• Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Gear
  • Reviews
  • Games
  • Science
  • Security
Reading: Lego’s new motorized lighthouse has a working fresnel lens
Share
Ad image
Technology MagazineTechnology Magazine
Aa
  • News
  • Business
  • Gear
  • Reviews
  • Games
  • Science
  • Security
Search
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Gear
  • Reviews
  • Games
  • Science
  • Security
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
Technology Magazine > News > Lego’s new motorized lighthouse has a working fresnel lens
News

Lego’s new motorized lighthouse has a working fresnel lens

Press room
Press room Published August 19, 2022
Last updated: 2022/08/19 at 4:55 AM
Share
SHARE

In 1822, Augustin Fresnel invented a lens made of ringed prisms that could concentrate beams of light more effectively than reflectors or huge convex pieces of glass. These days, they’re used in spotlights and even most VR headsets. But originally, he designed them for lighthouses — it’s the invention that’s said to have saved a million ships — and today, Lego has announced a motorized lighthouse with its very own fresnel lens.

Image: Lego

Make no mistake: it’s a toy — and, at $300 for the 2,065-piece set, a pretty expensive one, too! But Lego’s new light-up Motorized Lighthouse is packed with clever touches, like most of its modern sets aimed at adult budgets. It’ll go on sale on September 1st.

I’m particularly fond of how Lego recreated the vertical dome atop the lighthouse out of the sliding garage door elements I used to play with as a kid — it definitely brings to mind the one atop the Phare de Cordouan lighthouse where Fresnel originally installed his creation:

FRANCE-PATRIMOINE-MER-TOURISME

Phare de Cordouan.
Photo by XAVIER LEOTY/AFP via Getty Images

And while Lego’s fresnel-equipped lantern is one of the rotating types (thanks to a Lego motor) rather than the giant omnidirectional variety, I’m reading that ones like Lego’s were in place by the turn of the century. Here’s a neat vintage one on sale from Chance Brothers, a glassmaker that manufactured many different kinds of lighthouse lenses.

Below, find a handful of high-res images with more neat details, like the absolutely stuffed little lighthouse keeper’s house with a battery-powered light-up fireplace; a treasure-filled cave; and a tiny dock with a bird, cat, fish, and some transparent waves lapping up onto the shore.

Image: Lego

Image: Lego

Image: Lego

Image: Lego

Image: Lego

Image: Lego

Image: Lego

This whole set began as a Lego Ideas fan submission by Sandro Quattrini, who goes by Roses Must Build in the community. Below, see what the original looked like in action, and here’s more of his work.

Press room August 19, 2022
Share this Article
Facebook TwitterEmail Print
What do you think?
Love0
Sad0
Happy0
Sleepy0
Angry0
Dead0
Wink0
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You Might Also Like

News

Apple’s AirTags are receiving a rare discount at Amazon right now

4 Min Read
News

The biggest announcements from Epic Games’ State of Unreal 2023 keynote

2 Min Read
News

The Writers Guild of America is reportedly open to AI

2 Min Read
News

Microsoft inks another deal to capture and store its carbon emissions underground

4 Min Read
  • Review
  • Top Lists
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use

We influence 20 million users and is the number one business and technology news network on the planet.

I have read and agree to the terms & conditions

Contact US

  • Contact Us
  • DMCA
  • Editorial Policy
  • Advertise

Quick Link

  • Gear
  • Games
  • Security
  • Reviews

© 2022 Technology Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

Follow US on Socials

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?