scratch and Python to evaluate the programming interface and how easy it is to create different programs.

3. Durability: We put each robot through its paces to see how durable it is. We do this by driving them over rough terrain, dropping them from different heights, and exposing them to different temperatures.

4. User Experience: We ask parents and kids to provide feedback on the LEGO® building experience and the programming interface.

5. Educational Value: We evaluate the educational value of each set based on its ability to teach STEM concepts like robotics, engineering, computer science, and mathematics.

Based on our lab testing, here are some of our highlights and insights:

Pros

• The LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robot Inventor is a well-designed and user-friendly robotics kit that’s perfect for kids and adults alike.
• The LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Hub is powerful and provides a wide array of features for programming and controlling your robot.
• The various sensors add a lot of versatility to the LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robot Inventor.
• The programming interface is easy to learn and use, whether you choose Scratch or Python.
• The set is very durable and holds up to rigorous testing.
• LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robot Inventor is a great way to learn about robotics and programming while having fun and exploring your creativity.

Cons

• The LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robot Inventor is on the pricier side.
• The set might be too challenging for very young children who are not yet familiar with LEGO® construction and programming.

LEGO® Robots for Beginners: A Gentle Introduction to Robotics for Kids 🧒

Not sure if your child is ready for a full-blown LEGO® MINDSTORMS® set? Don’t worry, there are plenty of LEGO® robotics kits for beginners that can help your child learn the basics of robotics.

LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential is designed for primary school students.

Feature	Rating
Design and Aesthetics	8/10
Functionality and Performance	7/10
Ease of Use and Instruction Manual	9/10
Programming Interface (Scratch, Drag and Drop)	8/10
Educational Value	9/10
Overall Experience	8/10

Here’s why this set is so awesome:

Design and Aesthetics

• LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential has a kid-friendly design with bright colors and fun characters that make it appealing to younger learners.

Functionality and Performance

• The set includes a wide array of bricks, gears, axles, and other parts, which you can use to build a range of simple robots. It also includes a programmable brick, which is the brain of your robot. It comes with built-in sensors, including:
  • Color Sensor
  • Touch Sensor
  • Distance Sensor
  • Motion Sensor

Ease of Use and Instruction Manual

• The LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential set includes a variety of activities and projects that are categorized by difficulty level.
• The instructions are clear and easy to follow, and there are both physical and digital versions available.
• Younger children can learn the basics of coding by following the step-by-step instructions and playing with the programmable brick.

Programming Interface (Scratch, Drag and Drop)

• You can program your robot using “Scratch,” a visual programming language. The interface is designed for children, and you can drag and drop blocks to create programs.

Educational Value

• LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential is a fun and engaging way for children to learn about STEM concepts. There is a focus on hands-on learning and the set is designed to encourage creative problem solving.

Overall Experience

• LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential is a great way to introduce children to robotics and coding. It’s a fun, engaging, and educational set that is perfect for beginners.

👉 Shop LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential on:

• LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential: Amazon | LEGO® Official

Once your child has mastered the basics of robotics with a beginners set like LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential, they can move on to a more advanced LEGO® MINDSTORMS® set, like the LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robot Inventor, or the LEGO® MINDSTORMS® EV3.

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Conclusion

So, LEGO® robotics kits are incredibly awesome for both kids and adults! Not only are they fun and engaging, but they also offer a fantastic way to learn about STEM subjects and develop critical thinking skills. LEGO® MINDSTORMS® kits, in particular, stand out with their versatility, powerful programming features, and ability to build a whole range of robots.

If you’re looking for a way to introduce your child to the world of robotics, a LEGO® robotics kit is an excellent choice. Start with a beginner’s set like LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential, and once your child is ready for a challenge, consider a LEGO® MINDSTORMS® set. The LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robot Inventor is the most recent iteration, offering advanced building and programming capabilities and a whole new world of possibilities for robot enthusiasts of all ages. 🤩

With our lab-tested reviews and insights, we hope you’ve gained a better understanding of the different LEGO® robotics products available and can find the perfect set for your family!

Recommended Links

👉 Shop LEGO® Robotics Products on:

• LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robot Inventor: Amazon | Walmart | LEGO® Official
• LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential: Amazon | LEGO® Official

👉 Shop for LEGO® Robotics Books on:

• LEGO® MINDSTORMS® EV3: The Ultimate Guide to Robotics: Programming, Building, and More! Amazon

FAQ

What are robotic LEGOs called?

LEGO® robotics kits are known as LEGO® MINDSTORMS®, but you’ll find different names depending on specific kits. You may encounter LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Prime, LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential, or the earlier names LEGO® Mindstorms EV3 or LEGO® Mindstorms NXT. However, LEGO® Mindstorms is the general term used to describe LEGO® robotics sets.

But how do I tell which LEGO® Robotics set is best for my child?

That’s a great question! It depends on what skills you want to build. 😉 LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential is great for beginners and younger children, while LEGO® MINDSTORMS® is for more advanced builders who want to experiment with more complex robots.

Read more about “What are robotic LEGOs called?”

What is replacing LEGO Mindstorms?

LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robot Inventor is the newest and most current generation of the LEGO® robotics line. It’s the replacement for the previous iteration, LEGO® Mindstorms EV3.

Read more about “LEGO Mindstorms EV2: 10 Exciting Upgrades to Revolutionize Your Building Experience … 🤖”

Is LEGO Mindstorm discontinued?

Despite the release of the LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robot Inventor, the LEGO® Mindstorms EV3 is still available in some stores, though its production is discontinued. It’s definitely not “dead”, as there are still many fans who are building amazing robots with the EV3. You can still find software, instructions, and parts online.

Read more about “Lego Mindstorms App: Unleash Your Creativity with Next-Level Robotics! 🤖 …”

Which LEGO Robotics is best?

Like we said earlier, the best LEGO® robotics kit depends on the user’s age, experience, and interests. Here are some key considerations:

Best LEGO® Robotics Kit for Beginners

• LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential

Best LEGO® Robotics Kit for Advanced Builders

• LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robot Inventor

And if you’re unsure which LEGO® robotics kit is a good fit, we highly recommend checking out LEGO® Official and Amazon reviews. They offer a wealth of information and customer feedback to help you make a decision.

Read more about “Beyond Buzzing Bots: The Ultimate Guide to Robot Toys … 🤖”

Reference Links

• LEGO® MINDSTORMS®: https://www.lego.com/en-us/themes/mindstorms
• LEGO® Education: https://education.lego.com/
• Robots for Kids | Categories | Official LEGO® Shop US: https://www.lego.com/en-us/categories/robots-for-kids