LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT is the second version of LEGO’s MINDSTORMS robotics platform. It was launched in 2006 and was followed by LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 in 2013.

The platform included a programmable brick (also known as the NXT brick), motors, sensors, and a range of LEGO Technic parts.

As with other versions of MINDSTORMS, the NXT was developed for two different markets, home users (children and adult fans) and education (teachers and students). Different sets were released for each market. These included the  MINDSTORMS NXT Education Core Set (9797) and MINDSTORMS NXT (8527), and  MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 (8547). For more information about the differences between these sets and a comparison with the EV3 sets, see Which LEGO kit?.

There are a number of options for programming the NXT. The icon-based MINDSTORMS EV3 software is available in education and retail versions and is free to download. The NXT can be programmed in other languages as well, including ROBOLAB, LabVIEW, ROBOTC, and LeJOS.

Here are some additional resources to help you get started with the NXT:

• NXT car building plan: Basic car
• NXT car building plan: TassieBot (PDF)
• NXT building tips
• NXT Constructopedia
• NXT-G quick programming guide
• Programming with the Move block
• NXT books

Browse all NXT posts on this site.

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Rob Torok

I'm a teacher in Tasmania, Australia, and have been using LEGO MINDSTORMS with my students since 2001. I'm the editor in chief for LEGO Engineering (this site) as well as the content editor for LEGO Education Australia (LEGOeducation.com.au).

Latest posts by Rob Torok (see all)

• Obstacle Course - 26 August 2020
• Crash Test Dummy - 26 August 2020
• The Wave - 21 May 2020
• Build X - 20 May 2020
• Build a Duck - 20 May 2020