Mr Hobbles

Here's a video of absolute zero on the Technic linear motors:

@Jetro Actually that's not true. Group 3a does have absolute zero - the LPF2 mode exists and responds appropriately, always returning to the same position. Its just not marked with a black spot on the casing - I've taken to marking mine with a marker! :) My library, "node-poweredup" fully supports it. See mode 3, APOS: lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, type 002f (TECHNIC_XLARGE_LINEAR_MOTOR) +3s lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, hardware version 0.0.00.1000, software version 0.0.00.1000 +0ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, total modes 6, input modes 011110, output modes 011111 +45ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode combinations [1110] +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 0, name POWER +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 0, RAW min -100, max 100 +46ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 0, PCT min -100, max 100 +28ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 0, SI min -100, max 100 +32ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 0, SI symbol PCT +28ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 0, Value 1 x 8bit, Decimal format 1.0 +31ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 1, name SPEED +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 1, RAW min -100, max 100 +31ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 1, PCT min -100, max 100 +29ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 1, SI min -100, max 100 +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 1, SI symbol PCT +31ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 1, Value 1 x 8bit, Decimal format 4.0 +29ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 2, name POS +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 2, RAW min -360, max 360 +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 2, PCT min -100, max 100 +45ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 2, SI min -360, max 360 +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 2, SI symbol DEG +29ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 2, Value 1 x 32bit, Decimal format 4.0 +31ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 3, name APOS +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 3, RAW min -360, max 360 +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 3, PCT min -100, max 100 +44ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 3, SI min -360, max 360 +16ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 3, SI symbol DEG +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 3, Value 1 x 16bit, Decimal format 3.0 +29ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 4, name LOAD +31ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 4, RAW min 0, max 127 +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 4, PCT min 0, max 100 +31ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 4, SI min 0, max 127 +29ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 4, SI symbol PCT +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 4, Value 1 x 8bit, Decimal format 1.0 +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 5, name CALIB +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 5, RAW min 0, max 512 +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 5, PCT min 0, max 100 +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 5, SI min 0, max 512 +29ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 5, SI symbol RAW +31ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 5, Value 3 x 16bit, Decimal format 3.0 +30ms Compare with the Technic Large Angular Motor (SPIKE Prime). Exactly the same capabilities. Notice even the hardware and software versions are the same: lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, type 0031 (TECHNIC_LARGE_ANGULAR_MOTOR) +4s lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, hardware version 0.0.00.1000, software version 0.0.00.1000 +0ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, total modes 6, input modes 011110, output modes 011111 +32ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode combinations [1110] +28ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 0, name POWER +31ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 0, RAW min -100, max 100 +31ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 0, PCT min -100, max 100 +29ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 0, SI min -100, max 100 +44ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 0, SI symbol PCT +32ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 0, Value 1 x 8bit, Decimal format 1.0 +28ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 1, name SPEED +31ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 1, RAW min -100, max 100 +45ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 1, PCT min -100, max 100 +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 1, SI min -100, max 100 +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 1, SI symbol PCT +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 1, Value 1 x 8bit, Decimal format 4.0 +29ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 2, name POS +31ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 2, RAW min -360, max 360 +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 2, PCT min -100, max 100 +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 2, SI min -360, max 360 +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 2, SI symbol DEG +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 2, Value 1 x 32bit, Decimal format 4.0 +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 3, name APOS +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 3, RAW min -360, max 360 +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 3, PCT min -100, max 100 +31ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 3, SI min -360, max 360 +29ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 3, SI symbol DEG +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 3, Value 1 x 16bit, Decimal format 3.0 +29ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 4, name LOAD +32ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 4, RAW min 0, max 127 +29ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 4, PCT min 0, max 100 +31ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 4, SI min 0, max 127 +29ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 4, SI symbol PCT +31ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 4, Value 1 x 8bit, Decimal format 1.0 +29ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 5, name CALIB +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 5, RAW min 0, max 512 +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 5, PCT min 0, max 100 +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 5, SI min 0, max 512 +44ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 5, SI symbol RAW +16ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 5, Value 3 x 16bit, Decimal format 3.0 +31ms For final reference, this is the (much less capable) Medium Linear Motor (Boost). No APOS: lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, type 0026 (MEDIUM_LINEAR_MOTOR) +4s lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, hardware version 1.0.00.0000, software version 1.0.00.0000 +1ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, total modes 3, input modes 110, output modes 111 +46ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode combinations [110] +29ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 0, name POWER +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 0, RAW min -100, max 100 +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 0, PCT min -100, max 100 +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 0, SI min -100, max 100 +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 0, SI symbol PCT +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 0, Value 1 x 8bit, Decimal format 1.0 +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 1, name SPEED +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 1, RAW min -100, max 100 +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 1, PCT min -100, max 100 +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 1, SI min -100, max 100 +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 1, SI symbol PCT +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 1, Value 1 x 8bit, Decimal format 4.0 +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 2, name POS +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 2, RAW min -360, max 360 +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 2, PCT min -100, max 100 +15ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 2, SI min -360, max 360 +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 2, SI symbol DEG +30ms lpf2hubmodeinfo Port 03, mode 2, Value 1 x 32bit, Decimal format 4.0 +60ms

