Lego plans to release as open source the microprocessor firmware of its programmable robot product line, Mindstorms NXT, the company said Monday.
As part of its open-source efforts, the iconic toy company also expects to release software, hardware and Bluetooth developer kits. The firmware code and the developer kits should be available by August when Mindstorms NXT is publicly available.
Now that is changing and the developer program participants are free to discuss their projects, and much of the fruit of that work should begin appearing on the Mindstorms Web site soon.
Meanwhile, the software developer kit includes the NXT driver interface specifications and all tools required for building new application programming environments.
Similarly, the hardware developer kit gives users the plans for the NXT 6-wire digital connector system, which can enable them to create third-party sensors that are interoperable with the NXT motors and programmable system.
Finally, the Bluetooth developer kit details the Bluetooth protocol built into the NXT microprocessor. That should enable users to design programs allowing any Bluetooth device to interact with Mindstorms NXT robots, Lego said.
The company didn't try hard enough to stop a 10-year incursion by hackers likely working from China, says a former Nortel exec cited by the Wall Street Journal.
Google creates an animated doodle that features a boy, a girl, Google's search engine, and a jump rope. But might there be darker, more analytical, more troubling interpretations to this tale?
When the sun goes down, that's when the iPad gets busy for folks with news readers. The iPhone? It's more of a daytime habit. If you're building an app for both devices, heed the lesson.
EnerG2 opens a plant to make an engineered carbon that will improve performance of energy storage devices and make storage for start-stop hybrid cars less expensive.
Join the conversation