The LEGO Group's new SMART Play platform is far from the first attempt at mixing technology and sets, combining various parts of previous tries.
The LEGO Group has lifted the curtain on SMART Play, aiming to mix technology, lights and sounds in LEGO models more fluidly than ever before and without restricting creativity quite as much. The major innovation will launch later this year and is just the latest in the LEGO Group's projects to try to seamlessly mix LEGO sets and technology.
From remote-controlled models to augmented reality, SMART Play appears to be the culmination of a few different projects on a smaller scale. It's too early to tell just how impactful SMART Play will be, debuting in three LEGO Star Wars sets on March 1. In the meantime, here's a reminder of how the LEGO Group has blended their elements and technology previously.
LEGO Trains
You can't mention LEGO and technology without touching on the long-running collection of train models. From metallic tracks to other solutions to power the trains, the LEGO Group's railway has come a long way since debuting in the '60s. While we wait for the launch of the notably action-packed
Those that do can be controlled with a separate remote, and this has remained a core feature of LEGO trains throughout their history. The range doesn't seem to be going anywhere fast, except around the track, existing in its own bubble of moments where LEGO and technology have mixed idyllically.
Remote-controlled LEGO
Beyond the world of trains, the LEGO Group has experimented with many methods of remotely controlling other kinds of LEGO models. These projects range from Technic's early exploration using barcodes to submit instructions to briefly trialling a system where you could program commands by physically moving the model, which the electronic components would then mirror.
The most recent example of remote-controlled LEGO sets has used a more common system of relaying instructions to the electric elements, by using a controller. They're most common in LEGO Technic in the current portfolio, mixing well with the theme's building system and occasionally adding other forms of technological innovations, such as working lights.
Lights and sounds
The most common form of technology in LEGO sets by far is lights. Light bricks have existed in several forms over the decades, settling on a singular design in more recent history. The simple addition of illumination to LEGO models has always been useful in adding immersion to the builds, whether they're used as part of a siren or for a movie projector.
Also common, though much rarer than lights, is the use of sound in LEGO sets. Sound bricks aren't quite as common as those of lights, but they've entered a new generation recently, allowing the LEGO designers to program randomised sound sequences and multiple clips rather than a single noise, such as a siren or UFO sounds. You can currently find sound bricks in
LEGO cameras
It has been a long time since we saw a camera in a LEGO set, but the LEGO Group briefly experimented with the technology in a handful of Studios and educational models. It's a field which the LEGO Group would do well to explore further, given how brief this period of technological innovation was. That said, in an age where most fans have a camera on their phone, the technology is consistently covered beyond LEGO sets.
With this in mind, the LEGO Group has pursued other forms of mixing cameras into models, including movie-making sets for the various LEGO movies, where you can attach a phone to a stand to make your own stop-motion film.
Mindstorms
Arguably, the most well-known of the LEGO Group's attempts at mixing technology and elements is MINDSTORMS. LEGO MINDSTORMS was a staple of the LEGO portfolio since 1998, and for over two decades, the theme offered robotic kits and models with innovations for each generation. Unfortunately, that era came to an end in 2022 as the LEGO Group pursued other technological innovations.
Power Functions, Powered UP and CONTROL+
It's worth noting that several of the above innovations, from MINDSTORMS to trains, have been supported by the LEGO Group's core motorised platform, which has undergone several brand refreshes. It started as Power Functions, then shifted to be named Powered UP with the CONTROL+ app acting as the controller.
This app-based innovation started the ball rolling on a period of major experimentation for the LEGO Group, trialling several methods to lean into apps and smart devices. This would eventually pave the way for SMART Play.
LEGO Education and SPIKE Prime
Amidst Powered UP and CONTROL+, the LEGO Group have continued to explore technology in educational LEGO models as well, currently using the SPIKE Prime system to continue robotics in schools across the world. The electronic components in SPIKE Prime are notably big, whether they're motors or sensors, but this would one day evolve and shrink as technological innovation inside and out of the LEGO Group furthered.
Augmented reality and LEGO elements
Some of the LEGO Group's many attempts at mixing apps and LEGO sets used augmented reality to project effects around physical models using your phone's camera. Life of George and Fusion started this trend, experimenting with what was possible and how well cameras and software could detect physical bricks and patterns, shaping how detailed the LEGO models in these app-integrated builds could be.
Nexo Knights took a step back from the concept of augmented reality, instead focusing on LEGO designs that could be scanned in the form of printed shields. These shields unlocked new powers in a free game and would appear in sets as well as in the animated series, encouraging more app use. LEGO Hidden Side then leaned back into the augmented reality aspect with another free game. The theme used the physical builds to unlock more levels in the game, in which players would hunt down ghosts creeping around the sets on their phone screen.
LEGO VIDIYO is one of the most notable attempts at mixing technology and LEGO in recent years, building off the technology Hidden Side helped to develop, but with making music videos using the sets as stages instead of hunting ghosts.
Other app integration in LEGO sets
Other examples of app integration in LEGO sets range from the Boost robotic kit, making the likes of MINDSTORMS more accessible and mixing with other official sets across NINJAGO and more themes. They've also been used as remote controls for trains, diggers and a Batmobile.
There was also LEGO City's brief foray into Missions across three sets. We reviewed the experience here, using an app to expand on the concept of the instruction manual to make the experience more interactive and story-focused. Notably, it didn't mix with the physical elements in any meaningful way, impacting only the instructions.
LEGO Dimensions
LEGO games have also been an interesting exploration of mixing technology and the concept of LEGO toys, but none have been quite as memorable as LEGO Dimensions. The toys-to-life title used RFID chips in bases to simulate minifigures and models being transported into the game, similar to the likes of Skylanders and Disney Infinity.
The game notably differed from these other games by remembering where figures were placed on the base and integrating this into gameplay and puzzles. While the toys-to-life genre is now gone, LEGO Dimensions managed to innovate in a way no other title had before.
LEGO Super Mario
Taking parts of various other LEGO technology projects throughout history, the LEGO Group revealed LEGO Super Mario in 2020, eschewing any kind of minifigures in favour of a cube-shaped Mario controller figure. The electronic Mario came with three screens to display his emotions and animations on his chest based on what players would stand him on or scan.
Stickered pieces with codes were used to denote elements that could be interacted with, paving the way for SMART Play's tags. LEGO Super Mario continues to this day with the recent debut of the Mario Kart system, though no other gaming theme has followed in its footsteps with a deeply-rooted electronic feature, so far.
The interactive brick trials
A trial for what we now know would become SMART Play started in the UK in 2024, briefly experimenting with interactive elements on a much smaller scale than ever before. It featured minifigures, a central smart brick and other pieces across some exclusive LEGO City sets that were never officially released.
SMART Play
The LEGO Group's latest foray into technology, based on the trial, is SMART Play. This new platform features three central components that will be found in LEGO Star Wars sets from March 1. SMART Play's central brick has changed a lot since the trial, now able to tell where other SMART Bricks are for the likes of dogfights. It will also know when pieces with RFID chips inside are near it, playing noises and lighting up appropriately.
It looks to combine aspects of Dimensions, Super Mario, light and sound bricks and more of their past projects into one. It will be interesting to see just how game-changing this platform will be when SMART Play debuts on March 1. Enthusiasts online have had mixed reactions so far, and while we wait for it to start, click here to see SMART Play in action.
Thanks for supporting the work that Brick Fanatics does by buying your LEGO sets using our affiliate links!
Comments
Be the first to comment!