I think it'd be best to leave off the Control+ branding. While originally the motors originated in Technic Control+ sets (the 4x4 and Liebherr), their usage is expanding out into other brands (ie. the upcoming Creator Expert Crocodile Locomotive). Simiarly for the SPIKE Prime motors - they are included in the new Mindstorms set, and the Boost motor is now used for the Haunted House. They're all just generic "Powered Up" components.

You missed the Spike medium motor and train motor. :) The naming of the motors are the confusing - "Control" doesn't mean anything with relation to the functionality, its referring to the brand name Control+. The consumer names and numbering for the motors are (as seen on Shop@Home and the SPIKE Prime website): Group 1 (Simple) * Simple Medium Linear Motor (45303) * Train Motor (88011) Group 2 (Simple / Interactive / Tacho) * Medium Linear Motor (88008) Group 3a (Simple / Interactive / Tacho / Absolute) * Technic Large Motor (88013) * Technic XLarge Motor (88014) Group 3b (Simple / Interactive / Tacho / Absolute) * Technic Medium Angular Motor (45603) * Technic Large Angular Motor (45602) I've split them into these three groups deliberately. The 1st group, with the simple medium linear motor and train motor, are what can be considered "simple" motors - most relateable to the Power Functions equivalents. They (like all the rest) offer variable speed control from zero to max. Groups 2 and 3 are what Lego class as "interactive" motors. They offer the same variable speed control as the simple motors, but allow the motors to feed back to the controlling device how far they've rotated, allowing finer control over how far they rotate. They also allow you to specify that you only want to to rotate a certain number of degrees then stop. Finally, they also offer "speed" based control as well as simple power. The simple motors in group 1 will decrease in speed as the power level goes down, ie due to battery discharge. The group 2 and 3 motors allow you to specify speed, so as battery level goes down, the motor will take more power to maintain the speed (as much as possible). Group 3's primary difference over group zero is that they provide an "absolute zero". This is a location that you can tell the motor to go to, ie ("go back to zero", or "go to 85 degrees"). Group 2 doesn't provide an absolute zero - zero is where the motor is positioned when initialized. Finally, group 3b is the same as group 3a, but the motor axle is at an angle to the motor, as opposed to straight out the end. It also has the "absolute zero" position marked in black paint on the body, whereas group 3a's isn't marked.

Thanks, it does. :) I use Node.js/TypeScript. I've actually open sourced a couple of libraries to help people program Powered Up and Control Lab stuff: For Powered Up - https://github.com/nathankellenicki/node-poweredup/ For Control Lab - https://github.com/nathankellenicki/node-controllab/

Yep, as others have said, its likely just out of stock. The lack of backorder is probably because of current conditions - they dont have an exact date for when new stock will arrive. Lego usually puts out releases to fansites with lists of sets that are retiring soon, and they also usually add the tag "Retiring soon" to the product page.

