Lego Electronics - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 12, 2016, 11:05:23 pm
content: I've had this idea myself for years. Looks like someone finally made it a reality.https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/brixo-building-blocks-meet-electricity-and-iot-diy#/It's not perfect though (and their ad is weird). There are things I think they should add including:-a better controller that actually has inputs and outputs rather than just turning on and off, like an upgraded version that is wirelessly programmable-more devices, including compatabilty for existing electronic legos (like NST with the stupid RJ style connectors, and lego trains, I think this would work with tradional lego motor blocks though)-jumper cables (although regular black lego cables should work, it would just be nice if they included some, including making single wire ones)

author: Refrigerator
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2016, 04:31:12 am
content: I once had LEGO bricks with wires and electronics in them, but only a few and they were very old. Very similar to what they have there.

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2016, 04:51:09 am
content: Quote from: Refrigerator on October 13, 2016, 04:31:12 amYou mean like the old motor and light kits for lego trains and early technic?

author: Refrigerator
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2016, 05:40:32 pm
content: Quote from: Cyberdragon on October 13, 2016, 04:51:09 amI think so.I had a LEGO light, similar to what is on an ambulance, that i used to hook up to batteries and it would flash.Ps: Found it!http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=vintage+electric+lego+flashing+lights&view=detailv2&&id=7DDDE7B3D5990DE2890BFCA3C76F3145CB231815&selectedIndex=15&ccid=RiU8N9sz&simid=608007481551684143&thid=OIP.M46253c37db33cb822e6cdae828544ee6o0&ajaxhist=0

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2016, 08:03:39 pm
content: I have an early lego robot kit from 2002 (four years after the first mindstorms) that runs on some sort of learned motion memory instead of a computer interface. It has two motors on either side and a rotation sensor (rotary encoder?). It has a mode to teach it a series of set positions for each motor and three run program modes: single cycle, repeat, forward-reverse. It had a weird problem that if you left it off for awhile the RAM update data would somehow leak into the piezo buzzer driver and cause creepy static noises. The manual even addresses this and says to turn it on and off a few times or take out the batteries.failThe part that the head is attached to is the rotary sensor, which is also the restart cycle switch (or reverse cycle, don't remember which, but it is also very loose). So you can see that the project they show on the box...doesn't actually work because it resets itelf if it tries to move and the head gets jarred.

author: edy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 15, 2016, 09:13:01 pm
content: Cool idea! Not sure if LEGO has some patent issues regarding the brick shape/compatibility. Certainly this will make building simple circuits easy for kids to get excited by electronics. They can add +/- rails to the main platform board so you can use a plug pack instead of batteries! Just be sure to include short circuit sensing in case to limit current if a kid shorts it!

author: Refrigerator
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2016, 11:34:57 am
content: Quote from: edy on October 15, 2016, 09:13:01 pmA poly-fuse should be all right for low currents, i reckon.

author: Kalidor
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2016, 07:38:41 pm
content: Lego Mindstorms has these sensors too and much more possibilities. OK I know, it has a slightly different price tag.https://youtu.be/oUJ4L4kmbHw

author: Holmes34
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2016, 08:01:58 pm
content: Quote from: Cyberdragon on October 13, 2016, 08:03:39 pmSo you're telling me Lego made a robot that snapped its own neck and whisper about it's tortured existence through the piezo buzzer? Creepy!!!

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2016, 02:57:36 am
content: 1. Yes, but that's for really advanced stuff. This is for simple things that only have a few actions and a few simple sensors, while teaching kids about electricity.2.Yes...I even found out that if you programmed it to move forward really fast it would violently lurch forward a few times before the head popped off and it rolled away pushing its own head.Absolutely demented little machine.I'll do a teardown thread soon to see how it works and what causes the noisy memory issue.