LEGO Powered Up basic tutorials - 01 - Introduction & history

Рет қаралды 88,882

3 жыл бұрын

This is the first episode of my basic tutorial series about LEGO Powered Up. Before opening the app I would like to clarify some concepts and naming conventions, and also include a little history lesson with a comparison to the Power Functions system.
Click here for my Powered Up summary page - racingbrick.com/lego-powered-...
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Пікірлер: 98

@shilpaprajapati4801 3 жыл бұрын

This series will be the best videos of thus channel, that's for sure...🙃

@robinbrowne5419 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for explaining the various types of Lego systems. Because of Lego's confusing naming, I find it easier to actually program in Powered Up than to figure out what stuff is compatible with what. But your videos and website helps. Thanks 👍

@ThinkCleverAndSmart 3 жыл бұрын

This is the closest to a good official documentation we can get. Thanks for making these!

@technoandrew 3 жыл бұрын

Your videos on Powered Up are always very useful, thank you for providing them. I look forward to the next part of the series. In the app custom controller mode, I have no idea what the ‘Instant Reset’ does for the sliders. One of the big drawbacks of PU for me is how different motors behave differently when using the remote control, with the app being the only way to choose between ‘bang bang’ and speed control.

@tobiaslegofan 3 жыл бұрын

I have used power functions since it got released and using the powerd up stuff now. It has so many new possibilities and i would love to learn how to code it to make great automatic MOCs. Im looking forward too thiz programming series

@Nightswimmer80 3 жыл бұрын

Great idea this series! Thank you very much and keep on doing great!

@CoolStuffOrigami 3 жыл бұрын

This is a really useful series! Thanks a lot!

@thekoncoctionkitties5089 3 жыл бұрын

I may have to try this. It looks fun.

@gewinder Жыл бұрын

Basic turtorial 2.0 is welcome. Keep up the good work and and happy new year 🙂🙂

@Dadudi 3 жыл бұрын

Very interesting series, I will watch it entirely! I am sure it will be very usefull for lots of users😉

@kingofherdaz7860 3 жыл бұрын

Finally! the video series I've needed

@deyonbisram4406 3 жыл бұрын

Finally something on KZfaq that is useful about lego

@Brick_Tips 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for starting this series

@kostasf4483 3 жыл бұрын

Powered up is way more expensive than the previous version !

@adrian_zombturtle148 3 жыл бұрын

it is if u buy single components alone but if u buy them in lego sets i would say its a bit more

@kingofherdaz7860 3 жыл бұрын

Do NOT buy any standalone motors or hubs directly from lego. It is much more cost effective to buy them from places like Bricklink or as part of sets. For example if you buy the technic hub ($90), L motor ($40), and XL motor ($40) individually on lego.com you will pay $170. If instead you buy the Top Gear Rally Car you get both motors, the hub, and hundreds of pieces for $130. Alternatively, you can like what I did and buy from Bricklink. I paid ~$10 for an XL motor, ~$19 for a technic hub, and ~$15 each for 2 L motors. Prices there vary by seller and fluctuate with time, so prices may have gone up since I bought these.

@RogueTransformations 3 жыл бұрын

Great video and very helpful, thanks!

@isaiahsaavedra6799 3 жыл бұрын

this was actually very helpful, thank you

@KennyMinigun 3 жыл бұрын

There is currently one more drawback of the Powered Up: the motors are less powerful. This is illustrated by the BuWizz 3.0, where max continuous current for PU is 2A while PF has 4A. As we know from elementary physics voltage * current = power. Since voltage is pretty much fixed to what batteries can supply the current is making the difference. However, as you said, hardware "arsenal" might expand and we may get more powerful motors and/or energy sources/hubs.

@McKrushi 3 жыл бұрын

Yes the mechanical power of a PF XL motor is slightly higher than the power of a PU XL motor, but both of them are far away from 4A stalled current. I guess the higher current limit is mainly for the buwizz buggy motor.

@Ziplock9000 7 ай бұрын

I started with the 6V system from the end of the 1970's and always wanted the slightly better 9v system that looked 'professional' lol. Years later, Mindstorms RXC 1/1.5 system. Since then there's been so many different power systems and robotics system that are not compatible with each other. Lego took the piss with this IMHO. Anyway, I've re-invested in Power Function recently as the parts are ultra-cheap from China. Like £23 for 6 motors and wires delivered to the UK. You video shows Lego made it even more of a mess with each of those.

