LEGO^® Station

Concept:
Date: 2004

Robots come to life and face competitive challenges. Whoever assembles and programs his/her robot the best is the one who will emerge victorious!

In the LEGO^® Station, children age eight and up can experiment with new technologies and, in doing so, nurture their creativity, analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities. The challenge is to set up robots to be deployed in the “RoboMatch” game environment in which their task is to score as many goals as possible within a specified timeframe.

In workshops, groups of two go about facing this problem. What’s more effective—kicking the ball or throwing it? What tactical approach should the robot take? As soon as the most important questions are answered, it’s time to get busy assembling the robot. LEGO^® components, motors, as well as touch and light sensors are put together and linked up with the RCX, a LEGO^® microcomputer.

With user-friendly software, the assembly team can use drag-and-drop procedures right on the PC to endow the constructed robot with a personality, certain modes of behavior and special skills. The program is then transmitted to the robot via infrared signal.

Now, the robot is ready to go into action and measure its capabilities against those of the creations of other workshop participants.

RCX technology was developed in cooperation with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US.