Software Comparison

This table compares past and present versions of LEGO Robotics Software.

ROBOLAB 2.5.4 - The previous version of ROBOLAB (only for the RCX), designed for the educational market.
RIS 2.0 (Robotics Invention System) - Retail software for the RCX.
MINDSTORMS NXT (Lego MINDSTORMS NXT Software) - A special version of the NXT software for the educational market.
Retail NXT - The retail version of the NXT Software.
ROBOLAB 2.9 - The latest version of ROBOLAB (for the NXT and RCX),
designed to help facilitate migration from the RCX to the NXT.

Migration Resources

Main

Hardware Comparison

Software Comparison

Software Progression

Software Comparison

	ROBOLAB 2.5.4	RIS 2.0	MINDSTORMS NXT	Retail NXT	ROBOLAB 2.9
Mac	X		X	X	X
PC	X	X	X	X	X
Tutorials	X		X	X	X
Datalogging	X		(X)***	(X)***	X
NXT Brick Compatible			X	X	X
RCX Brick Compatible	X	X			X
Site License Available	X		X		X
Levels of Programming	X		X*	(X)	X
Uses LabVIEW Engine	X		X	X	X
Existing Sensors Compatible	X	X	X		X
Number of Icons	430	?	41	37	430+
Easy Pallet - # Icons	2-10 (pilot)	n/a	7	7	2-10 (pilot)
Advanced Pallet - # Icons	430	n/a	45	40	450
Developed by	Tufts CEEO	LEGO	NI	NI	Tufts CEEO
Internet Capabilities	X		X	X	X
Direct Mode	X		X	X	X
Multiple brick communication			X
Image processing/Camera Support	X		X**	X**	X
Bluetooth support			X	X
Floating point math					X
Piano Player (music composition)	X				X
Build own icons	X	X	X	X	X
Comment out code			X	X
Control lab compatible	X				X
Data Analysis	X				X
Open source	X		(X)****	(X)****	X
*Robot Educator creates natural progression from Easy to Advanced pallet
**In the future, with Bluetooth-enabled camera phones. Not available immediately.
***File Access in NXT enables you to upload a data file with sensor readings that can then be imported in e.g. Excel.
****Source Code for NXT will partly be made available in SDK (Software Developers Kit)