LOGO-L> LEGO Mindstorms

[KERRB@Magill.UniSA.edu.au]

from comp.robotics.misc (extract):-
maybe of interest, given earlier discussion on this list
-- Bill Kerr
------------------------------------

> > In article <350055F9.232E@robotic.com>, clint@robotic.com says...
> > > In <comp.robotics.misc> Russell Nelson <nelson@crynwr.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > > Sure, let's reverse-engineer Mindstorms.  I sent mail to Lego
> > > > suggesting that they might want to work with us, but got no response
> > > > (of course).  We always have the option of reverse-engineering it.
> > > > I've already got a mailling list set up.  To get on it, send mail to
> > > >         lego-robotics-subscribe@crynwr.com
> > > >
> > > > I'll put up a web page with whatever information we discover, as we
> > > > discover it.
> > >
> > > Isn't this a little crazy? The Mindstorm products aren't even on the
> > > market yet!
> > >
> > > Why reverse-engineer it? At "around $200" it seems to be a very, very
> > > good value. LEGO has invested in the robotics market, why not support
> > > them? How many other companies are _really_ supporting this very risky
> > > market? I'll tell you, from my many years of experience and research:
> > > almost none! Granted, it is not entirely their innovation (MIT made
> > > contributions to this product, as I understand it), but why not let them
> > > benefit from their investment? Do you really think you can put together
> > > a better package and beat their price? If not, why waste your time with
> > > a reverse-engineering project? Why not BUILD ON TOP OF WHAT LEGO IS
> > > DOING? Develop something cool that will build on top of the Mindstorms
> > > kits (i.e., additional project plans, sensors, competitions, etc.). Set
> > > up a web site and a mail-list to build on top of the Mindstorms kits,
> > > then you'll be doing something to benefit everyone!
> >  In order to add this sort of value on top of Mindstorms, they need to
> > know how it works.  I can't build a Mindstorms compatible sensor without
> > knowing how Mindstorms expects sensors to work.  The main project which
> > is being proposed is an alternate programming tool.  Something that would
> > run on my Mac would be nice.  There is also talk of Linux, SGI,...  They
> > want to expand Mindstorms, not compete with it.
> >
> >         Later,
> >          Gino A...

> 
> > Clint Laskowski <clint@robotic.com> wrote:
> > :> Sure, let's reverse-engineer Mindstorms.  I sent mail to Lego
> >
> > : Why reverse-engineer it? At "around $200" it seems to be a very, very
> > : good value. LEGO has invested in the robotics market, why not support
> > : them? How many other companies are _really_ supporting this very risky
> >
> > As has been stated already (maybe you didn't read those posts) - the
> > people who want to reverse-engineer it don't want to try to copy it
> > and reproduce it, they want to be able to write custom interfaces
> > for it that will run on operating systems TLG isn't going to provide
> > for, among other things.
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