@Liborification 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for great info...any ideas for slowing down powered up train motor besides lowering supply voltage to 6v?

@RacingBrick 2 жыл бұрын

You can regulate speed using the app, or even using the Powered Up remote

@idotic_kid 3 жыл бұрын

I'm pretty sure that the BuWizz 3 has Power Functions _and_ Control+/Powered Up ports. This way, you can use both systems.

@RacingBrick 3 жыл бұрын

Since that is still not a released and tested product I did not include it in the video

@stefanbota2853 Жыл бұрын

Does anyone know if the motor works similarly to a normal DC motor with encoder? I want to cut the cable to implement it on an arduino board and program it with simulink for my bachelor degree. I don't want to risk it if it doesn't work.

@AceObserver 2 жыл бұрын

Your videos are really great and lucid. Thank-you very much. However, what is the follow-on one to the "LEGO Power-Up basic tutorials - 01 - Introduction". Hopefully showing some simple programming?

@RacingBrick 2 жыл бұрын

There will be a follow-up, but I'm still unsure about the best format and I was waiting for some promised updates and changes in the Powered Up environment.

@spoorbaanvankees 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your clear videos. I learned a lot of it by using Powered up. With my grandson I'm building a robot without an example. At this moment we have a problem with the Powered up app: We want to connect 2 hubs #880012 (lego technics), but you will understand, it won't work. We can pair to hubs, but only one is working (the upper in the list). Do you or any one else know how control 2 hubs?

@dinhtuan752 9 ай бұрын

Sounds like having an issue with 2 hubs. on the latest version so first connect to the first hub, Click the BT icon next to the back arrow, Power the second hub, and TAP the second hub is paired. and will begin to code a robot.

@patrickdemets6018 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this. As others have mentioned, this is better than the (non-existent) official documentation, even over a year later. Question: Is it possible to install the PU app on PC (Win10), especially if it's Bluetooth-enabled? I know I can install the Android APK for PU, but I'm not skilled enough in Android development to determine if this would only allow to run the app in the emulator or if it could run a full fledged app instance. I ask this because all I have to run the PU app at the moment is a smart phone and it's quite annoying with such little real estate on screen.

@RacingBrick 2 жыл бұрын

As far as I know there's no Android emulator for PC that has a properly working Bluetooth module, so it's not possible at the moment.

@HYYeung-oz8cd 3 жыл бұрын

I prefer Power Functions, its simplier and straightforward. Not really interested on Powered Up system personally, since it requires dedicated app and smart device support. Besides, code editing is not everyone's taste. In my opinion, Lego is meant to be played manually. Power Functions is excellent for extra playability, Powered Up is only good for STEM purpose. Edit: Powered Up *seems better* for STEM purpose.

@RacingBrick 3 жыл бұрын

Powered Up is definitely not only good for STEM purpose, it is pretty versatile. But I have to agree it lacks currently an easy way to be used without an app. The release of the simple battery box will help this a little bit but will not resolve completely.

@EclipsePrime7567 6 ай бұрын

What app do you use? I cant seem to find it.

@bami2 3 жыл бұрын

What you missed as downside to Powered Up is that there is significant latency with bluetooth low energy compared to the IR controls of Power Functions. I also feel like Powered Up is still a public beta. The app has only recently got support for the technic hubs (and thus finally allowed end-users creative building with them), but programming in the visual interface is very cumbersome and most things you want to do are very repetitive to set up every time. Buwizz and BrickController2 offer sort of a solution, but it's still very kludgy and I don't really like having to screw with my mobile phone. However TLG published the specifications to the bluetooth communication protocol (LWP) for this entire generation of hardware and 3rd party libraries already exist that either allow you to communicate from a PC/laptop to it, or like pybricks flash new firmware onto it that allow you to run your own code. As a software developer the liebherr excavator gave me all the tools to have a great time, but if I received this as a kid I would've been severely disappointed in what is currently possible from TLG and even including 3rd parties. It's mostly just software limitations though, the hubs and motors are pretty solid and have a lot of things going for them, they're just not utilized to their full potential in the app. I've written some desktop software now to work essentially like BrickController2 but from a PC, so I can control rc cars and other nonsense I built over the past few months and I wonder if people would be interested in something like this made properly instead of hacked together like I have for personal use.

