TL;DR
At CES 2026, Lego demonstrated a previously unpublicized capability of its Smart Brick: precise relative positioning and orientation sensing. In a hands-on demo, a pair of Smart Bricks tracked distance in 2D and 3D, changing color every 10 studs and reportedly working up to about 4–5 meters.
What happened
During CES 2026, Lego Group design manager Maarten Simons demonstrated a new capability of the company’s Smart Brick that wasn’t part of earlier briefings. Using a makeshift “Lego ruler” built from standard bricks divided into segments of 10 studs (about 8 cm each), Simons attached a Smart Brick to one end and slid a second brick along the ruler. The bricks changed color precisely at each 10-stud boundary. He then separated the bricks and showed they could measure the distance between two points in both two and three dimensions. Simons said the bricks can track one another accurately at distances of roughly 4 to 5 meters (about 12–16 feet). He also rotated a brick in midair and demonstrated it lighting up when it was pointed exactly at its partner, indicating a capability to detect facing or orientation as well.
Why it matters
- Accurate relative positioning between bricks could enable finer measurement and alignment tools for builders, including adults.
- Orientation sensing between bricks opens possibilities for new interactive behaviors in playsets and modular designs.
- The ability to register distance in 3D could support gameplay, robotics, or custom sensor-driven creations beyond basic motion detection.
- Real-world performance may be affected by wireless interference; the demo’s reliability outside controlled conditions remains an open question.
Key facts
- The demonstration took place at CES 2026 in The Lego Group’s suite.
- A “Lego ruler” was assembled from standard bricks with segments of 10 studs, roughly 8 cm (3.15 inches) per segment.
- Two Smart Bricks changed color each time the moving brick crossed a 10-stud boundary on the ruler.
- Lego’s design manager said the bricks can accurately track relative positions in 2D and 3D up to about 4–5 meters (12–16 feet).
- The bricks also indicated when one was precisely facing the other, showing orientation detection.
- Previous briefings had already indicated the Smart Brick could sense its own orientation and relative proximity.
- The article notes the Smart Brick’s precision features could offer more than what the initial Lego Star Wars sets present at launch.
- The author flagged that wireless interference in real-world conditions could affect these features’ performance.
What to watch next
- Whether Lego exposes this precision tracking in retail sets or developer tools — not confirmed in the source.
- Independent tests of real-world accuracy and robustness amid wireless interference and crowded environments — not confirmed in the source.
- If future sets or adult-focused products will include demonstrations or applications that exploit precise 2D/3D positioning — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Smart Brick: A Lego piece embedded with sensors and electronics to detect movement, orientation, and interactions with other bricks.
- Stud: The small circular bumps on top of Lego bricks used to connect pieces; a common unit for measuring Lego dimensions.
- 2D/3D measurement: Tracking positional relationships within a flat plane (2D) or in three-dimensional space (3D).
- Orientation sensing: The ability of a device to determine the direction it is facing relative to another object or reference point.
Reader FAQ
How did Lego demonstrate the distance feature?
A design manager used a ruler made of 10-stud Lego segments; two Smart Bricks changed color at each segment boundary as one was moved along the ruler.
How far apart can the Smart Bricks track one another?
The company said the bricks can track each other at roughly 4 to 5 meters (12–16 feet).
Will this capability be included in upcoming retail sets?
not confirmed in the source
Could wireless interference affect the feature’s performance?
The article suggests real-world wireless interference could impact accuracy, but specific limits were not quantified.
TECH GADGETS CES This semi-secret Lego Smart Brick feature gives it even more potential So many possibilities when two bricks know one another’s exact relative position. by Sean Hollister Jan…
Sources
- This semi-secret Lego Smart Brick feature gives it even more potential
- LEGO unveils the Smart Brick and Smart Play system with …
- CES 2026: Lego to launch smart brick system that reacts as …
- LEGO® Star Wars™ SMART Play™ and …
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