How many pieces are in the ROBOLAB Starter Building Set?

ROBOLAB Starter Building Set contains 1,712 pieces.

What age is the ROBOLAB Starter Building Set recommended for?

This set is recommended for ages 18+.

When was the ROBOLAB Starter Building Set released?

ROBOLAB Starter Building Set was released in 1998.

🏛 RCX

Set #9780

ROBOLAB Starter Building Set

Name: ROBOLAB Starter Building Set
Brand: LEGO
SKU: 9780-1

The ROBOLAB Starter Building Set is a pioneering educational tool.

🏆 Best For: Educators, hobbyists, and those interested in LEGO robotics history ⏱ 4.5 hr build 🧩 1,712 pcs

★★★★☆ 4.2

Fans appreciate the set's historical significance and educational value as an early LEGO robotics platform. However, some find the technology outdated compared to newer Mindstorms sets and the programming interface less intuitive.

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📝 Our Take

The ROBOLAB Starter Building Set is a pioneering educational tool. Released in 1998, this set introduced a generation to robotics and programming through LEGO, combining hands-on building with computer control.

This set is perfect for educators and tech enthusiasts interested in the history of LEGO robotics. It offers a nostalgic glimpse into early LEGO Mindstorms and a chance to explore the foundations of STEM learning.

Skip this if you're looking for modern robotics features. Consider newer LEGO Mindstorms or SPIKE Prime sets for advanced sensors, programming environments, and capabilities.

✨ New

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How does the ROBOLAB set compare to modern LEGO Mindstorms sets? What programming language does the ROBOLAB software use? Is the ROBOLAB set compatible with newer LEGO components? What are the key differences between the ROBOLAB and RCX systems?

🧱 Building Experience

🧩

1,712

Pieces

⏱

4.5h

Build Time

📊

Intermediate

Difficulty

Build Highlights:

Building various robotic models
Learning basic programming concepts
Integrating software with physical LEGO models
Exploring early robotics technology

📈 Investment Analysis

→ Price stable

Investment Grade

⏳ Active

The ROBOLAB Starter Building Set holds moderate investment potential due to its historical significance and educational value. As an early Mindstorms set, it appeals to collectors interested in the evolution of LEGO robotics. However, its large piece count and specialized components may limit its appeal to a broader audience. While complete, working sets command a premium, the availability of newer Mindstorms alternatives could temper significant price appreciation. Investors should focus on sets in excellent condition with original packaging and software.

Not Financial Advice: Content is for educational purposes only. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Full disclaimer

⚖ Compare Similar Sets

Mindstorms NXT Base Set

The ROBOLAB Starter Building Set is unique for its historical significance in LEGO robotics. While newer Mindstorms sets offer more advanced features and capabilities, ROBOLAB provides a valuable insight into the origins of LEGO-based STEM education. Collectors and educators interested in the history of LEGO robotics may prefer ROBOLAB over modern alternatives, while those seeking cutting-edge technology should opt for newer sets.

1 Minifigures Included

Blue Jacket, White Legs, Black Hair

4 parts

The set includes a single minifigure with a blue jacket, white legs, and black hair, a common design for LEGO figures of that era.

📦 Full Parts Inventory - 163 unique parts • 1,708 total pieces

Wheel 49.6 x 28 V...

Part #: 22253 2× White

Tyre 30 x 10.5 Of...

Part #: 2346 4× Black

Brick 2 x 2 Corner

Part #: 2357 4× Black

Brick 2 x 2 Corner

Part #: 2357 2× White

Wedge Plate 3 x 6...

Part #: 2419 2× Green

Brick 1 x 2 x 5 w...

Part #: 2454a 3× White

Brick 2 x 6

Part #: 2456 6× Black

Brick Special 1 x...

Part #: 2458 2× Dark Gray

Brick 1 x 16

Part #: 2465 2× White

Tile Special 1 x ...

Part #: 2555 2× Black

Antenna 8H Whip

Part #: 2569 2× Trans-Neon Green

Plate Round 2 x 2...

Part #: 2654 1× Light Gray

Plate Round 2 x 2...

Part #: 2654 6× Black

Technic Brick 1 x...

Part #: 2730 3× Red

Technic Brick 1 x...

Part #: 2730 10× Black

Technic Pin with ...

