LEGO 31313 Mindstorms EV3 Robotics Kit, 5 in 1 App Controlled Model with Programmable Interactive Toy Robot, RC, Servo Motor and Bluetooth Hub, Coding Skills Boost Set for Kids

I know, this set is not the cheapest and you don't get many bricks either. What you do get is that large computer brick, a selection of motors and sensors and some usual Technic parts. Plus, the box wrapper is actually printed inside, so it becomes a playground mat when unfolded. I will be honest when I opened the box I thought - "is that it?" as there's really not that much in the box. The paper booklet provided contains instructions for only one model (Track3r) - other models require a PDF instructions download from the LEGO Mindstorms website. Now, the reality is that it doesn't matter - the bricks provided are enough to build 5 different robots from instructions provided. These are just the models advertised on the packaging. There's plenty of instructions for different robots on the official Mindstorms' website. Building-wise - you're connecting bricks same way as any current Technic set and it does things. No surprises there. The biggest thing about Mindstorms is the programming bit (obviously) - if you've done anything with Scratch before (that little cat that teaches people how to program) - you'll be fine. In fact - you can really tell similarities between Mindstorms and Scratch - and that's a good thing. The software works with both Windows & OSX and it might be a little intuitive at the beginning but LEGO got that covered & added some basic videos on their website to help you out. Then using the Scratch-like interface - you'd simply chain blocks together, change some values for power/time etc and voila! Your program is up and running. Then you can connect your EV3 brick via the USB cable provided (or any micro USB cable) and copy that to the robot which will execute it. This is clearly the most fun part for me - unlike Scratch where action happens on screen all of a sudden your LEGO robot does what you told it to do, moves, makes noises etc. Initially you'll spend some time adjusting action timings, power and other values to perfect the challenges. So, challenges - each of the 5 robots shown on the packaging contains a set of challenges to solve. For example, the Track3r requires building 4 different attachments to the front that are performing different actions - rotating to remove objects out of the way, mini cannon (LEGO calls it 'bazooka') shooting LEGO balls, handles to grab objects and a mini-hammer, and using those either smash, shoot, move tyres or hit you with the hammer when its sensor detects your hand. Then the objectives should be set on the mat provided and program the robot accordingly. I'd suggest to build and complete the challenges as these are fun and allow you to learn the EV3 programming rules gradually. Once challenges are completed, the fun doesn't end there - as with any LEGO - use your imagination to build things you want. And that's the true beauty of this set. Enjoy!

This is a great gift for a child or even a middle-aged person curious about robotics. I hesitated between the various entry-level kits for robotics - Vex, Lego, Pi/Arduino bots and a few other kits. In the end, I decided to go with Lego EV3 and did not regret it. The pros are ease of use, clear software and many ready examples. The visual programming software was a bit annoying (you have to line the blocks correctly which can be tricky if you use a touchpad or a poor quality mouse), but kids quickly grasped how it's done. So even though I would prefer programming using text commands, I think for an entry-level visual programming is a good start. Moreover, I later learnt how to construct "My Blocks" (basically combining parts of the program into blocks/chunks, which can be reused multiple times) and that meant that the programs would look a lot simpler visually. There are many books/videos/online forums for going beyond the basics. For most of the programming (except the very basic) you will need access to a computer. Lego has software for both Mac OS and Windows. It will help if your computer has Bluetooth networking, otherwise you will either need to get a WiFi dongle (which is huge) or use the included USB cable. The USB cable is long enough for most basic robots, but for experiments with line-tracking the robot can go a bit far away, so it helps if you can fine-tune your programs from the computer and send the results to the robot without the need to re-attach the cable. Overall, I am very pleased with the purchase (actually I bought 2 sets for the kids and one for myself) and highly recommend EV3 set! Take note that batteries are not supplied, so if you're ordering this I would recommend getting: i) at least 12 AA batteries (6 for use in the robot, 6 for recharging). If you're going to build a robot that uses a lot of the engine power, then make sure you have the spare battery set. Otherwise you'll sit around waiting for the batteries to recharge, which spoils the fun. (I got Amazon Basics batteries and they work well!) ii) battery recharger (this one works well for me: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00IZBAV00/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A28QVT3E6UV0FU) iii) 2 AAA batteries (these are for the infrared remote, if you want you can get additional 2 AAA batteries, but the batteries on the remote last for a long time because they do not power any motors). PS: if you're thinking whether to buy Home or Education version, I would recommend getting the home version (unless cost is not a factor). Then, supplement it with the Education expansion set for EV3 and you'll get a lot more in terms of details. PPS: Once you figure out the basics, you will want to experiment with other sensors. For line-following I get terrific results when I add a second colour sensor. For most tasks requiring accurate measurements of distance, you will need to get the ultrasonic sensor. You can use the infrared sensor for distance measurements, but it's not very accurate and my robot once fell off the table due to incorrect reading of the height.

