LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 31313 Robot Kit with Remote Control for Kids, Educational STEM Toy for Programming and Learning How to Code (601 Pieces)

I am a seasoned RC vehicle veteran. Over the last several years I've owned and operated nearly 50 different RC vehicles, ranging from basic starter trucks all the way up to $500+ vehicles. My experience with RC vehicles led me to a Parrot AR.Drone, which has a few features on it that allow it to fly somewhat autonomously. These autonomous features made me start looking into ways to make a regular RC truck more autonomous, which of course led me to start looking into robotics.Years ago, when the very first LEGO Mindstorms set was released, I actually purchased one. Upon getting it home, I decided that it was probably too advanced for me, and I ended up returning it. Fast forward to this year. While looking into ways to start getting into robotics, I headed to the store to buy a Robosapien X. Although basic, the Robosapien X seemed like a good place to start with robotics, as it had a basic way of being programmed, and it had some options for modifying it to add features and accessories. While at the store, I saw the Mindstorms EV3 set. I was immediately in awe, as the box just draws you in. I liked the looks of the models that it was showing, and knowing LEGO quality I knew it would be a product that functioned as good as it looked. It was a bit pricey for me, so I passed on it initially.A few days later, I kept thinking about the EV3 set, so I just went ahead and ordered one on Amazon. It arrived quickly, as is the case for most of the things shipped from Amazon, and I was all set to get started.Upon opening the packaging, you quickly realize that the outside sleeve is a "course" for the robots that you are going to build to navigate on. It's a nice feature, and a good way to include something like this. The cardboard is more sturdy than just a poster that folds up, so it seems like it will last longer than if it was made out of regular paper and included in the box.After getting the box open, I started inspecting the things that were included. Lots of parts, the motors, sensors, and that all important "brain" type of brick. The instructions included are for building the first model, which is called Track3r.I set about following the instructions to get the Track3r built. It was a fairly quick build, with no real issues that popped up. As is always the case the instructions were clear and concise and didn't leave me guessing at any point. After getting the model built, I headed to my PC to download the EV3 software, which installed quickly and easily. I then went about following the instructions for setting up my first program.Now, I'm pretty tech savvy...however, I've never really tried any kind of computer programming. This was the part of the Mindstorms EV3 kit that had me a bit concerned, as I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to wrap my head around it.Luckily, the LEGO programming method is extremely easy to use. It's a graphic system where you drag and drop "blocks" that serve as the commands, and then in those blocks you change settings in order to change what the robot will do when it reaches that portion of the program.In a matter of minutes I had the first program written and installed, and the robot very quickly did exactly what it was supposed to do...it moved forward, spun a blade and knocked a tire off of a spot, then moved back to the starting point.I was impressed. I had managed to program a robot all by myself, and it didn't even seem to frustrate at all.Over the next several days, I continued using the EV3 software to progress through the different models and "missions" that went with the Track3r. I continued to not have many problems with the programming, and by about the third mission I realized something...the LEGO EV3 software was slowly, subtly, but surely TEACHING me programming. Each mission was bringing new variables to the table that required different programming blocks and options. It was so subtle that at first you don't even realize that you're being taught something, and to me this is ingenious. Any time learning can be disguised as fun, I feel that it's something that will be more easily recalled and will be something that people WANT to continue to do.After the first four missions, before even progressing to the final mission with the Track3r, I decided to give it a go at creating a program completely from scratch. What I wanted to do was effectively "reverse" the Track3r, so that it's back was it's front and it's front was it's back, so that it could use the IR sensor as an "eye." I then wanted the Track3r to move around on it's own, and when it came into a certain proximity of an object it would back up and turn around, then continue going.It took me a little while to figure out a couple of the functions, mainly because I wanted the speed it reversed and the amount it turned to be "random," but with the help of the great Mindstorms Community on LEGO's site, I was able to figure it out...and in fact, I figured it out while waiting for a response from that site, but then used the response just to check my own work.After about a night worth of work, I had managed to create a program that had the Track3r roam about on it's own. Whenever it would get within about 8" of an object, it would back up (at a random speed), growl, turn around (a random amount at a random speed) and then move forward again. With this program, the Track3r is effectively able to just autonomously roam around the room and not get stuck on anything.Success!!! I had built a robot, and programmed it myself with a program that I had built from the ground up.I've had so much fun tweaking and adjusting this program that I've made, that I haven't really felt a need to move on to any more of the models. That's not to say I'm not looking forward to moving on to those other models, I am, and I probably will start a new one this next week...but the ways I've been able to slowly tweak my program to do EXACTLY what I wanted it to do has been a lot of fun for me.I believe that even though I've only gone through a small portion of what this set has to offer, I'm already convinced of this set's awesomeness. This is, without a doubt, the best LEGO set I've ever had...and, dare I say, one of the best products I've ever bought, period. Is it pricey?? Absolutely, but I believe it is worth every penny. I've had so much fun with the first set of builds for the Track3r that I feel I've already gotten value out of the kit...and the fact that I have a ton of stuff left to do before I even start moving on to ground up models with ground up programs just says to me that this kit's value is through the roof.Highly, highly recommended!!

A few years back my son learned how to build robots using the NXT 2.0 version of Mindstorm in a Mathobotix camp. He loved it and wanted his own Mindstorm kit but my husband and I didn't feel he was ready for the responsibility of such an expensive (cue the "clean up your room"!!). Four years later he's now in middle school in the MESA program (Math Engineering Science Academy) and entered a robotic arm at a MESA competition. So we felt it was time to invest in this kit. By now, its EV3 (3rd generation) and is a more comprehensive kit then the NXT (the NXT was less expensive because you had to pay for the programming separately which was another $100 or so. Now, everything is included in the EV3 so the end price turns out to be pretty equivalant). I like that Lego doesn't release new versions very quickly so you have time to really work with this program and it stays relevant a lot longer unlike other technologies. The building part is easy because of my sons prior Lego building hobby but he's learning more advanced programming of the robots he's building and he's doing a lot of research on how to hack they system to make the rotations go from 360 to 720 (I think?) which is a doable hack because Lego has a program for it called EV3.14. Unfortunately he's quickly outgrowing the kit and needs more parts. Which you can buy individually or as a expansion kit. The expansion kit is sold on Amazon for a ridiculously high price. You can find it on the Lego Education site (just Google "EV3 Expansion Kit" and look for the Lego education URL), you can't find the kit on the standard Lego website but you can find some parts there, not a lot. Now my daughter is wanting to learn and I'm very excited about that because women are entering the technology workforce more then ever. We recently had 5 female STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) Valedictorians graduate last year from the highschool my kids will go to. According to a recent event our girl scouts went to at a local Navy base the US will have over 3 million STEM jobs to be filled in the next 5 years and its estimated only 200,000 college graduates will qualify. If you want to help your child grow in engineering and technology Mindstorm is worth every penny! And there's a great opportunity for some family quality time here too :)