@RacingBrick 3 жыл бұрын

There might be a theoretical latency between BT and IR, but in reality it is not really noticeable. Since PF IR only offers bang-bang control with the "quick" remote, a similar binary control method with PU has a very similar latency. The PU app really needs significant development, especially to make it more intuitive to use without coding knowledge.

@bami2 3 жыл бұрын

@@RacingBrick I'm sorry, I've actually never used Power Functions, just the 9V system before it and the only Lego IR set I have is 8539 Manas. In that, the control is pretty much immediate and considering how simple IR communication is I would have thought PF would be basically latencyless as well. That's pretty bad if it's about the same as Powered up, but then you're correct and it isn't a downside to PU. I've just found that with Powered Up there is considerable latency when controlling from either the control+ app, the powered up app or buwizz/brickcontroller. Even when sending messages directly over bluetooth from a pc in a controlled environment, it's in the order of 50-100, sometimes >200 ms of latency between sending a command and the unit reacting. Especially when you send a ton of messages (try quickly moving multiple sticks in brickcontroller app and see the hub light flashing orange/red because of too much data), the response gets very sluggish.

@McKrushi 3 жыл бұрын

@@bami2 Maybe it flashed because of too much power draw.

@medojedskejjednorozec600 2 жыл бұрын

Tanks. Yout showed me that powered up isn't that bad how i thought.

@gkline8288 9 ай бұрын

another major con for Powered up is that the hub... I'm guessing is the battery box and if so is many times higher in price than the old Power functions battery box. For train collectors this is a huge blow, especially since another con is that they can discontinue the software support at any time making all these parts worthless.

@dandk6168 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks!!

@user-hq2ky1fz7x Жыл бұрын

I have an instruction on powering up a truck but when l open my power up on my phone l do not get the same looking symbols so l can't follow the instructions, any ideas?

@RacingBrick Жыл бұрын

The app was recently updated to a new design, see the details here - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/oqlxo5qkl9i9f2Q.html

@Unbrickme 3 жыл бұрын

I think you can connect up tp only 4 hubs to your mobile device right? I've heard that you can connect up to 5 or 8 hubs to your mobile device. Also while "advanced coding" is possible to an extent with the main powered up hubs, you can really only get that with mindstorms. The new hubs are essentially bluetooth controllers, they don't process anything and they don't have internal memory for the code (they do specifications wise but its extremely small and not sufficient for block coding). Because of this, it essentially just constantly sends the bluetooth signal back and forth all the time to and from your mobile device. I've tried using the powered up system to code some PID controllers but that proved to be impossible for advanced applications. Due to the constant bluetooth signal sending and updating, my phone simply overheat and my app crashed, I couldn't use PID code for longer than about 5 minutes. And I'm using a relatively advanced phone too, the iPhone XS. Also in the powered up coding interface you can’t even type your own variables. Normally you should be able to define anything as variables, even small combinations of letters like “kp” or “prev_error” but powered up coding limits you to just using the letters of the English alphabet and letters of the Greek alphabet

@RacingBrick 3 жыл бұрын

Only 4 connections are permitted in the Powered Up app, it's not an actual limitation of the system. And "advanced coding" is compared to the abilities of the Power Functions system which is non existent. The PU app is pretty advanced considering that it is not meant to be a coding environment by default.

@StefaanHaesen 2 жыл бұрын

Nice tutorila !! Powered Up does not 'require' a smart device, it also works with remote controllers like the 88010 ;)

@RacingBrick 2 жыл бұрын

Only the 2 port city hub has a limited functionality with the remote directly, everything else needs to be connected through a smart device

@adrian_zombturtle148 3 жыл бұрын

ok but serious question at 1:38 6 of them say that they are just out of stock and not retiring soon. i sure hope that this means that they will still make the motors and AA battery box and others

@blockpartyrobotleague 3 жыл бұрын

Adrian_ Zombturtle If you live in the UK, I'm sorry to say all the PF products are now listed on shop.lego as Retired. :(. It's worth asking Lego store staff after lockdown, though!

@RacingBrick 3 жыл бұрын

The servo motor is out of stock since last May. If you call customer service and ask for a replacement they will tell you that they don't have any of them. In most EU countries the PF parts are not even listed on lego.com anymore, I choose the US site because they are at least still there but not available.

@adrian_zombturtle148 3 жыл бұрын

@@RacingBrick I live in the United States and for me the servo motor went out of stock around October

@SuperCougar1963 2 жыл бұрын

I have a question, How can I add two Technic Hubs to one project?

