NXT was the second generation of LEGO Mindstorms, released in July 2006 to replace the RCX of 1998. At its centre is the NXT Intelligent Brick, a small computer that runs the robot and takes signals from touch, light, sound and ultrasonic sensors, with three servo motors that can count their own turns. Robots are programmed on a computer with NXT-G, a drag-and-drop language built on LabVIEW from National Instruments, and the brick can talk to a phone or computer over Bluetooth.
2011 LEGO Sets
2011 introduced Ninjago, which quickly became one of LEGO’s most successful original themes and the foundation of a long-running multimedia franchise. Other launches included Pirates of the Caribbean, coinciding with Disney’s On Stranger Tides, the sci-fi Alien Conquest, and Master Builder Academy, a design-focused building program. LEGO also experimented with digital-physical integration through Life of George, an early augmented reality experience. Collectible Minifigures Series 3–5 strengthened LEGO’s growing collector market, while internal employee-exclusive sets like Moulding Machines became prized rarities. Several themes concluded this year, including Harry Potter, Ben 10, Power Miners, Toy Story, Prince of Persia, Space Police III, and BrickMaster.