This product is one of the more expensive Lego sets on the market yet offers excellent value for money for children of all ages who are interested in tinkering. The kit comes complete with bags of Technical Lego beams, connectors, axles, gears and wheels. In addition the kit contains an EV3 brick, the heart of the system, three motors (two large, one medium), an IR remote / beacon, a bump sensor, camera sensor and IR sensor / proximity detector. You also get a USB cable to connect the brick to a PC and instructions for building the first model, TRACK3R. The electronic components connect to each other with cables (supplied) that are terminated by RJ12 connectors, similar to network or phone connectors. The EV3 brick takes 6 x AA batteries and the remote 2 x AAA batteries (not supplied). We are currently looking at getting some high powered rechargeable batteries for ours as the EV3 does seem to get through them. Instructions for the first model are fairly straightforward. Further instructions are available from the Lego website to build in excess of 13 unique models. My son, 9, has built TRACK3R, R3PTOR and EV3D4 and we are looking at some of the excellent models that have been built by the community. The motors and sensors seem robust enough and are plug-and-play; motors in the top of the brick and the sensors in the bottom of the EV3. The EV3 has a speaker, SD card slot and a black and white LCD display that is used to configure the brick. Speaker and display can be driven by user software to interact with the user. Sensors and motors can be bought separately including ones not included in the main set like gyro or ultrasonic. The box does not contain a CD or DVD of software installers; all software is downloadable from the Lego website, including the excellent (though quite technical) programming environment. This is similar in concept to the programming language Scratch which is widely taught in UK primary schools and, speaking as a programmer, should be something a 10+ child should understand. Connectivity is via USB or Bluetooth. WiFi is not supported out of the box and you will need the dedicated Lego WiFi USB dongle for this to work out of the box (not supplied). It is possible to hack and compile the brick firmware (source is available from Lego) to support other WiFi dongles. You can also drive the unit from an iPad (I've not tested it on other systems) or the remote control. The upside of this kit is that I feel it is something my youngest will grow with and that it will take him a while to exhaust all the possibilities of it. The only downside is that accessories are quite expensive, such as the official rechargeable battery for the EV3 (around £100 including the charger).

The LEGO bricks itself works fine so far. Very impressive for kids. My 7 years old son can build it using manual. He built 2 robots. The IR remote controller works but you need to switch between channels often e.g 1'st channel for driving, 2'nd channel for operating other robot features. The solution is to use smartphone with android as bluetooth rc. You don't need to switch between modes, you have all options on screen at once. The strong disappointment is the software you download from LEGO site for visual programming Claims to be based on LabView but it's far away from it. The software is far away from any standard. There are serious gaps e.g. 1) cannot create a custom icon for your custom "My Block". just choose from very limited set 2) to display a graphic on EV3 brick you are creating this in image editor. The editor doesn't show your image name and for each 'save' you need to type this name again (assuming you still remember it) 3) If you created a graphic and closed the editor, you cannot just reopen it for edition. A workaround is to export it from the project file to separate file and then open the file in editor. 4) etc... I would drop the visual programming change the fimware and switch to JAVA but i bought it to my son and he needs visualization. I thought i will prepare for him some custom blocks to encapsulate low level operations at the begining of his journey but so far it's blocked by poor programming environment. On smartphone with android You can install by Google Play a free game Fix The Factory from LEGO with the EV3 robot that your kid can control by typing simple sequence of steps. Very good start!

