Laurens Valk

Let's-a-go!

#LEGO #Mario #MarioKart #MicroPython #FOSS #Pybricks #Python

A few months ago, I announced our initiative to save #LEGO #MINDSTORMS. It's high time for a progress update!

You might have seen hundreds of code updates recently, so now is a good time to demonstrate where we are.

This is clearly not the most impressive EV3 robot you've ever seen, but we're excited about the progress we've made on motors, sensors, and the EV3 brick.

One of the next big steps will be to enable USB communication with the brick. This is necessary to download and run programs.

Saving #LEGO #MINDSTORMS project update! It's all about sensors.

https://www.patreon.com/posts/week-5-6-sensors-121634519

#ewaste #foss #retrocomputing

Thanks for the mention on Linux Out Loud @WendyDLN

Here's some additional notes that may or may not be useful 😀 , roughly in order of the podcast.

1. Firefox not supporting Web Bluetooth/USB is unlikely to change due to security concerns. See their official position here: https://mozilla.github.io/standards-positions/#web-bluetooth

Glad you found Chromium as an alternative.

2. Thank you for being supportive of #Pybricks having some add-on stuff for supporters like block coding! It's a fine balance to make #FOSS work.

Control your #Duplo train with your other #LEGO sets using #Pybricks #micropython !

Kids can normally drive the train with an iPad, but this adds some fun play and learning opportunities beyond the push-and-go function, without extra screen time.

And it's pretty easy! Full guide: https://pybricks.com/project/control-the-duplo-train/

This demo is really basic, but you can build your own dashboard with literal bells and whistles 😀

Time for more balancing fun with #Pybricks #MicroPython ! This time with #LEGO Education SPIKE Prime.

Next step of the #Pybricks #MicroPython powered trains! Now they coordinate departure wirelessly.

It's a decentralized consensus mechanism built with #LEGO.

I upgraded my #childhood #lego #train to use #Pybricks #MicroPython. It stops at train stations now. No rail loops required. The passengers are happy about this --- considering they've been asleep like that for about 20 years...

You can now use your #xbox controller with #pybricks #micropython! Works with #lego technic and #lego spike.

@hendrix79 @alicesutaren @maehw Oh, that's very recent! Fully supported with #Pybricks

It has a simple protocol to exchange data by advertising and scanning data over BLE.

By making your Raspberry Pi broadcast such data, your hub can listen to that and follow commands.

https://github.com/pybricks/technical-info/blob/master/pybricks-ble-broadcast-observe.md

Here's #Pybricks #MicroPython used in astronomy! This is a brilliant #LEGO Orrery running with a Technic Hub, and a camera to replicate actual astronomy measurements to teach students how it works in practice. Check out more details in the original post here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Astronomy/comments/19akwff/lego_orrery_further_details_and_videos_of_the/