Can Lego City Powered Up trains be automated?

Post by vertis » Mon, Dec 05, 2022, 8:51 PM UTC

incanus77 wrote: post #38

EamonnMR wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You could only run a single engine per layout and switching could cut off the power. Now what I really wish they'd bring back is the Space Monorail...

> Now what I really wish they'd bring back is the Space Monorail... Agreed. I still think about that thing. I was about 10 when it came out and used to go and stare at the box at the toy store. When the new Futuron LEGO minifigs came out with the first revamp to the Classic Space suit, it just looked so damn cool. To this day they always make me think of the monorail.

Post by megablast » Mon, Dec 05, 2022, 9:32 PM UTC

leetrout wrote: post #3

Is it weird to post the fake question and your own answer to the question at the same time? I havent had much luck in the overflow communities so I am unsure how common this is. Is it what most people do?

Post by adolph » Mon, Dec 05, 2022, 9:46 PM UTC

adolph wrote: post #58

preinheimer wrote: post #11

On a related note, Lego is cancelling Mindstorms. So if you were dreaming up an advanced train city with Mindstorms as the brain you'd better stock up now. https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/28/23428766/lego-discontinu...

My child is starting Lego robotics courses and I was confused by the change. As close as I can tell WeDo, PoweredUp/Boost and Spike all operate similarly. The core is a hub consisting of a STM32 microprocessor with a BLE module, power management, options for internal lights and accelerometer, and varying count of IO to servos, motors and sensors. With certain kits some of motors are built in. They all use the same ne…

  ## SPIKE Prime and SPIKE Essential
  All SPIKE Prime and SPIKE Essential sensors and motors are compatible with each other.
  ## MINDSTORMS® EV3 / NXT and SPIKE Essential
  MINDSTORMS EV3 and NXT components aren’t compatible with SPIKE Essential because they use different connection cables and ports.
  ## WeDo 2.0 and SPIKE Essential
  WeDo 2.0 motors, sensors, and hubs aren’t compatible with SPIKE Essential.
  ## Powered UP / Control+ and SPIKE Essential
  The Control+ L and XL motors can be plugged into the SPIKE Essential hub and detected by the SPIKE app, but other elements won’t be detected.

Post by dolmen » Mon, Dec 05, 2022, 10:12 PM UTC

primitivesuave wrote: post #16

I used to make all kinds of cool projects with lejos ( https://lejos.sourceforge.io/ ) and am now a bit tempted to get the new toys and test out the Python interface. Would be nice if Lego actually invested more time into making a standard programming interface for advanced users.

Post by f4c39012 » Mon, Dec 05, 2022, 10:28 PM UTC

preinheimer wrote: post #7

As someone who likes lego and programming, I love this answer. But I hate how hard lego has made it. Yes, with some work you can make your train stop and go. But I don't think there's a good track switching solution that's lego only and automated. There's an aftermarket motor thing that connects with USB. The lego only attempts end up unwieldy and usually lacking in reliability (e.g. https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-…