@RacingBrick 2 жыл бұрын

You can see how the feature works in this video - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iLJ0adVeqNWqmKc.html

@danielmoreira1003 2 ай бұрын

Thanks

@McKrushi 3 жыл бұрын

You left out the dumb-PU-hub because the it's not officially available 'anymore'? And aren't there 3rd party solutions for PU, too? :D But I don't want to appear obsessed with details (hah.., who am I kidding? :

@RacingBrick 3 жыл бұрын

The dumb PU hub is not available officially *yet* ;) There're 3rd party software solutions for PU but not devices like the ones for PF that are significantly changing/extending the abilities like SBrick or BuWizz. I mentioned the 3rd party adapters :)

@vladimirp5091 3 жыл бұрын

@@RacingBrick offical russian lego store sells Battery Box ~35$ (88015) mir-kubikov.ru/lego/88015/

@RacingBrick 3 жыл бұрын

Then let's hope it pop up at lego.com as well soon

@flixwiththebricks4701 2 жыл бұрын

What about 88015? Is that just a hub with 2 ports?

@dinhtuan752 Жыл бұрын

is a battery box

@T86D 3 жыл бұрын

Már csak azért is magyarul írok ez király lett(:

@Stronger493 2 жыл бұрын

Is there continue of this tutorial? Can´t find more videos.

@RacingBrick 2 жыл бұрын

No there aren't. This project was on hold since there were some changes expected in the app and I did not want to create tutorials for something that was about to change. I'm not sure what is the current timeline since those updates did not arrive yet, but I will continue the tutorials if/when the Powered Up app gets some updates.

@Stronger493 9 ай бұрын

@@RacingBrickHi, any news?

@emanym3909 3 жыл бұрын

Hi, when will this series continue?

@RacingBrick 3 жыл бұрын

I'm working on the next episodes in the background, they'll be released on a different platform soon

@chrissbrick4989 3 жыл бұрын

Buwizz 3.0 can take care of Powered Up.

@RacingBrick 3 жыл бұрын

We will see when it is released

@dogslover101 3 ай бұрын

A tutorial on how to make it move

@RacingBrick 3 ай бұрын

Well, this is definitely not part of "Introduction & History", so I don't think your complaint is valid. I have some other videos on the channel, but since the interface changed completely last year, they're not as useful anymore. I recommend you look for more recent videos about the system.

@jacobroebuck5648 3 жыл бұрын

Did we ever get more videos?

@RacingBrick 3 жыл бұрын

If you come and help me unpacking a dozen cardboard boxes and assembling a few IKEA shelves then I'll be able to focus on the videos sooner :)

@pedrogameiro3161 2 жыл бұрын

Where is the next video?

@istvankovacs9512 2 жыл бұрын

Szia. Nagyon jó és beszédes lett ez a videód. Szeretném megkérdezni, hogy terveztél-e, illetve van-e magyar nyelven is ilyen videód?

@RacingBrick 2 жыл бұрын

Szia! Nincsenek magyarul videóim, azért van a tartalom angolul mert így tudok velül a legtöbb emberhez információt eljuttatni. Van angol felirat mindegyiken, ennek az automatikus fordítását be lehet kapcsolni segítségnek.

@istvankovacs9512 2 жыл бұрын

@@RacingBrick Rendben. Köszönöm a gyors választ és az információt is. Kissé késve, de észrevettem az intródba épített felirat lehetőséget. Még egyszer köszönöm a minőségi tartalmat és sok sikert a továbbiakban.

@yazanqazzaz4127 3 жыл бұрын

Am i the only one here that wont benifite from this information but still find his videos intresting?

@k0m3t4l5 3 жыл бұрын

I prefer powered up, I received the MINDSTORMS inventor and I like it a lot, also becose I have others powered up motors

@crazyivan030983 3 жыл бұрын

This is VERY confusing... Greetings from Poland :)

@disneytuber5903 3 жыл бұрын

Part 2?

@RacingBrick 3 жыл бұрын

I'll pick up the series once I'll have everything arranged around here, nowadays plans change quickly due to unforeseen circumstances

@balazsbrindzik3750 2 жыл бұрын

are you hungarian? because i am, and my name is also Balázs

@RacingBrick 2 жыл бұрын

Micsoda véletlen :)

@xy_iron 3 жыл бұрын

So powered up is less universal, less powerfull and more complicated to use than PowerFunctions Why Lego? Why?

