New LEGO Education set - 9580 WeDo Robotics Construction Set

[Jordan Bradford-2]

This is a new Power Functions-based LEGO Education product that works similarly
to how the old Dacta Control Lab did. At the core is a USB breakout box with two
Power Functions connections. The programs are written in yet another
LabView-based graphical programming environment. It's like the Control Lab
because everything you build is tethered to the computer. LEGO robotics has gone
full circle, then: Control Lab (tethered/non-autonomous) -> RCX
(free/autonomous) -> NXT (free/autonomous) -> WeDo (tethered/non-autonomous).

158 pieces
Retails in the Pitsco LEGO Eductation catalog for $129.95.

It introduces (at least, I think it does) Power Functions versions of a motion
sensor (IR, not ultrasound) and a tilt sensor which has something rattling
around inside it. The set also comes with one of the small Power Functions
motors.

I just got it, so I haven't had time to play with it or set up the software, so
I don't know anything about its limitations like the number of devices it can
handle, etc. One important thing to note is that the two sensors' connectors
have a flat tile top -- no studs or electrical connections.

[TWS Garrison]

On Sun, 5 Apr 2009, Jordan Bradford wrote:

> This is a new Power Functions-based LEGO Education product that works similarly
> to how the old Dacta Control Lab did. At the core is a USB breakout box with two
> Power Functions connections. The programs are written in yet another
> LabView-based graphical programming environment. It's like the Control Lab
> because everything you build is tethered to the computer. LEGO robotics has gone
> full circle, then: Control Lab (tethered/non-autonomous) -> RCX
> (free/autonomous) -> NXT (free/autonomous) -> WeDo (tethered/non-autonomous).

To be fair, I think WeDo is targeted at much younger audience than the RCX
and NXT.  The chart on page 2 of the Dacta catalog actually specifies it
as elementary school only, while the NXT is elemetary school through
college.  Which means WeDo might be around my level of robotics
expertise. . .

> It introduces (at least, I think it does) Power Functions versions of a motion
> sensor (IR, not ultrasound) and a tilt sensor which has something rattling
> around inside it. The set also comes with one of the small Power Functions
> motors.
>
> I just got it, so I haven't had time to play with it or set up the software, so
> I don't know anything about its limitations like the number of devices it can
> handle, etc. One important thing to note is that the two sensors' connectors
> have a flat tile top -- no studs or electrical connections.

I saw that in the catalog.  I wonder if that's so people don't daisy-chain
them (which I believe the regular Power Functions do) and interfere with
the sensing or software?  If so, what happens if you use a Power Functions
wire to get around that?

--
TWS Garrison
http://www.morfydd.net/twsg/
LEGO: CA+++ SW++ GA+c #++++++ LS+++ P+++++ YB77m
Remove capital letters in address for direct reply.

[Jetro de Chateau]

In lugnet.admin.database, Jordan Bradford wrote:

> This is a new Power Functions-based LEGO Education product that works similarly
> to how the old Dacta Control Lab did. At the core is a USB breakout box with two
> Power Functions connections. The programs are written in yet another
> LabView-based graphical programming environment. It's like the Control Lab
> because everything you build is tethered to the computer. LEGO robotics has gone
> full circle, then: Control Lab (tethered/non-autonomous) -> RCX
> (free/autonomous) -> NXT (free/autonomous) -> WeDo (tethered/non-autonomous).
>
> 158 pieces
> Retails in the Pitsco LEGO Eductation catalog for $129.95.
>
> It introduces (at least, I think it does) Power Functions versions of a motion
> sensor (IR, not ultrasound) and a tilt sensor which has something rattling
> around inside it. The set also comes with one of the small Power Functions
> motors.
>
> I just got it, so I haven't had time to play with it or set up the software, so
> I don't know anything about its limitations like the number of devices it can
> handle, etc. One important thing to note is that the two sensors' connectors
> have a flat tile top -- no studs or electrical connections.

It would be nice to see if the sensors can be stacked on top of a motor allowing
read and write actions on the same port.

Also, I'd love to know if these new parts will work with any free software. I've
seen the parts (sensors and hub) for about half the price of the full set and I
would definitely be interested in those if I knew I could use them without
having to purchase the WeDo software as well.

Jetro