In which I look to see how colours other than the six expected by the Boost colour sensor are detected, using the Powered Up app. What I found was…unexpected.
Continue readingPowering Up with Colour Detection
Powered Up
The Powered Up App Receives a Boost
I have not been so excited about seeing a software upgrade delivered as I have been this weekend. The LEGO Powered Up app has just been given a substantial bump up in its functionality.
Long time readers of the blog will know how I feel about LEGO Boost: a great set, and a simple way to automate any models that you might make. Since it was released 18 months ago, we have seen all sorts of creations, as well as ideas through the primary models in the set. But there are a few challenges: you need to work through the models to gain all functionality; and the hub itself is a little bulky for some applications, but certainly adds a lot of fun to some sets. In some ways, I see it as the natural successor to the early motor kits, used in the 60’s and 70’s to automate wheels models, and see them propelled under there own power. Unfortunately, despite sharing a plug system, it has not been compatible with other similarly plugged devices…until now.
Continue readingTime to get moving: first steps into the Powered Up system [Review: Passenger Train 60197]
In which I finally get my hands onto some of the new Powered Up components and find myself dealing with a system full of immense potential. I compare the Powered Up system with the old Power Functions system for driving the train, draining the batteries in the process. And I start to wish for a little bit of magic…
Powered Up App: Puppy Preview
Over recent weeks, the LEGO® Powered Up App has become available, initially with programs for running both the new Passenger train and Cargo Train Sets, and now also the Powered Up Batmobile.
As well as controlling the speed of movement, there are also a number of sound effects associated with the app. The sound effects are played through the phone/tablet speakers, rather than the powered up brick itself. While exploring the app at the breakfast table one morning, Mabel the Cavoodle hopped up to join us. She was more engaged with the sounds made by the Batmobile App than the City Passenger Train App. Except for the one that sounds a little like our front door bell. Her responses were captured for your enjoyment.
I have a more comprehensive review of the passenger train coming up in the near future. In the mean time, don’t forget about our Antman and the Wasp MOC Competition, open until the 15th of August. Until next time,
Play Well!
Giving the Roller Coaster a Boost
Not satisfied with merely motorising my Roller Coaster 10261, I incorporate the Boost Robotics System, and then add some additional functionality. It’s all fun and games until the batteries stop running at full power…
There is no doubt that the new Roller Coaster 10261 is a magnificent model, worthy of a set piece in any LEGO Layout. But driving it manually is a little tedious,to say nothing of the roughness of the ride. How can we make it so that we may have the coaster running, and share a drink with friends at the same time, while they marvel at this wonderful set?
Simple motoring using an ‘M’ motor.
Adding a Power Functions medium motor is simple: so simple in fact that you can work out how to do it in the pre release video: plug a motor over the drive shaft, and let it go.
And it goes on… and on… and on until you turn it off. There is no break in the activity, the constant rumble of the motor. Don’t get me wrong, this is pretty awesome, and with two trains of coaster carriages running, it can be pretty hypnotic. There is no reason that this should be any harder with the equivalent Powered Up/ PF2.0 motor, when we see it released in the future.
But I wonder if more can be done.
A Little Boost
In fact, adding simple automation to the set using the Boost Move hub, sensor and servo motor is pretty simple, and is described on the final page of the instructions. This is what it looks and sounds like.
More Powered Up News:
In which previously known unknowns become known knowns, and a previously unknown unknown is revealed.
A quick post, following on from recent PF2.0 posts.
Currently, Fan Media are meeting in Billund (I was unable to attend this year), and the new controller and battery box have been revealed in full. Information has been gathered from our friends at HispaBrick Magazine, as well as Sariel’s LEGO®️ Workshop.
Some Previously known unknowns have been revealed:
- The battery box requires 6 “AAA” batteries, and measures 4×8 studs x 4 bricks high
- The controller requires 4 batteries
- The train motor looks like the old train motor, but with the new 6 strand wire as well as the PF2.0 connector.