Part #: 2780 78× Black

Technic Wedge Bel...

Part #: 2815 10× Black

Plate Special 2 x...

Part #: 2817 2× Light Gray

Technic Beam 1 x ...

Part #: 2825 8× Light Gray

Technic Engine Cr...

Part #: 2854 4× Light Gray

Tyre 81.6 x 15 Mo...

Part #: 2902 4× Black

Wheel 61.6 x 13.6...

Part #: 2903 4× White

Sensor, Light wit...

Part #: 2982c01 3× Blue

Motor Pulley, 9V ...

Part #: 2983 10× Light Gray

Part #: 2994 4× White

Brick 2 x 4

Part #: 3001 2× Green

Brick 2 x 4

Part #: 3001 28× Black

Brick 2 x 4

Part #: 3001 1× White

Brick 2 x 3

Part #: 3002 1× White

Brick 2 x 2

Part #: 3003 20× Black

Brick 1 x 2

Part #: 3004 20× Black

Brick 1 x 2

Part #: 3004 4× Yellow

Brick 1 x 2

Part #: 3004 11× White

Brick 1 x 2

Part #: 3004 4× Green

Brick 2 x 8

Part #: 3007 8× Black

Brick 1 x 6

Part #: 3009 1× White

Brick 1 x 4

Part #: 3010 6× Black

Brick 1 x 4

Part #: 3010 2× Orange

Plate 2 x 4

Part #: 3020 6× Yellow

Plate 2 x 4

Part #: 3020 2× White

Dome Hemisphere 4...

Part #: 30208 2× Trans-Neon Green

Plate Special 1 x...

Part #: 30209 2× Dark Gray

Plate 2 x 3

Part #: 3021 2× White

Plate 2 x 3

Part #: 3021 1× Light Gray

Support Leg Small...

Part #: 30211 4× Black

Plate 2 x 2

Part #: 3022 1× Red

Plate 2 x 2

Part #: 3022 1× White

Plate 2 x 2

Part #: 3022 8× Light Gray

Plate 2 x 2

Part #: 3022 2× Green

Part #: 3023 20× Light Gray

Plate 1 x 2

Part #: 3023 2× Green

Wing Insectoid La...

Part #: 30230pr0001 1× Trans-Dark Blue

Wing Insectoid La...

Part #: 30230pr0002 1× Trans-Dark Blue

Plate 1 x 1

Part #: 3024 8× Light Gray

Plate 6 x 10

Part #: 3033 1× Light Gray

Plate 2 x 8

Part #: 3034 4× Green

Slope 45° 2 x 2

Part #: 3039 3× Green

Slope 45° 2 x 1 w...

Part #: 3040b 4× Yellow

Slope 45° 2 x 1 w...

Part #: 3040b 12× Black

Brick Round 1 x 1...

Part #: 3062b 1× Trans-Clear

Brick 1 x 2 witho...

Part #: 3065 1× Trans-Green

Brick 1 x 2 witho...

Part #: 3065 1× Trans-Red

Brick 1 x 2 witho...

Part #: 3065 1× Trans-Dark Blue

Brick 1 x 2 witho...

Part #: 3065 1× Trans-Clear

Tile 2 x 2 with G...

Part #: 3068b 2× Red

Technic Brick 1 x...

Part #: 32000 3× Light Gray

Technic Plate 2 x...

Part #: 32001 8× Light Gray

Technic Pin 3/4

Part #: 32002 54× Dark Gray

Technic Tread Hub

Part #: 32007 4× White

Technic Beam 1 x ...

Part #: 32009 4× Yellow

Technic Beam 1 x ...

Part #: 32009 4× Dark Turquoise

Technic Beam 1 x ...

Part #: 32009 4× Black

Technic Beam 1 x ...

Part #: 32009 2× Green

Technic Axle and ...

Part #: 32013 4× Yellow

Technic Axle and ...

Part #: 32013 4× Light Gray

Technic Axle and ...

Part #: 32013 6× Blue

Technic Axle and ...

Part #: 32015 4× Light Gray

Technic Beam 1 x ...

Part #: 32017 4× Light Gray

Technic Beam 1 x ...

Part #: 32017 12× Green

Plate Special 1 x...

Part #: 32028 8× Light Gray

Technic Axle Conn...

