LEGO Mindstorms is a hardware and software system desigend for the development of programmable robots made out of TECHNIC bricks. The original LEGO Mindstorms Robotics Invention System was born out of a collaboration between MIT and the LEGO group's eductaional division. Since the release, there have been a number of generations of the Mindstorms platform: the original Robotics Invention System, NXT, NXT 2.0, and EV3 and weth each platform release, the motor and sensor capabilities have greatly expanded. Mindstorms are also sold and used as an educational tool and called Mindstorms for schools or Mindstorms Education.
1999 LEGO Sets
1999 was a hallmark year for The LEGO Group, it was the year LEGO produced its first Star Wars theme with Lucasfilm, beginning a trend of licensed LEGO products. This event came alongside the year that Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace was released reviving the Star Wars franchise. Along with the successful Star Wars theme being introduced, LEGO released Rock Raiders, Slizer/Throwbot and Winnie the Pooh. In addition, Ice Planet 2002 and the Spyrius theme was re-released. A number of themes were discontinued in 1999 which included Cyberslam, TechPlay, UFO, Insectoids, Znap and Model Team.