LEGO Education

Updated LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Education NXT Pricing

Prices below are for the United States only.* If you are outside the US, check www.LEGO.com/education for a dealer in your area.

*Prices are subject to change

NXT Set vs. the FLL Robot Set

What's the difference between the LEGO MINDSTORMS Education NXT Base Set and the FIRST LEGO League NXT Robot Set?

The FLL NXT Robot Set consists of three components: The LEGO MINDSTORMS Education (LME) NXT Base Set, the LME programming software, and the Education Resource Set. This special pack is only available to FLL teams through the FLL registration process, and will be available for pre-ordering on May 8th. The price will be $280. To see the contents of the Base Set and Resource Set, see the FAQ page (scroll to the bottom).

This competition season, teams can purchase either the NXT Robot Set or the RCX Robot Set. The RCX Robot Set has the same components as in previous years. Teams are only eligible to purchase one Robot Set, so they must make a choice between the NXT version and the RCX version.

Additional NXT Base Sets, copies of the LME software, and Resource Sets can be ordered individually from LEGO Education beginning April 1st. Both the FLL NXT Robot Set and the Base Set will ship in August. The RCX Robot Set will ship in June. For more information regarding FLL and the NXT Robot Set, please see the FLL FAQ page.

Pre-Ordering April 1

Reserve LEGO MINDSTORMS Education NXT sets, software, and curriculum beginning April 1 at www.LEGOeducation.com! Shipments will begin the first week of August. For a price list, see this previous post.

Meet the Sensors: Ultrasonic Sensor

Education Extras: Converter Cables

Edited 3/10/06: Some of the information regarding the NXT sensors and the RCX brick was wrong.  It has been corrected below.

Another extra provided in the LEGO MINDSTORMS Education NXT is the converter cable.  The converter cable allows you to connect existing RCX-compatible sensors and motors to the NXT brick.  This will come in handy for many users who wish to continue using their considerable collection of existing sensors.  It will also makes it possible to use the existing LEGO temperature sensor in conjunction with the NXT.  Since the NXT set does not include a temperature sensor at this time, this will greatly benefit those who rely on that sensor for specific projects.

Some people have asked about using the converter cable to connect the RCX and the NXT. Although you could physically connect them, nothing will come of it. Just as it wasn't possible to have two RCX bricks communicate through a connecting cable, the NXT brick won't be able to communicate with the RCX through the converter cable.

People have also asked if it's possible to use the converter cables to connect new sensors to the RCX brick.  This is partly possible.  Using the converter cable to connect the new touch and light sensors will work, as the RCX is familiar with touch and light sensors anyway.  It isn't feasible to connect the sound or ultrasonic sensors, however, due to software limitations.  The ROBOLAB software used by the RCX can't communicate with the new sensors.

Have I confused you?  Here's the quick version of everything I just said:

NXT Brick + NXT Sensors = Works
NXT Brick + RCX Sensors = Works
RCX Brick + Updated NXT Sensors = Works
RCX Brick + NXT Brick = Doesn't work
RCX Brick + New NXT Sensors = Doesn't work

Any questions?  Send them to NXT@LEGOeducation.us.

LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Education NXT Pricing

Finally! Below you’ll find pricing* for the majority of the items available for MINDSTORMS Education NXT. These items will be available at the LEGO Education online store in early April, and will ship in August.

FIRST LEGO League teams wishing to use the new MINDSTORMS Education system in the competition this year should NOT purchase the Base Set and software listed here. A specially packaged NXT Robot Set can be ordered during the registration process beginning on May 8th, 2006. The set will ship to teams in August.

Prices below are for the United States only. If you are outside the US, check www.LEGO.com/education for a dealer in your area.

LME Base Set - $250
Item #: 979797

NXT Intelligent Brick - $126
Item #: 979841

NXT Rechargeable Battery - $48
Item #: 979798

NXT Servo Motor - $17
Item #: 979842

NXT Touch Sensor - $15
Item #: 979843

NXT Light Sensor - $15
Item #: 979844

NXT Sound Sensor - $23
Item #: 979845

NXT Ultrasonic Sensor - $30
Item #: 979846

Bluetooth Dongle - $35
Item #: 979847

LME Software - $42
Item #: 900077

Check back to our website soon for prices on the following:

• Curriculum
• Classroom and Site Licenses
• Getting Started Packs

*Prices are subject to change.