Part #: 32039 4× Light Gray

Technic Axle 2 No...

Part #: 32062 24× Black

Technic Beam 1 x ...

Part #: 32063 4× Dark Turquoise

Technic Brick 1 x...

Part #: 32064a 10× Green

Technic Brick 1 x...

Part #: 32064a 2× Light Gray

Technic Brick 1 x...

Part #: 32064a 4× Blue

Technic Beam 1 x ...

Part #: 32065 2× Yellow

Technic Axle and ...

Part #: 32068 2× Light Gray

Technic Axle 5

Part #: 32073 22× Black

Technic Bush 1/2 ...

Part #: 32123a 54× Light Gray

Slope 33° 3 x 2

Part #: 3298 8× Orange

Plate 1 x 8

Part #: 3460 10× Light Gray

Wheel with Split ...

Part #: 3482 10× Yellow

Tyre Offset Tread...

Part #: 3483 2× Black

Brick 1 x 3

Part #: 3622 4× White

Plate 1 x 3

Part #: 3623 2× Yellow

Tyre 43 x 17

Part #: 3634 2× Black

Technic Gear 8 Tooth

Part #: 3647 15× Light Gray

Technic Gear 24 T...

Part #: 3648a 10× Light Gray

Technic Gear 40 T...

Part #: 3649 4× Light Gray

Technic Gear 24 T...

Part #: 3650c 10× Light Gray

Slope Inverted 45...

Part #: 3665 4× Black

Slope Inverted 45...

Part #: 3665 4× Yellow

Slope Inverted 45...

Part #: 3665 2× Red

Plate 1 x 6

Part #: 3666 2× Green

Plate 1 x 6

Part #: 3666 10× Light Gray

Technic Pin witho...

Part #: 3673 68× Light Gray

Turntable 2 x 2 P...

Part #: 3679 2× Light Gray

Turntable 2 x 2 P...

Part #: 3680 2× Blue

Technic Brick 1 x...

Part #: 3700 4× Yellow

Technic Brick 1 x...

Part #: 3700 12× Black

Technic Brick 1 x...

Part #: 3700 1× White

Technic Brick 1 x...

Part #: 3700 7× Red

Technic Brick 1 x...

Part #: 3701 10× Black

Technic Brick 1 x...

Part #: 3701 2× Green

Technic Brick 1 x...

Part #: 3702 12× Black

Part #: 3703 6× Black

Technic Axle 4

Part #: 3705 20× Black

Technic Axle 6

Part #: 3706 14× Black

Technic Axle 8

Part #: 3707 12× Black

Technic Axle 12

Part #: 3708 8× Black

Technic Plate 2 x...

Part #: 3709 8× Light Gray

Plate 1 x 4

Part #: 3710 4× Orange

Plate 1 x 4

Part #: 3710 10× Light Gray

Technic Bush

Part #: 3713 125× Light Gray

Technic Steering ...

Part #: 3736 2× Light Gray

Technic Axle 10

Part #: 3737 10× Black

Technic Plate 2 x...

Part #: 3738 12× Light Gray

Technic Gear Rack...

Part #: 3743 10× Light Gray

Slope Inverted 33...

Part #: 3747a 4× Black

Slope Inverted 33...

Part #: 3747a 5× Orange

Technic Axle Pin ...

Part #: 3749 53× Light Gray

Brick 1 x 3 x 5 w...

Part #: 3755a 5× White

Plate 2 x 6

Part #: 3795 2× Orange

Plate 2 x 10

Part #: 3832 8× Light Gray

Plate 2 x 10

Part #: 3832 2× Red

Baseplate 16 x 32

Part #: 3857 1× Light Gray

Technic Brick 1 x...

Part #: 3894 12× Black

Part #: 3895 10× Black

Hinge Brick 1 x 2...

Part #: 3937 2× Black

Hinge Brick 1 x 2...

Part #: 3938 2× Black

Brick Round 2 x 2...

Part #: 3941 8× Black

Brick Round 2 x 2...

Part #: 3941 2× White

Bracket 2 x 2 - 2...

Part #: 3956 4× Light Gray

Dish 4 x 4 Invert...

Part #: 3960 2× White

Technic Gear 16 T...

Part #: 4019 10× Light Gray

Plate Round 2 x 2...

Part #: 4032a 2× Blue

Plate Round 2 x 2...