@RacingBrick 3 жыл бұрын

To offer significantly more functions.

@xy_iron 3 жыл бұрын

@@RacingBrick The only function i care about is to make my lego drive. So powered up is not for me

@ddaworld 3 жыл бұрын

do you now buwizz 3.0

@RacingBrick 3 жыл бұрын

nope

@KacsaFacsaro 3 жыл бұрын

Én nem értem ez a Powered Up/controll + rendszert, hogy miért jó.... 4 kivezetése van egy hub-nak, nem stack-elhetők a kábelek és nem is hosszabbíthatóak, ráadásul az elemek nekem túl nagynak tűnnek, de legalábbis kevésbé konfugurálhatóak velük a moc-ok. A már meglévő PF egységeket nem tudom velük használni, így be kell ruházni új egységekre, ami k...a nagy lehúzás. Az összes előnye ami van az helyettesíthető 3rd party elemekkel, mint pl a bt kapcsolat, a szögszenzor stb. Én ezt nem érzem előre lepésnek, csak pénzlehúzásnak.

@RacingBrick 3 жыл бұрын

Hosszabbító és adapter van már más gyártótól ha szükség van rá. A stackelhetőség az interaktív funkciók miatt lett ejtve, szenzorokat pl nem lenne jó egymásra toronyozni. Ami a méretet illeti volumenben nem sokkal nagyobb pl a Technic hub mint a PF AA elemtartó, viszont a rögzítési pontok és az elemek cseréje sokkal logikusabb ezért jobban beépíthető szerintem. Ami meg a generációváltást illeti, több mint 10 éves volt már a PF, éppen ideje volt valami újba vágni és nem a régi rendszert pofozgatni tovább. Aki sokat invesztált PF-be és nem lát előnyt a PU-ban annak pedig nem kötelező váltani, ennyi.

@KacsaFacsaro 3 жыл бұрын

@@RacingBrick én akkor sem látom jó iránynak, hogy összevonnak olyan elemeket egy nagy egységbe, amik alapvetően különböző funkciót látnak el. Tehát, hogy egy akkumulátort integrálnak egy vezérlő egységgel, szenzorokkal stb. (többek között ezért döntöttem inkább az SBrick mellett a BuWizz ellenében) Ha az életből merítünk példát, akkor ott van mondjuk egy elektromos autó, ahol van egy padlólemezbe épített akku csomag, van egy fedélzeti számítógép, szenzorok és végrehajtó egységek. És mindegyik oda van beépítve, ahol szükséges hogy legyen. És ez a rendszer konfigurálható, könnyű hozzáadni és elvenni egységeket. Szenzorokat tényleg nem jó egymásra pakolni, de a motoroknál igazán megoldhatták volna, hogy a régieket is tudjam használni. Ilyen generációváltás még nem volt, hogy kukázni kelljen az addig használt technológiát. Most az, hogy a PF az 10 éves és belefognak valami újba, hát legyen, de ne szivassák már azokat akiknél hegyekben áll a FP egység. Nem hiszem el, hogy ne lehetett volna úgy fejleszteni, hogy a kecske is meg a káposzta is...ha csinálnak egy okos központi egységet bt vezérléssel, dedikált bemenetekkel szenzoroknak, régi kimenetekkel végrehajtó egységeknek, akkor nem kellene kukázni sem az akkumulátort, sem a motorokat. Egyedül az infrás vezérlést kellene cserélni, sok ember legnagyobb örömére. Még egy pár szó a rögzítési pontokról. A PF AA elemtartó tényleg nem helytakarékos, de az akku már igen. Nem is értem egyébként, miért erőltetik ezt a szintén elavult elemes technológiát. A franc akar tonnaszám elemeket venni meg cserélgetni, meg figyelni egyáltalán, hogy cserélni lehessen. Zárójel bezár...Szóval sztem ezek az egységek NAGYOK még akkor is ha több funkció van bennük összevonva. Én nem szívesen táncolok körbe egy ekkora téglát az amúgy is túlzsúfolt modellemben. Sokkal inkább favorizálom, ha több kisebb egységem van, amit itt-ott el tudok rejteni, ahol éppen úgy adja ki az építés. Engem ez a PU abszolút nem győzött meg eddig, az meg hogy nem kötelező váltani...háááát az, hogy a lego nem támogatja a régi egységeket az elég lehangoló.