Awesome piece of tech that I wish was available when I was growing up! Although, I do believe we never stop learning and growing! Marries my three favourite things, technical lego, computers and robots! I would urge any parent to give this to a child that seems interested in how things work or building things. The Android and iPad apps work brilliantly across bluetooth (I haven't tried it with a wifi dongle yet). There is a huge community behind the various LEGO windstorms models and people are constantly providing examples of their ingenuity with instructions on how to reproduce their creations. The build instructions that come with the kit are limited to the very basic model, but that is just about right where you want to start! It's not difficult to build, the instructions are clear and pretty soon you will have a robot that will be remote controllable by IR and Bluetooth, or can be set off on a pre-destined program. Your imagination certainly starts to feel like the limit with this kit. There appear to be extension packs available and extra servos, motors, parts and controllers.... I have yet to get around to programming the brick yet, but I am salivating at the prospect being a software developer myself :) (Although you don't need to be to design the logic as there is a perfectly intuitive looking program for building up logic routines - again not fully tried it, but am raring to go this weekend)

Pros : Very good set with an infinity of possibilities. The technic bricks included have been very well chosen by Lego and you can build many different things such as autonomous robots, remote controlled vehicles, or fix robots with precise functions. For example, I found on the internet directions to build a robot that physically solves the Rubik's cube and the program associated was given too. I tried it and it worked, only using the bricks included in this set. It's a really interesting set too learn the basics in programming, in mechanics and in robotics. Cons : The box could have been better. It opens by the side so you cannot use it to put all the parts and search the ones you need... There are very few instructions included in the set. If you want to use all its potential, you will have too search on the internet or to buy a book explaining how to program with the Lego software and how to construct models with enough mechanical resistance. If you are not used to programming, you'll need some time to understand how it works. Last, the EV3 brick works with 6 AA batteries not included. I advise you to buy rechargeable batteries.

I'm an engineer who went into the field to work with robotics. I've owned just about every LEGO Mindstorms kit and accessory prior to the EV3. The EV3 kit has come a long way from its humble roots with the RCX system. The visual programming environment (provided as a heavily customized version of LabView) is relatively easy to get started. I wouldn't say the average kid under ten years could write software right away. But, the ease-of-use vs. capability ratio is greater than any visual programming platform I've used. Technologically speaking, the EV3 is a great platform for a large range of hobby roboticists. This could even be a serious tool in a commercial-grade rapid-prototyping environment. If you find the Raspberry Pi-esque DIY movement exciting, you can even boot into a familiar Linux environment, and start programming your creations with Python or C. If I had anything bad to say about it, the choice to use fairly obscure connectors for the motors and sensors limits a lot of DIY potential. Nobody has an RJ12-style telephone system in their house anymore, so I'm not sure why they felt the need to "protect" the ports from people trying to plug in their POTs lines. Instead, the DIYers either buy a bunch of these (expensive) "offset" connectors/jacks, or you buy the official LEGO cables, and cut them in half.

I am really disappointed in this set. The bricks are very good. The programming brick possibilities are exceptional. It works really well. BUT and it is a big one. The theme of the Home Edition is "Destroy and Kill". The models you can build out of the box are all meant to have "destructive capabilities". I knew that the base models are "combat themed", but I found the educational set model instructions and I thought we could build those. Nope. The sets have different bricks, so forget about building the Elephant or Puppy models. I'm not a pacifist by all means. Taking this into the basic perspective it is really hard to build a fun model with a 6 year old GIRL (yes, I know the set is 10+) . Girls don't want to have robots that smash stuff. They want puppies and elephants. Not killer robots. Taking about the big picture - how the hell are we to reach the starts if we teach our kids (that maybe will become engineers) to build robots of war? What I liked or not liked about the product: 1. Brick quality is what you come to expect from LEGO. Excellent for almost all bricks. The cheesy looking sword bricks are bad quality, visible mould injection marks, missing colour. 2. The model mechanics are really well thought out. The EV3 brick placement in some models is poor, you are unable to connect a wifi dongle or add a battery pack. The Dinorex model's legs will come apart in some situations. 3. The software that comes for Mac and PC is rich in features, but quite heavy. Once you get used to slowdowns it's really a cool tool to build programs, convert pictures and audio files. 4. Paper manual is included only for a single model. The rest are easily accessible in PDF (make sure you have a computer or tablet handy when you start to build). 5. Update EV3 brick software as soon as you take it out of the box. The update is easy and works well. 6. Programming and debugging the brick is really well done (live view of data, live view of current step in the program). 7. The programming IDE is suitable for children, it presents programming concepts in a really easy manner.