Tyler Clites (Legohaulic) says he’s been having “loads of fun” with his LEGO Power Functions motors and remote control.
Most recently, he added a motor to his LEGO Delorean. Naturally, the Delorean can zoom around Tyler’s kitchen floor.
Via Young Spacers.
Making good use of the LEGO Power Functions System Danden has made an attractive and working cog railway. He even shows us how to do it.
Thanks again to Matt Hamann for the tip.
Jarek (Jerrec) combines a LEGO Power Functions motor and remote control with 8960 Thunder Driller to rather amusing effect:
On the smaller end of things, Scratel (Wojciech Scrat) has built a microscale version of Thunder Driller, completing with working drill:
See more photos of the Mini Driller on Brickshelf.
Moritz Nolting (Nolnet) experiments with incorporating the power functions RC system into the smallest truck he can make to produce a creation that’s both functional and visually authentic. I really like how the bulky battery box is cleverly incorporated as the cargo container of the truck.
Check out the Youtube video showing the truck in action and see it do a wheelie.
Sebastiaan Arts has built a working forklift using the LEGO power functions system. He’s used the infrared remote control to allow him to both drive and steer the forklift. Not only can he drive it with the remote, though, he can raise and lower the fork! Make sure you check out the video of it in action.
In my early days of building I designed one of the fantastically colourful Pakistani trucks. I wanted to have a real copy of it but never quite got around to building it. I’ve also always been terribly impressed by Jason Railton’s ability to combine motorised functionality and good looks in small packages. So, Technic being one of the few themes I’ve never really attempted as an adult, I decided to have a go.
Anyway, to cut a long story short I managed to fit remote controlled steering and driving (plus the batteries) into the truck. I can hoon this around the house all from a Power Functions (PF) remote control. Video of it in action.
I’d like to take this chance to compliment LEGO on the fantastic PF System. Modular RC is just great. I hope that a smaller motor is coming.
Whether it’s the photography, color scheme, construction style, or something more intangible, LEGO creations by Jehkay are instantly recognizable.
I’m not sure what this floating maintenance cart maintains, but it’s got the arms for the job:
(Kinda sorta via Young Spacers.)
And while I’m at it, a linear cannon (with Power Functions):
QuéLUG member Marc-André (aka Bazmati/Bazmarc) has built a fully automated Wall-E using LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT and Power Functions:
I love the movement on Wall-E’s expressive eyes.
Thanks to reader William for the tip!
Carlos Méndez sends word of this cool R2-D2 he motorized with a Power Functions Motor:
Jarek‘s Maticore missile artillery tank looks just as good as any other well-crafted LEGO sci-fi tank, but the fact that it runs on motors controlled by a remote from the Power Functions accessories distinguishes this model as a top-of-the-class build. Now it just needs firing projectiles!
You can see another short clip of the tank in action here.
LEGO has released various components as open source software in the past, including MINDSTORMS firmware back in 2006. The latest to receive the open source treatment is the protocol for the Power Functions RC (remote control) system:
Here’s the word from Billund:
Last year we introduced a range of products using our new electric building system: LEGO Power Functions. This new electric building system will open up a lot of possibilities now and in the future.
One of the new things we offer now is modular remote control. In the process of designing the Power Functions RC system we did a mapping of different RC functionalities. This mapping formed the basis of the Power Functions RC protocol and most of this is build into the Power Functions RC Receiver.
The RC Handset launched now provides direct ‘bang-bang’ control, but the RC Receiver supports much more functionality like PWM speed control and single pin operation.
Now that the Power Functions elements are available at the LEGO Shop online we have decided to release the Power Functions RC protocol as open source.
Please feel free to use any information from the protocol document for personal, non-commercial use only, provided you keep intact copyright, trademarks and other proprietary rights of the LEGO Company – have fun.
Gaute Munch
Technology Product Manager
LEGO Company
You can download the protocol document as a PDF, kindly hosted by the good people of Hispalug.
Naturally, various Power Functions products are available from the LEGO Store online:
