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Comparing the NXT and EV3 bricks

So just how much better is the new brick?  Below you can find a table that puts some of the main aspects of the new EV3 brick NeXT to the NXT.  The original table came from the Roberta website, I just translated it from German.  The source of this information is The LEGO Group, according to the original PDF.  Please note that the images below don’t give a true sense of scale.  The two bricks do not differ a whole lot in size.

9841ev3brick

NXT EV3
Processor Atmel 32-Bit ARM AT91SAM7S256
48 MHz
256 KB FLASH-RAM
64 KB RAM
ARM9
300MHz
16 MB Flash
64 MB RAM
Co-Processor Atmel 8-Bit AVR, ATmega48
8 MHz
4 KB FLASH-RAM
512 Byte RAM
n/a
Operating System Proprietary Linux-based
Sensor ports 4,
Analog
Digital: 9600 bit/s (IIC)
4
Analog
Digital, up to 460.8 Kbit/s (UART)
Motor ports 3, with encoders 4, with encoders
USB Communication Full speed (12 Mbit/s) High speed (480 Mbit/s)
USB Host n/a Daisy-chain ( 3 levels)
WiFi dongle
USB Storage
SD-Card n/a Micro SD-Card Reader, can handle up to 32 GB
Communication with Smart devices Android Apple
Android
User-Interface 4 Buttons 6 Buttons with Backlight, handy for debugging and status
Display LCD Matrix, monochrome
100 x 64 Pixel
LCD Matrix, monochrome
178 x 128 Pixel
Communication Bluetooth
USB 2.0
Bluetooth v2.1DER
USB 2.0 (To talk with PC)
USB 1.1 (for daisy-chaining)

Other very cool features include the ability to auto-identify the sensors and motors when you plug them into your brick.

Some detailed information about the sensors for the EV3 sensors.  Please note that some of these sensors are for the Education market only and do not come standard with the retail set.

Click on the images for larger versions.

MINDSTORMS EV3 Retail set (image taken from RobotSquare - Laurens Valk)Ultra Sound Sensor (Education)Gyro Sensor (Education)

EV3 sensor Technical specifications
Touch Sensor Pressed/not pressed
auto-id
Colour Sensor 7 colours and no colour detected (that sort of makes 8)
Sample rate: 1kHz
auto-id
Ultrasound Sensor Can measure distance between 3 and 250 cm.
Distance is return in 0.1 cm resolution but accuracy is about +/- 1 cm
Can be used to detect other active US sensors (listen mode)
Cool LED light around the “eyes” (or should they be called ears?)
auto-id
Gyroscope Can be used to either keep track of your current heading as well
Accuracy in angle mode is +/- 3 degrees per 90 degrees turned
In gyro mode, it can handle a maximum of 440 degrees per second
Sample rate: 1kHz
auto-id
IR Seeker Can measure distance
Can be used a receiver for an IR Beacon
Can measure direction of the beacon
Can act as a receiver for the IR remote control/beacon
auto-id
IR Beacon/Remote Control Can act like a beacon for homing in on
Can be used to control your robot with buttons; a little like the small Power Functions remote control
Large motor 160 – 170 RPM
Encoders with 1 degree resolution
auto-id
Medium motor 240-250 RPM
Encoders with 1 degree resolution
auto-id

More technical information about the sensors and brick will be posted at a later date.

About Xander

Xander Soldaat is a Software Engineer and former Infrastructure Architect. He loves building and programming robots. He recently had the opportunity to turn his robotics hobby into his profession and has started working for Robomatter, the makers of ROBOTC and Robot Virtual Words.