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