BuWizz - High Performance LEGO Power Functions Controller and Battery

[Jim]

I concur! Let Zerobricks enjoy his weekend with the option to visit Eurobricks without work related requests.

[666]

I have a question about how to control multiple trains independently. I know how to link so the speeds will be the same. 

[StudWorks]

Last night I was controlling my BuWizz 2.0 off-roader outside during a just-below-freezing night. For some reason, it could only operate in Normal mode, it can't operate in Slow, Fast, or Ludicrous. I tested the off-roader indoors during the dark and it worked fine. Is this a problem with the extreme cold or a problem with the outdoors?

[HectorMB]

I have no experience with the BW 2.0, but what I know is that cold and batteries don't go along well...

 

After a lot of testing with the BW3.0 and the app, I have to say that I'm happy with it. The app is now working properly in my opinion, and in my hands, the settings for both, calibration and steering go fine. 

 

Now I'm wondering if there's any idea about the implementations for fine control (like a gearbox mode or similar), the control via a gamepad controller (brick controller is really nice, but the combination of both ideas -merging the features as calibration and returning-to-center function with a gamepad use- would be just amazing-, and speed (and not just power output) control. Is any calendar for this update? 

 

 

Edited February 8, 2022 by HectorMB

[Zerobricks]

1 hour ago, HectorMB said:

I have no experience with the BW 2.0, but what I know is that cold and batteries don't go along well...

 

After a lot of testing with the BW3.0 and the app, I have to say that I'm happy with it. The app is now working properly in my opinion, and in my hands, the settings for both, calibration and steering go fine. 

 

Now I'm wondering if there's any idea about the implementations for fine control (like a gearbox mode or similar), the control via a gamepad controller (brick controller is really nice, but the combination of both ideas -merging the features as calibration and returning-to-center function with a gamepad use- would be just amazing-, and speed (and not just power output) control. Is any calendar for this update? 

 

 

I'm glad you are happy with the the app.

And yes, there should be a roadmap coming out soon, I'm pushing the team to get it done...

Edited February 8, 2022 by Zerobricks

[HectorMB]

Yes, it definitely delivers a ton of power. It's true that I have to charge it after 15 min of use, but, well, is not possible to have long lasting batteries, high power, and a compact size, isn't it? 

 

I made MOC that is well with a single BW3.0 unit, and now I'm working on a version with a sequential gearbox, that's why I was wondering about the "gearbox mode".

[River]

Hi everyone, I'm looking for some trouble shooting advice, and as far as I can tell, this is about the only place on the internet where I can ask my vastly superiors.

I have a large 2000 piece off road buggy in the works, with 4 old PF large motors - one for each wheel, brand-new servo motor for steering, and 2 X brand-new Buwizz 2.0 for power and control. One Buwizz for left side motors, the other for right side, plus servo. 

I'm at the point getting everything working smoothly before finishing final construction and aesthetics. The problem I'm having is the motors more or less behaving like full power or no power with no incremental increase. At lets say half power on the joystick control on the Buwizz app, there is a quiet high pitch buzzing noise from the Buwizz brick and a vague sound like the motor is struggling to turn - but no issues at all at full power. (also finding joystick control not letting me have full power to the drive motors and servo simultaneously since the stick can't reach the diagonal corners.)

If it helps, I have moderate experience with Lego Power Functions, none with Buwizz, and heaps with full RC vehicles - both cars and planes.

Any advice anyone could nicely provide me would be most welcome, thank you.

[iLego]

3 hours ago, River said:

The problem I'm having is the motors more or less behaving like full power or no power with no incremental increase. At lets say half power on the joystick control on the Buwizz app, there is a quiet high pitch buzzing noise from the Buwizz brick and a vague sound like the motor is struggling to turn - but no issues at all at full power

My guess is there is too much friction or load on the drive train which gets overcome only when motor power is almost full.

Try holding the model up in air (to reduce load) and check if wheels turn more easily.

[River]

Hi, all my testing thus far has been off the ground with next to load at all. The front motors pass though a universal joint but otherwise barely any friction, rear motors though one pair of gears. I realise I might have to disassemble the motors out of the model and test with absolutely zero load. 

[CP5670]

I find that the BW 2.0 holds its charge very well over time, but I only use it in short bursts and maybe charge it once a month. I have stopped using all the train speed regulators and control centers I used to keep around to get a consistent 9V output, since the BW is much more convenient.

[River]

Welp, I took the motors out so they have as close to zero load possible and tested each independently. I used the vertical slider control rather than joystick. There seems to be a LOT of dead movement - about 75% - before the motors actually turn while the Buwizz quietly screeches. Then the motors do incrementally turn, from zero to 100% in about 10% of stick movement. I have not touched the power curve, other than to confirm it is a straight line. There's also various levels of lag for each Buwizz output, up to about 2 seconds. 

Battery is fully charged if that helps

Can anyone guess what I might be doing wrong?

[Zerobricks]

Default power durve setting is not straight, but the approximation of the exponential curve. BuWizz itself doen't make the noise, the noise is created by motors due to PWM modulation. Also make sure your ramp times are zero. If you still have issues, contact support and send a video.

