Robot Inventor

Overall Rating

3.5

(52 Reviews)

65% would recommend this product.

Rating

5 stars

20 Reviews4 stars

10 Reviews3 stars

9 Reviews2 stars

3 Reviews1 stars

10 Reviews

Overall Experience

Play Experience

4.0

Value for Money

3.6

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Reviews

• October 21st, 2020
  Average rating5out of 5 stars

  

  

  

  

  

  5.0
  A Superb Addition to the Mindstorms Series
  TeacherBrick |
  I would recommend this to a friend!
  Purchased for: Self

  I have been a huge fan of Lego and robotics for a number of years, so the Lego Mindstorms series is something that naturally caught my attention. My experience with Mindstorms started with the EV3 set. I originally purchased a set for personal use. I then used my role as a Primary School educator to introduce EV3 into classrooms. When I heard about the next iteration in the Mindstorms series, Robot Inventor, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. I had heard a few negative comments about the 51515 set before purchasing it, which raised a little bit of doubt in my mind that it would be a worthwhile purchase. Thankfully, those doubts have been firmly put to rest. The new Mindstorms set looks fabulous straight out of the box, You receive lots of little bags packed full of colourful parts, some stickers and a small booklet with some links. There are no instructions in the box, with digital instructions being favoured instead. The model instructions, as well as videos, code examples and the coding software are all contained within the new Mindstorms app. The app is well designed and easy to navigate. My one complaint so far would be the difficulty I had locating the Windows version, which was tucked away in the Microsoft App store. I would have expected the PC software to be easier to find for a new premium product such as this. A more visible link on the product page would help. The Mindstorms Robot Inventor kit features 5 new robot designs out of the box. Personally, I think these new robots are an upgrade on the models that come with the EV3 sets. Each robot model starts with a basic build. You then have the option to choose one of many additional activities to further develop and refine your robot. Charlie, which is the first robot I built, has ten additional activities to add to the base model including: a golf multiplayer game, a drum kit and a ski board. This new approach is a welcome improvement over the EV3 set. When you wish to start a new project, you can simply remove the additional parts/code and start again with your base model already built. This is in contrast with the EV3 kit, which only has one mode for each of the 5 robots. Once you get bored, you have to tear the entire thing down and start again. The biggest improvement that the 51515 Robot Inventor kit brings is in the coding software. The new Mindstorms app allows you to choose from Scratch or Python style coding, giving the user the option of block base coding or text based coding. This is such a drastic improvement over the coding software provided with the previous EV3 system. Speaking as an educator who has used the Mindstorms sets in school classrooms, this new approach to the coding is a game changer and will allow so many more children (and adults) of just about any ability to enjoy playing and learning with Lego Mindstorms. There are a few complaints from hardcore Mindstorms users which cannot go unmentioned. Robot Inventor 51515 does remove the option to daisy chain blocks. The wires are also hard wired rather than removable. Users will need to be more careful when pulling robots apart, because snapped cables will be a lot more expensive to replace now that they are built into the motors. It is a little disappointing that this new kit appears to be less flexible in its design than the previous EV3 was. Overall, I am really pleased with my purchase of the Lego Mindstorms Robot Inventor kit. The base package is a smart upgrade on the previous entries in the series with hours and hours of content to make and play with out of the box. This is before you factor in all of the fantastic creative possibilities that users will be able to design & make for themselves. The new coding software is head and shoulders above the previous EV3 software in accessibility and user-friendliness. I hope that Lego will continue to support the 51515 kit with extra features and add-ons for users to enjoy later down the line. Hopefully some of the negative aspects that current hardcore Mindstorms enthusiasts are disappointed with will be addressed throughout the product’s life.

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  Play Experience

  

  

  

  

  

  5.0

  Level of Difficulty

  

  

  

  

  

  4.0

  Value for Money

  

  

  

  

  

  5.0

  Build Time: 3 hrs

  Building Experience: Intermediate LEGO builder
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  24

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  55Robot Inventor
• December 15th, 2020
  Average rating5out of 5 stars

  

  

  

  

  

  5.0
  Latest iPhone or iPad not required
  Adso222 |
  I would recommend this to a friend!
  Purchased for: Self

  Using a 10 year old laptop updated to windows 10 and a Bluetooth 4.0 USB dongle, works fine with the new Mindstorms software. The programme supports either the Xbox or PlayStation 4 controller for use with the M.V.P. driving challenges, which makes it much easier to control than with a phone or tablet. To show it's versatility, have built the colour sorter from the EV3 set, see uploaded image. This new set as some great potential and I hope Lego keep supporting it.

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  Play Experience

  

  

  

  

  

  5.0

  Level of Difficulty

  

  

  

  

  

  3.0

  Value for Money

  

  

  

  

  

  4.0

  Build Time: 3 days

  Building Experience: Intermediate LEGO builder
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  9

  0
  55Robot Inventor
• October 27th, 2020
  Average rating3out of 5 stars

  

  

  

  

  

  3.0
  Good set, fun to play around with kids, limited.
  Gmid |
  I would recommend this to a friend!
  Purchased for: Self

  This is a strong set to teach the kids programming. It has a very easy learning curve, but allows you to make it as complex as you want in the end. The flexibility is awesome, enough motors and sensors to make anything you want. The biggest miss is to allow connection to other mindstorm bricks. The old EV sets would allow this, creating limitless possibilities and complexities. WIth this new set you're limited to one mindstorms brick, with 6 ports, and no communication whatsoever. I do hope this will be added as bluetooth functionality in future software/firmware updates. Yes I would recommend, but not to replace existing EV3 sets.

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  Play Experience

  

  

  

  

  

  5.0

  Value for Money

  

  

  

  

  

  5.0

  Build Time: 5 hrs

  Building Experience: Expert LEGO builder
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  11

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  35Robot Inventor
• September 15th, 2021
  Average rating5out of 5 stars

  

  

  

  

  

  5.0
  A solid improvement over EV3
  theProdigy |
  I would recommend this to a friend!
  Bought for a project. I bought the yellow version of the hub, but its EXACTLY the same as the Turkoise one. The microprocessor is very powerful and uses Micropython, which is great for someone with programing experience. The code blocks are not bad either. To the haters: code block style of coding can guarantee program correctness in more advanced situations, so don't dismiss the idea too quickly. Its kinda like functional programming. The actual processor has sensors(accelerometers) that can tell yaw, pitch, etc. It works very well. The only drawback: the cables cannot be extended. It has 4 motors of sufficient strength but you can also use the motors from Control+. For example, I bought several large angular motors that came in the Volvo Hauler and they work with the hub. The app for both iOS and Mac OS are both really well made. I highly recommend them

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  Play Experience

  

  

  

  

  

  5.0

  Value for Money

  

  

  

  

  

  5.0
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  55Robot Inventor