In what is now unfortunate timing, No Starch Press have two new LEGO® MINDSTORMS books available. Both books offer advice and tips to get the most out of the soon-to-be-retired MINDSTORMS kits and elements. Although the product range is set to be discontinued at the start of next year, the companion app will remain active for a couple more years and the books also cover the SPIKE Prime kits from LEGO Education, which are to remain on sale for the foreseeable future. No Starch Press has kindly provided both of the newly published books for me to take a closer look at. So here’s a brief review of both the Getting Started with LEGO MINDSTORMS and Mastering LEGO MINDSTORMS books.
Product Description
A hands-on, beginner-friendly guide to building and programming LEGO® robots.
You’re the new owner of a LEGO® robotics kit. Now what? Getting Started with LEGO® MINDSTORMS teaches you the basics of robotics engineering, using examples compatible with the LEGO® MINDSTORMS Robot Inventor and SPIKE Prime sets. You’ll be making remote-control vehicles, motorized grabbers, automatic ball launchers, and other exciting robots in no time.
Rather than feature step-by-step instructions for building a handful of models, you’ll find essential information and expert tips and tricks for designing, building, and programming your own robotic creations. The book features a comprehensive introduction to coding with Word Blocks, an intuitive visual programming language based on Scratch, and explores topics such as using motors and sensors, building sturdy structures, and troubleshooting problems when things go wrong. As you learn, loads of challenges and open-ended projects will inspire you to try out ideas. Your journey to becoming a confident robot designer begins here.
- Book Title: Getting Started with LEGO MINDSTORMS
- Publisher: No Starch Press
- Pages: 144
- RRP: £16.99/$19.99
- ISBN: 978-1718502420
- Formats: Physical & Digital
- Availability: Online Book Retailers
Although the LEGO MINDSTORMS and SPIKE Prime kits have instructions and apps to help you get to grips with their working elements and programs, you get the most out of them by getting creative. Although the LEGO system of play forms the basis of the sets, they rely heavily on Technic elements and powered pieces such as motors and sensors. For the average LEGO builder, these pieces may seem a little daunting which is where this book comes into play. It doesn’t hold your hand through step-by-step instructions, instead, it gives you the knowledge to unleash your own creativity. One thing I particularly liked about the book was the simple things like showing how various Technic elements can be connected together. It may be a little complex for younger builders, but would be a great book for adults to use with their kids to create working models.
Product Description
Take your LEGO® robotics skills to the next level.
You’ve learned the basics of LEGO® robotics, and now you’re ready for more. Mastering LEGO® MINDSTORMS teaches you everything you need to know to level up your robotics engineering skills, using examples compatible with the LEGO® MINDSTORMS Robot Inventor and SPIKE Prime sets. In no time, you’ll be programming autonomous robot vehicles, interactive games, LEGO® musical instruments, and more.
Rather than feature step-by-step instructions for building a handful of models, you’ll find essential information and expert tips and tricks for designing, building, and programming your own robotic creations. The book teaches the fundamentals of writing text-based code for your robots using the popular Python programming language; shows how to harness gears, linkages, and other mechanisms to create all kinds of motion; and explores sophisticated programming techniques for popular applications such as line following and obstacle avoidance, using both Python and Scratch-based Word Blocks. As you learn, loads of challenges and open-ended projects will inspire you to try out ideas.
- Book Title: Mastering LEGO MINDSTORMS
- Publisher: No Starch Press
- Pages: 136
- RRP: £16.99/$19.99
- ISBN: 978-1718503144
- Formats: Physical & Digital
- Availability: Online Book Retailers
If the Getting Started with LEGO® MINDSTORMS book has whet your appetite for creative coding or you know the basics and want to delve deeper into the world of MINDSTORMS and SPIKE Prime, this next book is for you. Mastering LEGO MINDSTORMS offers a more in-depth insight into just what this unique LEGO build system has to offer. The powered elements found in both of the kits can do some pretty nifty things if you know how to incorporate them into builds and combine them with the coding system. Again it doesn’t provide step-by-step instructions for builds, instead, it offers in-depth information on how to get the most from MINDSTORMS and SPIKE Prime. This book is for those who want a challenge.
Overall
Both titles cover an area of LEGO fandom never covered by other LEGO-focused books. They may be of little interest to the average LEGO fan but those who have MINDSTORMS or SPIKE Prime kits will gain a lot from them. The MINDSTORMS theme was born from fans getting creative in their own ways and these two books go to great lengths to provide the necessary knowledge, tips and tricks to get the most out of the LEGO Group’s robotic build system. Although MINDSTORMS will soon be retired, the books can still be used with the educational LEGO SPIKE Prime kits, which are also available to purchase from LEGO.com.