Part #: 4032a 2× White

Plate Special 1 x...

Part #: 4085c 2× Black

Ball, Hard Plasti...

Part #: 41250 1× Blue

Tile Round 2 x 2 ...

Part #: 4150 1× Red

Tile Round 2 x 2 ...

Part #: 4150 1× Black

Technic Wedge Bel...

Part #: 4185 10× Light Gray

Arm Grab Jaw Hold...

Part #: 4220 2× Yellow

Arm Grab Jaw

Part #: 4221 4× Black

Technic Pin 1/2

Part #: 4274 49× Light Gray

Hinge Plate 1 x 2...

Part #: 4275b 2× Black

Motor, 9V Mini [L...

Part #: 43362c01 3× Light Gray

Plate 1 x 10

Part #: 4477 8× Light Gray

Plate 1 x 10

Part #: 4477 1× Red

Technic Axle 3

Part #: 4519 30× Black

Hinge Tile 1 x 2 ...

Part #: 4531 2× Black

Cone 1 x 1 [No To...

Part #: 4589 2× Yellow

Cone 1 x 1 [No To...

Part #: 4589 2× White

Technic Worm Gear

Part #: 4716 10× Black

Wire with Brick 2...

Part #: 5306bc020 11× Black

Wire with Brick 2...

Part #: 5306bc036 1× Black

Wire with Brick 2...

Part #: 5306bc162 2× Black

Brick Separator v1.0

Part #: 6007 1× Dark Gray

Plate Special 1 x...

Part #: 6019 2× Black

Light Brick 1 x 2...

Part #: 6035 4× White

Arm Piece with Pi...

Part #: 6048a 4× Black

Creature Body Par...

Part #: 6133 2× Trans-Neon Orange

Plate Round 1 x 1...

Part #: 6141 3× White

Plate Round 1 x 1...

Part #: 6141 3× Blue

Plate Round 1 x 1...

Part #: 6141 6× Black

Brick Curved 2 x 3

Part #: 6215 4× Green

Technic Axle and ...

Part #: 6536 6× Light Gray

Technic Axle Conn...

Part #: 6538b 28× Light Gray

Technic Axle 1.5 ...

Part #: 6553 10× Light Gray

Technic Pin Long ...

Part #: 6558 18× Black

Technic Gear Diff...

Part #: 6573 1× Dark Gray

Technic Cam

Part #: 6575 4× Light Gray

Tyre 30.4 x 14 VR

Part #: 6578 2× Black

Technic Axle 3 wi...

Part #: 6587 12× Dark Gray

Technic Gear 12 T...

Part #: 6589 20× Light Gray

Tyre 49.6 x 28 VR

Part #: 6594 2× Black

Technic Beam 1 x ...

Part #: 6629 5× Dark Turquoise

Technic Beam 1 x ...

Part #: 6629 4× Black

Technic Beam 1 x ...

Part #: 6632 4× Light Gray

Rubber Band Mediu...

Part #: 70012 70× Black

Rubber Band Large...

Part #: 70158 32× Black

Tread Large, Tech...

Part #: 71372 2× Black

Rubber Band Small...

Part #: 71509 27× Black

Technic Pin Conne...

Part #: 75535 1× White

Hose Rigid 3mm D....

Part #: 75c19 2× Yellow

Hose Rigid 3mm D....

Part #: 75c36 2× Dark Turquoise

Hose, Ribbed 7mm ...

Part #: 78c09 4× Dark Turquoise

Hose, Ribbed 7mm ...

Part #: 78c09 4× Black

Hose, Ribbed 7mm ...

Part #: 78c12 4× Purple

Rubber Belt Small...

Part #: 85543 2× White

Technic Rubber Be...

Part #: 85544 3× Blue

Technic Rubber Be...

Part #: 85544 2× Bright Green

Technic Rubber Be...

Part #: 85545 4× Yellow

Sensor, Touch

Part #: 879 4× Light Gray

🧱 Storage Bin Lid, ...

Part #: 71082 2× Trans-Clear

🧱 Storage Bin, Dact...

Part #: upn0038 2× Bright Green

The set is a great source of Technic pins, bushings, and rubber bands, essential components for building complex mechanisms and robotic models. The large quantity of light gray elements is also useful for general building and MOC projects.