Lego’s New Smart Brick: A Digital Brain for the Iconic Toy
▼ Summary
– Lego unveiled its new Smart Play platform at CES, designed to add tech-powered interactive play to its physical bricks without using screens.
– The system centers on a patented Smart Brick that connects to Smart Minifigures and Tags to create context-appropriate sounds and light effects during play.
– The first three sets are Lego Star Wars themed, launching March 1, and include features like laser sounds and light effects coordinated by the Smart Brick.
– Lego states the platform, developed in-house with Capgemini, incorporates over 20 patented technological world-firsts.
– The Smart Brick contains a custom chip, sensors, a speaker, and an LED array, and is powered by a long-life battery with wireless charging capability.
Lego has introduced a groundbreaking new platform that merges the physical joy of building with innovative digital interaction, all while keeping screens out of the equation. The newly unveiled Smart Play system centers on a technologically advanced brick that serves as a digital brain for compatible sets, enabling dynamic sound and light effects during play. This patented brick matches the size of a classic 2×4 Lego piece but is packed with sensors and connectivity to bring minifigures and environments to life in real time.
The launch will feature several Star Wars-themed sets arriving on March 1, with preorders starting January 9. The flagship $100 Luke’s Red Five X-Wing set includes 584 pieces, two special minifigures, and five interactive tags that trigger laser blasts, engine roars, and various light displays. All these effects are orchestrated by the central Smart Brick embedded in the model.
Two additional sets will debut simultaneously. The $70 Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter, with 473 pieces, offers distinctive ion engine sounds. However, the most ambitious offering is likely the $160 Throne Room Duel. This 962-piece set comes with three enhanced figures, Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine, and Luke Skywalker, allowing builders to recreate the iconic final lightsaber duel from Return of the Jedi. The system generates humming lightsaber sounds and can even play “The Imperial March” as the scene unfolds.
Developed internally by Lego’s Creative Play Lab in partnership with Cambridge Consultants, the platform is said to incorporate over twenty patented technological innovations. The core of the experience is a custom-designed chip smaller than a single Lego stud, integrated into the Smart Brick. This tiny component works alongside an array of other features crammed into the brick’s compact form, including LED lights, motion and light sensors, and a small built-in speaker.
Powering this technology is a long-life internal battery designed to hold a charge through periods of inactivity. To maintain a seamless, cord-free experience once a model is complete, Lego has incorporated wireless charging. A dedicated charging pad will be available, capable of replenishing multiple Smart Bricks at once, ensuring the interactive fun continues without the hassle of wires or battery compartments.
(Source: Wired)
