Virtual instrumentation test, control and design products maker National Instruments Corp. (NI), and toy manufacturer LEGO A/S, Billund, Denmark, have jointly developed the software component for the next generation of LEGO's MINDSTORMS robotics toys.

MINDSTORMS NXT includes an all-new PC and Mac-compatible programming environment based on NI's LabVIEW graphical development software. The new product, announced at the recent Consumer Electronics Tradeshow in Las Vegas, will be available in August.

NI and LEGO have a relationship that began in 1998 with the development of RoboLab, the programming software used in the MINDSTORMS for Schools product. Also based on LabVIEW, it is available in 17 languages and has helped make MINDSTORMS for Schools the leading robotics learning and invention system for educators worldwide, NI says.

For MINDSTORMS NXT LEGO is taking advantage of new technologies such as a 32-bit processor, new motors and sensors, Bluetooth wireless communication and enhanced software development tools.

NXT software provides an intuitive, feature-rich environment allowing for click-and-drag icon-based programming. According to NI, younger users will find it much easier to create their own programs, while older users will appreciate the ability to create sophisticated programs for their robots.

The new software will be used in both retail and educational NXT versions.

"Developing a version of LabVIEW for LEGO MINDSTORMS presents a unique opportunity for National Instruments to run LabVIEW on a high-volume embedded platform and create a development environment that works equally well for young children, scientists and engineers," Ray Almgren, NI vice president of product marketing and academic relations, says. "Our initial collaboration with the LEGO Group to develop RoboLab resulted in a very successful product for LEGO Education and also drove enhancements to LabVIEW that our customers benefit from today."

"This new collaboration will make a version of the LabVIEW graphical environment available to hundreds of thousands of children worldwide on the most popular robotics invention system," he adds. "We are fortunate to work with a company whose products are inspiring children to be innovative and creative and possibly pursue careers in science and engineering."

"We are thrilled to collaborate with National Instruments on development of the NXT software environment," LEGO director of MINDSTORMS, says. "To broaden the base of MINDSTORMS users among younger children and more advanced robotics designers, it is important to get the product design right, but also to provide unlimited potential through the software tool."

"Using the sophisticated NI LabVIEW engine allows us to maintain everything users appreciate about the current MINDSTORMS experience, but then go the extra mile to provide a tool that is easy enough for a 10-year-old to master on a surface level and technical enough for an adult user to be challenged and inspired to create," he adds.