Test & Measurement     31/08/2007

National Instruments and LEGO Group Announce New Version of LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT Robotics Software

LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT

Graphical Programming Environment for Robotics System Extended to Windows Vista and Intel-Based Macintosh Computers

National Instruments and the LEGO Group announced the latest software update for the popular LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT robotics invention system. Powered by the National Instruments LabVIEW graphical programming environment, LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT software Version 1.1 now provides support for the Windows Vista operating system and Intel-based Macintosh computers in addition to improving memory usage on the NXT Intelligent Brick.

“The new LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT software gives users the opportunity to take advantage of the latest operating systems while improving the functionality of the product,” said Steven Canvin, business development manager at the LEGO Group. “We are proud to continue bringing innovation to the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT product, one of the most popular robotics platforms ever launched.”

With the software’s improved memory usage, LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT includes smaller compiled programs and compressed sound files. These improvements provide users with increased system performance, especially when creating more complex programs.

“These software enhancements and compiler improvements are a direct result of our close collaboration with LEGO Group,” said Andy Bell, academic product manager at National Instruments. “It is exciting to provide continual innovations to LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT users and we look forward to aligning our products with leading technologies.”

The updated software remains compatible with the NI LabVIEW Toolkit for LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT. Through the toolkit, LabVIEW users can create and download VIs to operate and control the robotics platform. Also, third-party software and hardware users can create native blocks using the toolkit for development on LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT.



For further information visit www.lego.com/shop and National Instruments