Robosapien RS Media gets new Lego Mindstorm NXT brain

If you're looking to delve a little deeper into the world of robotics, but don't exactly have the time or soldering skills to build your own, you'll be glad to know that you'll be able to hack away at your lovable Robosapien RS Media using Lego's Mindstorm NXT system. Thanks to Robosapien designer Mark Tilden's affinity for Lego, the Mindstorm brain fits perfectly into the bot's backpack, allowing you to program a host of new movements into its already robust and customizable repertoire. We suggest you start with something easy like dancing then move your way up to teaching your Robo to destroy the evil imposter, Robone. The source link goes on to mention a few other interesting projects being worked on at Wowwee headquarters, including a four-foot, Segway wheel toting Robosapien model with voice technology and an internet connection, as well as a robotic spider and dragonfly. It all sounds very exciting to us, and we, for one, would like to welcome our new robot overlords (beat you to it).

[PacketMonkee @ Jul 8th 2006 11:03AM]

All of Tilden's fanbois will buy this.
I used to think Tilden was cool, back when I was into BEAM... not anymore.

[John Sununu @ Jul 8th 2006 11:05AM]

I, for one, welcome our new Lego overlords.

[eskimo @ Jul 8th 2006 11:45AM]

Be honest with yourselves, people. We all know you're wondering how much that mounted particle cannon upgrade is gonna run you at Toys 'R' Us, you can say it. What's the point of welcoming our new overlords if they can't dissassemble us into millions of tiny molecules in a matter of seconds?

[Sam @ Jul 8th 2006 11:52AM]

As both an avid Engadget fan and Lego collector can we please stop with the "Legos." The plural of Lego is LEGO, its like sheep? Or is it one of those mystical spellings that morph on their way over the atlantic, like alooooominum????? ;-)

[Tony Rayo @ Jul 8th 2006 12:24PM]

With Microsoft's new robotics SDK, this becomes all the more interesting. Although you wouldn't need the Lego brain, you could interface with the Robosapien itself if it's as adaptive as they say it is (and I think it is because I saw an Aibo and a Robosapien in a video of Microsoft's Robotics lab. It's the first thing to come out of M$ in a while that I'm actually interested in (I sure don't care or think much about Vista atm).

- Tony R.

[Tony Rayo @ Jul 8th 2006 12:33PM]

Also Sam, I must say I laughed the first time I heard a brit friend say aluminum (why the need for all those extra syllables =p). However even The Lego Group (the offical arm of Lego, in the US at least) makes references to "legos" so I'm not sure. Of course there is the alternative OS for Mindstorm hardware called LegOS which doesn't help the confusion, but I believe purist consider "lego" to act as the singular and plural form of the word.

If it's any consolation, even being an American I always choose "-our" over "-or" when spelling words (i.e., favourite). I hope this is one small step to bridge US/UK relations (well assuming you are from the UK, I know Lego is huge in places like The Netherlands).

[Stubb @ Jul 8th 2006 1:16PM]

I, for one, would like to beat you with our new LEGO overlords.

[christopher @ Jul 8th 2006 2:23PM]

Hey....Isn't that the Napster Guy on the middle of his back-pack dealio?

[m @ Jul 9th 2006 3:32AM]

nice, new robot... welcome Ultralords :)

[Jimbob @ Jul 9th 2006 1:50PM]

hopefully its more advanced than the old one, found it talking to a door on more than one occasion.

[Azrael @ Jul 9th 2006 2:32PM]

You crazy Brits pronounce it Al-you-mini-yum. Crazy, crazy Brits.

[PixelSlave @ Jul 10th 2006 6:42PM]

I am still waiting for a robotic cat that can catch mice!

[Eric Moritz @ Jul 10th 2006 11:44PM]

A beer goes to whoever makes him do the Neopolian Dance

[Dan @ Jul 17th 2006 9:06AM]

Its all about the brain, the smarter these robots get the more A.I they get...should we be worried if things go to far advanced I wonder.