Thanks for the link! Interesting that they have the full sales description from Lego. That must mean that press releases must have gone out already, and fan sites and retailers are under embargo not to publish until told by Lego. My guess is the reveal will be next week, if not this.

I found a new front picture of it, and it really does look gorgeous. I can't wait!

Sure. :) Although I’m hitting buttons on the Powered Up remote, it’s not doing anything directly - the Raspberry Pi is receiving button presses and sending commands to the Control Lab and Powered Up hubs respectively. As a result, the code running on the Pi knows whether the signal is green or red. The red plate is really just used to know when the Maersk train is in front of the signal. When the code running on the Raspberry Pi is notified that the sensor sees the red plate, it checks the state of the signal. If it’s green, it does nothing. If it’s red, it stops the train. Its also how I can use the same button to toggle the signal or the switch. The Pi knows what state the signal or switch is currently in, so when it receives another button press, it just sets the signal or the switch the opposite way.

That's correct. :) If you look at the picture of the Control Lab, ports C and D drive the lights for the signal (green and red respectively). Port E controls the track switch - the computer (Raspberry Pi) sends commands to turn the motor on for 200ms at a time to flip the switch. And finally, port H is hooked up to the track, varying the power to control the Metroliner.

As a big fan of Lego trains and Lego electronics, I wanted to try and merge three generations of Lego electronics (9v, Power Functions, and Powered Up) and get them working together seamlessly. Before I describe the setup, here's a video: Last year I discovered the LEGO Dacta Control Lab (otherwise known as Interface B) - a long forgotten piece of 9v tech from 1992 that was never released outside of Educational markets. It connects to a computer via a serial cable, and allows the computer to control up to 8 motors, and receive input from up to 8 sensors. The software is long outdated and doesn't run on modern computers, but the serial protocol is well documented, so I wrote a Node.js application to talk to it. The best thing about it is that it's powered via mains powered, so no batteries - and it stays "awake" as long as the computer is sending keep-alive messages to it. Using the Control Lab and Powered Up, I could control everything with no modifications to official LEGO parts, and nothing extra other than a Raspberry Pi running some code. It got me thinking - I could control switches and signals from a computer. In addition, for the past couple of years, I've maintained node-poweredup, a Node.js library for controlling Powered Up stuff from a computer. So I made a small layout to put it all to the test. :) The switch is controlled via a Power Functions medium motor, plugged into the Control Lab. The switch motor design itself I found via a YouTube video and recreated. The signal has two Power Functions lights. Since each light has two bulbs, one of the bulbs is hidden inside the trackside cabinet next to the signal. The lights are also plugged into the Control Lab. Two trains are setup - one is a Maersk train loaded with Powered Up, and the other is the Metroliner with an old 9v motor. The track is a simple oval with a passing loop. The track is 9v metal, except the passing loop is plastic. This means that only the Maersk train can use this passing loop. The Maersk train also has a downwards facing colour sensor that detects red plates on the track. This allows the Maersk train to be forced to respect a red signal. The whole thing is controlled via a Powered Up remote. A Raspberry Pi sits off camera running all the logic. Hope you enjoyed, and it helps show some of the possibilities of combining all the Lego technologies. :)

@Bricks-on-Rails Agreed with this! I will of course be buying Lego's official locomotive, but I would love for designs for compatible passenger cars to be available from you. (Hopefully in a 6-7 wide scale that fits this crocodile and the rest of TLG's official range!)

From the more recent leaked pictures, it doesn’t look exactly like it does in those (old) slides, but it’s close. It looks more like a Control+ hub without Bluetooth and only two ports instead of four. But as noted, these are just illustrations - we haven’t seen the physical item yet. :) The leaked pictures suggest the Technic set 42113 Boeing Osprey will be the first to have this hub/battery box, with a single motor included.

I’ve had similar troubles before. One thing that’s worked for me is to press the button on both at the same time while they’re both already blinking. I do this repeatedly, once a second, until they connect.

