Be careful with Lego Mindstorms
A friend of mine has been arrested yesterday in a train in Germany. He was basically playing/programming LEGO Mindstorms during his way in the train. The cops said he was suspected to prepare a bomb and then had to answers some questions about the material he was carrying. After few hours, they released him but he had to pay a 50 euros fine and had to leave his mindstorms gear there. Fortunately he could take back his own laptop.
Update: my friend got back his mindstorms kit
February 1st, 2006 at 10:07 am
I never hear a so incredible story in an european country , in states yes , but in germany , incredible ….
get a fine for playing lego !!
February 1st, 2006 at 3:52 pm
I’m sick of the growing limits on liberties here, in Europe. We see that day after day, and always with the good old statement : “you know, if you have nothing to reproach yourself, nothing will happen to you”. And then France put a curfew on select cities… Remember, liberty should be the rule, not the exception.
By the way, that story seems like an echo of the “critical art ensemble” one, in NY.
I don’t understand the fine ?? 50 EURO for what reason ?
February 4th, 2006 at 9:35 pm
While I will defend my and other people’s freedom to death if I have to there has got to be some context here. Why the 50 euro fine?
I carry around a lot of strange crap at airports and while sometimes I get searched extra I find that if I remain courteous and calm even the most powermad/paranoid/clueless security employee will leave me be eventually. With all my gear and without fines.
February 4th, 2006 at 10:13 pm
The story is just incredible! I wonder what would be the fine for more complex toys
February 5th, 2006 at 2:22 am
Wow… I was thinking cops will pay 50 EUR, give him free ticket and free one-week stay at their hotel (cops hotel ?
February 5th, 2006 at 2:51 am
right, for what reason???
What a hell!!
February 5th, 2006 at 3:06 am
I’d refuse to pay. I’d also take legal steps to recover the lego mindstorms (they aren’t cheap!).
February 5th, 2006 at 3:41 am
Ahh, cool story! You believe anything, don’t you! Go get some weed in Hamburg, or Dusseldorf, Munich or Amsterdam!
Jan
February 15th, 2006 at 1:59 pm
Guess my country is better off!!!!!!!!!!!!! The police will simply be fascinated by my complex Yankee toy.
March 3rd, 2006 at 10:55 pm
So what did you say was the fine about?
March 5th, 2006 at 10:31 pm
Wow, that is really wied. The police must of been strikt.
May 12th, 2006 at 5:26 pm
Lego mindstorms could be used to activate a bomb. Who’s to say there isn’t a wad of plastic explosive inside the mass of plastic blocks & wire.
Sign of the times. Lets remember that the first big building bombing before 9/11 was done by a white guy.
June 1st, 2006 at 1:39 am
Yes…but almost anything can be used for inappropriate and non-intended purposes. We must remember to approach the public with the true purpose of Mindstorms, and that is to teach young people (and adults) important trade skills. Lego Mindstorms is an educational tool designed to teach important technology skills and concepts. Incidentally, you can download a demo version of the full up LabView from the National Instruments web site at www.ni.com. You can learn a great deal about automation of industrial and laboratory processes just by working through the tutorials. Some people make a living wholy by providing LabView consulting services.
August 4th, 2006 at 12:28 pm
Did the cops actually think someone was making a bomb on the train? What kind of intelligence is that? It is as if a terrorist saying..”oh i am so busy that I have to make my bombs while traveling. when i am even more busy i would give it some idiot cop to detonate it.”
March 27th, 2007 at 4:58 am
Awesome, man
March 27th, 2007 at 6:30 am
COol
February 1st, 2008 at 4:53 am
I,ve built candy machines,soda machines,cannons,and other stuff. But I would never build a
“mindstorms bomb”