Anyone using PoweredUP as an alternative for Mindstorms?

[Thyraz]

Hi everyone,

most of the topics about Powered UP seem to be train related, even that it doesn't feel like firstly built with the trains in mind (I guess i would prefer power functions for most use cases here)...
The possibilities that the Powered UP app has these days feels more like a Mindstorms for younger kids (and for the older ones that like the fact, that you can easily combine multiple hubs in BT-controlled environment).

Me and my 5 year old just started with some simple tests, but I can already see, that he will be able to control an easy robot on his own.
He already has some experience with Scratch Junior on the iPad (which looks like Lego copied the concept from) and knows how to build loops or start different parts with notifications.

The fact that the kids don't need to be able to read, is a really nice concept.
Knowing a few letters for the motor / sensor slots and being able to read small numbers is all you need to get started.

So in my eyes, the Powered UP concept is really underrated, as a lot people look at it as an over-complicated Power Functions replacement.
To me, it fells way more like a concept to teach programming concepts and logical reasoning. In other words: a very nice STEM toy.

 So, how do you use it, how old are your kids using it and what do you build / control with it?
Would really love to hear what others are doing with it. :)

We started with the Boost Hub, 2 motors and the Boost sensor so it's easier to combine classic lego with technic parts.
Also the 2 integrated motors make it easy to build simple robots with wheels.

Some first bigger projects I currently plan for him (unfinished / untested: need to order some missing parts):

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 10, 2021 by Thyraz

[ord]

I use the Powered Up technic hub as an alternative for Mindstorms and for me, there is not much that Mindstorms can do that Powered Up can't (I'm mostly building random robots and mechanisms).

The Powered Up code blocks aren't too dissimilar to Scratch (bundled with Mindstorms 51515) and for more advanced programming, Pybricks can do most of what Mindstorms Python can do (I think).

[Tcm0]

Yep, powered up is a small mindstorms and people don't really know that. But on the other side you could ask if powered up is the better solution for simple stuff.

Anyways, it's all one system. The mindstorms hub can communicate with the powered up hubs (in theory) so you could make one giant mesh. Also, there is pybricks.

[Thyraz]

Yes, when there's an easy way to include other hubs in Mindstorm projects, one benefit of Powered UP will be obsolete: Using multiple hubs.
The simple coding blocks will always differentiate it from Scratch in the Mindstorms app, but when you're old enough to switch to writing real code pros and cons exists for both solutions.

PoweredUP will also provide running code on the device with pybricks, but you are limited to max 4 accessories on a hub, compared to 6 with mindstorms.
But Bluetooth has enough signal strength these days. So a program running not directly on the device doesn't really hurt.
If you're someone who's interested in building remote controlled cars you might see that a little bit different, but it's completely fine for robots / machines where changing and optimizing the code all the time is pretty normal instead of running a static program over and over again.

The fact that the hubs can be placed in different locations and don't have to be stripped to a single machine / robot extends the possibilities.
I played around a bit with node-poweredup which is also easy to use (but uses javascript instead of python). 
As the software is not running on the device, you can also include other libraries available for your platform and combine it with controlling PoweredUP in a single project.

For example strip a battery powered webcam to your robot and use something like OpenCV for object / face detection. ;)

But well, it might take a few years until my son is old enough for this stuff. 
 

Edited March 10, 2021 by Thyraz

[caiman0637]

Mindstorms is great and all, but I think that PoweredUp is better. It's mainly the motors, which are so unwieldy and large... the PoweredUp ones are way better. 

[Tcm0]

2 hours ago, caiman0637 said:

Mindstorms is great and all, but I think that PoweredUp is better. It's mainly the motors, which are so unwieldy and large... the PoweredUp ones are way better. 

but you do know that you can use all the powered up motors with mindstorms? it's one ecosystem

[Toastie]

On 3/10/2021 at 7:35 PM, caiman0637 said:

Mindstorms is great and all, but I think that PoweredUp is better

I am taking the freedom to commenting this ...

For me, "Mindstorms" is: RCX, Scout, MicroScout, Spybot, NXT, and EV3. 23 years of intelligent bricks and counting. With different capabilities and "tasks" they were designed for.

They all work as of today on current OS' (Win10 is what I know) and machines (64 bit).

PoweredUp is evolving. Let's see, whether it does live up to expectations. Potential is certainly there! It is all about documentation and the community developing stuff for the platforms. See, with e.g. BrixcxCC any many other 3rd party software, folks out there (not TLG) have done a teriffic job for the Mindstorms line. And TLG did a terrific job as well as they have provided some very detailed documents.

With PUp it is a bit bumpy regarding the firmware ... but that is only my personal view. So I think the Mindstorms line of PBricks is "better" than PUp

Best and have fun with PUp!!!

Thorsten