Well, we're all excited to motorise it. ;) Going back to the model itself, I personally can't wait. If the rumoured July 1st release date is true, I'm expecting an announcement somewhere around 16-18th June, in line with the two week announce lead other Creator Expert/18+ models have received (ie. Haunted House).

I ordered from US based store "BaldwinBrick". Also I had some orders from a French store shipped to me last week, so some stores are shipping to the US. I don't think there is a difference, just two listings with the same item. This one is much cheaper: https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=bb0892c01#T=S&C=1&O={"color":1,"iconly":0} It seems like a lot of the US stores have sold out since I ordered!

I don't think they did - look at the test results sheet (in Chinese) listed under both. Same battery model, and same testing date. I think they submitted the results from the first battery for the second. I think maybe internally (and regulatory), it had to go through seperate approvals, but it was enough to submit the same test results. It'll have a different SKU internally too.

Interesting find! If you look at the numbers: 45601 - SPIKE Prime Hub 45610 - SPIKE Prime Battery 45678 - SPIKE Prime Set The battery itself is named "Battery No 2." For 51515, the battery is named "Battery No 6." Interestingly though the test documentation for both has the same sample number, LGOYN57, with the same statistics. So I think perhaps because the battery changed color (yellow to teal), it required to go through a new approval process and production run? It does make me wonder what batteries 1, 3, 4, and 5 are for though! :D

Yes, but I think the point is it’s a much less capable hub than the EV3. 1. 5x5 LED matrix vs full monochrome display. 2. Much less powerful CPU and less RAM. 3. No SD card slot. 4. No USB port and as a result no WLAN capabilities. 5. Less ports 6. Fixed MicroPython based OS vs the fully capable EV3 OS and and Linux based alternatives (ie. ev3dev). It’s quite a big step down from EV3. I hope this isn’t the future of Mindstorms.

Try Bricklink - I just bought two Hubs at $16 each and two PU Technic large motors at $10 each, in preparation for buying two Crocodiles. :)

Well, the first pictures of 51515 "LEGO Mindstorms Robot Inventor" leaked this morning courtesy of a Chinese catalog, and, well, it's basically SPIKE Prime. The Hub is the same (SPIKE Prime/Technic Large Hub) - 6 I/O ports, 5x5 LED display, Bluetooth and micro USB connectivity. Its teal green now instead of yellow. The motors and sensors are the same too, but the motors are also now grey instead of green. From what I can tell from the limited imagery, there is a new Lego Mindstorms app. Not entirely sure but the "coding" seems like its similar to SPIKE Prime's Scratch interface. Obviously the Hub supports MicroPython too. I must admit, while I like SPIKE Prime, I'd hoped for a true successor to EV3.

The rumors have solidified on 1x 88009 Hub (Powered UP), and 1x 88013 Technic Large Motor (Control+). 88013 became available for sale separately today. Of course, still just a rumor as we've yet to see the back of the box or instructions, but those are the reports.

I'm not sure why it hadn't occurred to me before, but it's now really trivial to convert the Emerald Night to Powered Up with the Technic L motor. I'd previously tried with the XL motor but wasn't happy with the results as it didn't fit neatly into the space left by the old XL motor. I thought the L motor wouldn't have enough power to drive the train, but it has plenty of power, and fits the space really really neatly. And with a small program in the PUP app, you can make the remote control work properly with it. With the introduction of the Crocodile Locomotive that program won't be necessary as there'll be a nice train driving screen to control it!

Are there pictures of the back?! I must have missed that!

@Lok24 I'm betting the SPIKE ("angular") motors get a general release alongside the new Mindstorms kit in August. So, with todays announcement that 88013 is the Technic Large motor, which is getting a general release next month, I'm pretty certain this is the motor that the Crocodile will be recommended to be used with. This likely means that we won't be able to use the Powered Up remote, as the Powered Up remote only allows on-off ("bang bang") style operation with that motor, with no speed control. So I think there will likely be new functionality within the Powered Up app to control the locomotive. I'm hoping for a realistic "cab like" control layout, perhaps with some realistic sounds. :)