[River]

Thank you for the reply. I'm afraid I have no idea how to adjust the ramp time in the Buwizz app, and as far as I can tell, the power curve is at least represented by a straight line in the app. I wish I could send a video of what's happening to me but the device I would use to record, is also the device running the Buwizz app. 

Edited February 14, 2022 by River

[Zerobricks]

Please contact support, so we can solve the issue.

[gyenesvi]

Does anyone know if there's a way to control a 2-speed gearbox with the BuWizz app? I did not find a way for it, not even a special module; I assume it's still under development. I tried to use the steering module with a non-centering lever for this, but with no luck, I could not calibrate a second instance of a center steer module. Can there only be one such module in a control profile? What if I have two servos for two axles and I want to control them independently?

Also I am having issues with the steering module itself. First, the movement is quite jerky compared to the Technic Hub with the Control+ or Powered Up apps. I tried to adjust the basic parameters with not much change. I didn't dare to change the advanced parameters (custom steering options). Has anyone played around with those parameters and managed to get a smoother steering?

Second, it sometimes stops steering while driving and afterwards recalibration fails too; it says it is done, but it does not return to center in the end of the calibration sequence and does not move afterwards when I start to drive with the profile (the drive motors work). I also tried restarting the app and removed and added the steering module without any change. Did anyone see similar issues?

[Gorkron]

@Zerobricks
Hi. I'd like to know if there's any plans to add a servo mode support for angular motors (45607, 88017, 88018)  and medium linear motor (88008)? Honestly it's the only feature I'd like to request from the team to be able to drop PU hubs completely.

[Zerobricks]

88017 should work, 45607 and 88018 are planned to be added, please check the roadmap plan here: https://buwizz.com/software-development-roadmap/

[astyanax]

On 11/29/2021 at 12:32 PM, Zerobricks said:

Yes, power curves and especially time ramps. Using a small ramp of like 0,5 seconds greatly reduces a chance of current spikes.

Is the ramp option also supposed to work on BuWizz 2.0? Because setting a ramp to any positive amount of seconds has absolutely no effect on any of my BuWizz 2.0 -- I always get full power immediately.

[Zerobricks]

17 hours ago, astyanax said:

Is the ramp option also supposed to work on BuWizz 2.0? Because setting a ramp to any positive amount of seconds has absolutely no effect on any of my BuWizz 2.0 -- I always get full power immediately.

Yes, so far it's only available for BuWizz 3.0.

[HectorMB]

Hello!

I submitted a comment in the Buwizz website, but it was not published. The comment itself was about the scheduled roadmap of the BW app. In particular, given that the idea was to accomplish these features on the first quarter of the current year, we should expect some update really soon, no? Otherwise, has the roadmap changed?

[aFrInaTi0n]

On 4/11/2022 at 10:20 PM, HectorMB said:

Hello!

I submitted a comment in the Buwizz website, but it was not published. The comment itself was about the scheduled roadmap of the BW app. In particular, given that the idea was to accomplish these features on the first quarter of the current year, we should expect some update really soon, no? Otherwise, has the roadmap changed?

I am also looking forward for them releasing the announced Q1 features, plus waiting for Q2 features to be scheduled.

Unluckily my requested failsafe feature won't be one of the next ones - making it a gamble to try highspeed runs with BW3 and its limited range.. :(

[Danil]

after use, he turned off Buvis 3.0 and tried to turn it on again - there is no reaction, the diodes do not light up.  after connecting and disconnecting charging, port 1 flashes once and nothing else happens.  neither the application nor anything else sees it, is this the end?

Edited April 20, 2022 by Danil

[gyenesvi]

On 4/20/2022 at 8:26 PM, Danil said:

after use, he turned off Buvis 3.0 and tried to turn it on again - there is no reaction, the diodes do not light up.  after connecting and disconnecting charging, port 1 flashes once and nothing else happens.  neither the application nor anything else sees it, is this the end?

Put it on the charger and leave it on for 3-4 hours, after a while it should wake up.

[HectorMB]

On 3/31/2022 at 12:32 AM, Zerobricks said:

88017 should work, 45607 and 88018 are planned to be added, please check the roadmap plan here: https://buwizz.com/software-development-roadmap/

As we're getting closer to the end of the second quarter of 2022... Is there any update of the Buwizz app?

[Zerobricks]

12 minutes ago, HectorMB said:

As we're getting closer to the end of the second quarter of 2022... Is there any update of the Buwizz app?

Yes, an update was posted in the newsletter, I suggest you apply to it. Here is what it says:

Dear BuWizz fans. 

As some of you may be aware, we are a bit late with our Q1 release. One of the Q1 goals was better Bluetooth stability and after some deliberation, we have decided to completely rewrite the Bluetooth communication part of the app as our current solution seemed to be outdated. 

Bluetooth is at the core of all our functionalities therefore we believe a strong foundation is a right way going forward.

We realize delays are always unpleasant, but we believe this is for the benefit of all our BuWizz users.

Thank you for your patience and support. 

BuWizz team