Vernie from Lego Boost with programmable Hands

[Galaks]

Hi! I am new to this forum, and I would like to share my experience in upgrading Lego Boost set by adding Smart Hub from Powered Up train set and a couple of 88008 motors. These additional components have helped me to turn Vernie from Lego Boost into Vernie the Robot, as I can hardly imagine a robot with no opportunity of programming it's hands, and unfortunately, this is exactly what we all get right out of the box - no servos and no control for Vernie's hands. Just remember, when you first looked at the Lego Boost box, were you thinking: "Great! This Robot must have an active hands!"? I was. And then I was very disappointed, when learned, that Vernie doesn't have active hands. But we already have purchased a Powered Up Lego Train set, which includes Smart Hub and an r/c control unit, so I decided to use these parts to make Vernie's hands active and finally have bought Lego Boost set. Later I bought a couple of 88008 motors, 88005 lights, a very affordable mini Technic set 42102 (with 2 black 36-tooth gears) and my Vernie has got active hands. But, to my opinion, it was not a robot, yet, as there was no opportunity to program it's hands movements - a separate r/c unit was needed to move hands, and Lego Boost application even did not "know" about a second hub and 2 additional motors, mounted on Vernie's body. I started digging Internet and, wow!, right a couple weeks before I purchased Lego Boost set, Powered Up application was updated to version 3.0, giving us an opportunity to use up to 4 hubs in one program! Special new white program blocks are now available in this app to set a desired port to control each device. Bingo! A task was solved, and our Vernie has become a Robot with r/c hands and an oppotunity to program them. I also tried to add more "life" to this cute robot by puting lights into his eyes. You may see the result in this short video: https://youtu.be/2K6qAx3PS5o  Pictures of assembling steps can be downloaded at this link: https://yadi.sk/d/E53AFMkqn9Qk4w  Hope, you'll be able to make active hands for you Vernie, too, and so you may cure a kind of a disappointment, you and your kid may still feel concerning the Lego Boost set capabilities. Good luck!

Edited January 26, 2020 by Galaks

[Galaks]

Short update: please check new design of Vernie's programmable hands here: https://yadi.sk/d/E53AFMkqn9Qk4w Gears are the same, but now they work in a classic pair: small gear is attached to a motor's shaft. As a result, hand's positioning has become more precise and batteries drain has been reduced significantjy.

 

[Galaks]

Finally have uploaded a short video with Vernie dancing, showing full capabilities of it's programmable hands  https://youtu.be/FNXu1hhejhs My 7.5 years old son, Vernie's owner, has chosen the music, performed a nice real dance for me (so I could easier imagine the possible pas) and also has prepared some sub-programs for different movements. I just have "polished" them, to syncronize sound and Vernie's dance. Please, don't critisize our video in a very serious way, it's my first experience in choreography , and I definitely was short of time - my son couldn wait to disassemble Vernie, so he might start building another Lego Boost model :)