Mindsensors+Lego=?
This is written for the purpose of persuading Lego to allow Mindsensors.com to use their sensor casings.
A small NXT (a Lego robotics kit) rover drives around with a sensor that detects which way an obstacle is. The shiny white robot dashed around quickly, and the whir of the motors rises and falls as the rover drives around autonomously. The robot turns away from several walls, then finds a cup and grabs it. The sensor is made by Mindsensors, an online store that makes some of the best sensors available. (A sensor gives input on something, in this case, it detects if the robot will hit something ahead of it or not.) However, all of their sensors are all un-Lego-like because they don’t have any protective encasing. They are just bare-bone circuit boards.
Mindsensors, in my opinion, has the best sensors among all other stores I have seen so far. They have a wide selection of sensors that has all the sensors that other stores offer, and more. Their prices are reasonable, ranging from $19.95 to $97.75 and their sensors are well-made. Hitechnic, another sensor company that Lego has joined with, sells a sensor for $46.99, yet Mindsensors sells one with the same exact capabilities for just $32!
Therefore, I think, Lego should do what they have already done several times these past years with other innovative companies: join with Mindsensors and allow them to use their plastic encasing with their logo. Doing so would protect their sensors from being damaged by static shock; someone who had just walked on a carpet could easily burn a circuit on a sensor by just touching it, since it has no protection. Without the plastic encasing, it is also hard to attach to a robot, since the only way to attach it is by the holes that Mindsensors punched into the circuit board. The plastic encasing comes with Lego compatible holes, so allowing Mindsensors to use the encasing will solve ALL these inconveniences.
I admit that some of Mindsensors’ products do not meet Lego’s requirements. However, from some communications I’ve had, Mindsensors is not even aware of that. If they did, believe that they would even change their products to accommodate Lego’s requirements.
Therefore, I request that Lego to join with Mindsensors and allow them to use their plastic encasings. If they would accommodate this idea, many others and I would be very grateful to Lego and I’m certain that their sales will increase.
–ro1000
February 27th, 2008 at 8:28 am
Thanks for publishing this, snowblader!
February 27th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
No problem, I totally agree with you that they should. I do like their sensors. they are just ugly being a circuit booard. they are also hard to get to fit into a creation because of their size. they need to be smaller, the size of the lego ones are of perfect size and shape.
March 8th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Hi, i don’t own mindsensors yet as i fell upon hitechnic first - the IR link to go with my new power function buldozer
I guess they have done a better job in putting these
sensor on the table with the rest of my lego, the fact that they resemble my other sensors helped. Hitechic fit with my lego they are not scary they feel familiar LOL
Very well supported, documentation is in many languages, I’m sure hitechnic has done their homework and approched Lego with a good plan. I suspect that Lego has emitted an ‘appel d’offre’ studied all the companies and have found Hitechnic to ‘fit’ their market and meet quality levels established by lego (that is a not easy). I Also suspect that it must cost something to Hitechnic for using those branded casing which might explain why Mindsensors can sell for less. Perhaps Mindsensors is not even interested in partnering with Lego! if they tried and failed it not because their product is not good on the contrary. But it remains business and now a ‘deal / contract’ is probably in effect for exclusivity.
worth mentioning Mindsensors produces high quality sensor for many robotic application / platform their web site is very well done and clearly they don,t limit their market only to Lego yet cover it really well and offer products that are perhaps less mainstream - more ‘outside the (lego) box’ - advanced robotics - like the 8 RC servo controller or the Vision subsystem that are coming soon. Also do it yourself kit for cabling and an inexpensive port splitters.
This said Mindsensors have their charm, more hardcore punkish with guts showing resembling hacked upon robots .. they also have many sensors that are not available from Hitechnic like the pressure sensor. So as long as contest and competitions or youtubers don’t start dissing or allowing one versus the other just because of the format we’re ok!
All in all there is a need for both companies and together they offer us the consumer with a wide range of really cool products and options for our little hobby that is going beyond the limits of our imagination.
While writing this super long comment (what wrong with me i should be playing lego)
I suddenly have an urge to purchase some really cool now available Mindsensors products like the high precision range sensors and the obstacle detector
So ro1000 thanks for triggering this excitement and making me remember there are other options out there. Be proud to have ugly sensors on your robot it can only make them look cool and lets hope both companies continue to present us with new stuff to make us dream.
Visit them both today
http://www.mindsensors.com
http://www.hitechnic.com/
if you like sensors check out Gaspery ,Philo’s Extreme NXT - Apress - book.
ok done - run