Lego Mindstorms EV3 makes programmable robotics easier than ever (pictures)

LAS VEGAS--At the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas today, Lego formally unveiled the third generation of its best-selling programmable robotics platform. Known as Mindstorms EV3, the new product will be more powerful than ever, featuring autodetection of sensors and motors, and the ability to program directly on intelligent bricks.

This is Gripp3r, one of 17 robots that the $350 product will include instructions for at launch this summer.

Mindstorms EV3 is built around intelligent programmable bricks like this one. Up to four of the bricks can be daisy-chained together, and while most programming will be done on a computer, the bricks allow for simple development without a computer.

This is GyroBoy, a Mindstorms EV3 robot that could be part of any teacher's robotics curriculum.

The Mindstorms EV3 platform includes sensors that can detect several colors, or the absence of color.

This is R3ptar, another of the 17 robots that users will get instructions for out of the box.

Spik3r, a spiderlike robot, has the ability to fire small balls with deadly accuracy.

Although Lego will provide buyers with instructions for 17 different robots, it hopes that the user community will share thousands of other unique designs.

Students learning to program with Mindstorms EV3 might choose to build a robotic dog, like this one.

Mindstorms EV3 robots can be programmed to navigate an obstacle course, or to attack any object it detects is in front of it.

Two children work on programming a Mindstorms robot.