Lego’s new motorized lighthouse has a working fresnel lens

Image: Lego

Augustin Fresnel invented a lens that could concentrate light more effectively than glass. They are used in spotlights as well as most virtual reality headsets. Lego has announced a motorized lighthouse with its very own fresnel lens, which was designed for lighthouses.

Image: Lego

It is a toy and costs $300 for the 2,065 piece set. Lego's new light-up Motorized Lighthouse is packed with clever touches like most of its modern sets for adults. On September 1st, it will be sold.

I am 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.

Photo by XAVIER LEOTY/AFP via Getty Images

Legos have a fresnel-equipped lantern, which is one of the rotating types, rather than the giant omnidirectional variety. There is a neat vintage one on sale from Chance Brothers, a glassmaker that manufactured many different types of lighthouse lens.

The lighthouse keeper's house with a battery-operated light-up fireplace, a treasure-filled cave, and a tiny dock with a bird, cat, fish, and some transparent waves are some of the high-res images that can be found below.

Image: Lego

Image: Lego

Image: Lego

Image: Lego

Image: Lego

Image: Lego

Image: Lego

The Lego set began as a Lego Ideas fan submission. Below, you can see what the original looked like, and here is more of his work.