A new feature on the remote has been revealed: the control switches can be rotated, so that it may trigger ‘left or right’ rather than forward/ back, as seen in this image of 2 controllers, courtesy of Lluís Gibert from HispaBrick Magazine (used with permission). 
Sariel’s LEGO®️Worskshop has a nice video showing the new Powered Up components, which can be found here
As the train sets are due for release shortly, we should start getting some hands on news ‘real soon now’…
In the mean time, I am preparing to go to Japan Brickfest next week, and am excited to attend my first overseas Fan event, and meet some AFOLs from around the world! I expect there may be a post or two before then….
Until next time,
Play well!
Reducing the Known Unknowns? 2018 Train Box / Controller Images.
I don’t normally pounce on every piece of news regarding official box art, but this particular box is well related to my recent article about the forthcoming LEGO Trains. What does it add to our list of Known Knowns?
After summarising what was known about the Powered Up Platform three days ago, we now confirm that the Battery Hub has dimensions of 4×8 studs. We now have visual, consumer level, information that there will be an app available, as well as the remote. The Bluetooth remote will not be backwards compatible with Infrared trains, but this will not surprise many. I can see the value of including this information however, as families with pre-existing trains may have certain expectations. Whether the Train App looks like this when ultimately released, or can be customised, remains to be seen.
Also confirmed on the box art is the availability of new straights and curved rails packs.
Does this add to our previous ‘known unknowns? Not in a significant way. Videos from the Fall Preview reveal the as yet not officially seen connectors on the Battery Hub, being the same as that seen on the Boost and WeDo.
The big remaining unknowns about the Move Hub is exactly now tall it will be, as well as the number and type of batteries required. I’m sure this will be confirmed soon enough.
The trains are due for release in ?July/August, depending on your market. The Australian Prices have been confirmed as $AUD199.99 for the Passenger train and $AUD299.99 for the Cargo Train. This is great news for australian consumers, as this represents a price drop for the Passenger Train, and a price freeze for the Cargo Train. The previous versions were released in 2014.
Are you excited for the new train sets or other sets incorporating the Powered Up platform? Why not leave your comments below. Until Next Time,
Play Well.
Time To Get ‘Powered Up’: Known Knowns, Known Unknowns. And A Little Speculation…
Feeling overwhelmed after a barrage of press releases and new sets being announced by LEGO in New York this week, I attempt to put together what is known about the new Powered Up platform, previously referred to as Power Functions 2.0
This week, at the Fall Preview for the (Northern) Summer 2018 LEGO® releases, there have been a number of exciting announcements, some of which have been vigorously speculated about for most of the year, plus a couple of surprises!
Given that this year respresents (amongst other things) the twentieth anniversary of the LEGO Mindstorms range, and also represents 10 years since we first saw the arrival of Power Functions, it should come as no surprise that we have seen a number of sets featuring the new “Powered Up” platform – previously referred to as Power Functions 2.0.
“For 20 years, we have been creating new ways for children to combine technology and LEGO building, starting with the introduction of LEGO MINDSTORMS®, a robotics toolkit that pioneered the idea of a ‘smart toy,” said Michael McNally, senior director brand relations for the LEGO Group. “With Powered Up, we’ve established a flexible connected platform to enable innovative new play experiences that merge digital and physical play in natural ways that will delight and inspire the builders of today and tomorrow – while still focusing on the core physical play proposition of our System of Play – the LEGO brick.”
We have also seen some exciting announcements to go with LEGO Boost.
Powered Up: Power Functions 2.0 Known Knowns.
Back in February, we presented information about the new power functions platform. We were aware that we have a new combined Bluetooth receiver and Battery Box, as well as a motor unit suitable for trains. We knew that the new cables featured the same connections as the WeDo 2.0 platform, as well as Boost.We also knew there would be a new remote and that the platform could also be App Powered.
This new platform, and all of the other Motorised LEGO Elements now fall under the broader banner of “Powered up,” and includes CITY Trains, app driven vehicles, Boost and the DUPLO Cargo Train.
The Rambling Brick 
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