{"id":12694,"date":"2022-08-19T14:42:14","date_gmt":"2022-08-19T14:42:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scienceandnerds.com\/2022\/08\/19\/legos-new-motorized-lighthouse-has-a-working-fresnel-lens\/"},"modified":"2022-08-19T14:42:15","modified_gmt":"2022-08-19T14:42:15","slug":"legos-new-motorized-lighthouse-has-a-working-fresnel-lens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scienceandnerds.com\/2022\/08\/19\/legos-new-motorized-lighthouse-has-a-working-fresnel-lens\/","title":{"rendered":"Lego\u2019s new motorized lighthouse has a working fresnel lens"},"content":{"rendered":"

Source: https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2022\/8\/18\/23311743\/lego-motorized-lighthouse-fresnel-lens<\/a>
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In 1822<\/a>, 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\u2019re used in spotlights and even most VR headsets. But originally, he designed them for lighthouses \u2014 it\u2019s the invention that\u2019s said to have saved a million ships<\/a> \u2014 and today, Lego has announced a motorized lighthouse with its very own fresnel lens.<\/p>\n

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Image: Lego<\/cite><\/p>\n

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Make no mistake: it\u2019s a toy \u2014 and, at $300 for the 2,065-piece set<\/a>, a pretty expensive one, too! But Lego\u2019s new light-up Motorized Lighthouse is packed with clever touches, like most of its modern sets aimed at adult budgets<\/a>. It\u2019ll go on sale on September 1st. <\/p>\n

I\u2019m 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 \u2014 it definitely brings to mind the one atop the Phare de Cordouan lighthouse where Fresnel originally installed his creation:<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n\"FRANCE-PATRIMOINE-MER-TOURISME\"<\/p>\n

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Phare de Cordouan.<\/em><\/figcaption>Photo by XAVIER LEOTY\/AFP via Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n

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And while Lego\u2019s fresnel-equipped lantern is one of the rotating types (thanks to a Lego motor) rather than the giant omnidirectional variety, I\u2019m reading<\/a> that ones like Lego\u2019s were in place by the turn of the century. Here\u2019s a neat vintage one on sale<\/a> from Chance Brothers, a glassmaker that manufactured many different kinds of lighthouse lenses.<\/p>\n

Below, find a handful of high-res images with more neat details, like the absolutely stuffed little lighthouse keeper\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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This whole set began as a Lego Ideas fan submission<\/a> by Sandro Quattrini<\/a>, who goes by Roses Must Build in the community. Below, see what the original looked like in action, and here\u2019s more of his work<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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