The first LEGO Mindstorms set was released in 1998.
LEGO Mindstorms grew from a collaboration between the LEGO Group and the MIT Media Lab. Its central idea was to combine LEGO’s construction system with programmable robotics, allowing builders to create machines that could sense their surroundings, respond to commands, and perform tasks.
The original platform used the programmable RCX brick, which acted as the robot’s computer. Builders connected motors and sensors to the brick, then programmed their creations with a computer. This made Mindstorms more than a conventional LEGO set: it introduced coding, engineering, and robotics through hands-on construction.
The 1998 launch is sometimes confused with later Mindstorms generations. LEGO released Mindstorms NXT in 2006, EV3 in 2013, and Robot Inventor in 2020. The first release also helped support the FIRST LEGO League robotics program, which began using LEGO robotics technology in competitions for young people.