PrimePoweredUP

PrimePoweredUP contains a library for Lego Spike Prime / Robot Inventor to connect to the Lego PoweredUP Remote (Handset) over BLE. The core is based on the MicroPython ubluetooth low level api.

Compatibility

• Works with the latest version of Spike Prime and Mindstorms Robot Inventor.

Description

• the library is build for the use inside the Lego Python VM. This means you need the advanced Python setup for the Spike Prime / Robot Inventor.
• for an easy start with the advanced Python setup, it's recommended to use VSCode with this plugin: Spike Prime/RI Extension.
• WARNING: the library does not work with the normal python setup due to async/await of the connection process.
• examples can be found in ./examples
• Feature: all buttons can be used at the same time!

Usage

• The pre-compiled library is inside the ./remote directory, it's recommended to copy the library inside the ./spike directory of the Spike Prime / Robot Inventor. You can do this by using a script or with rshell.

# example using rshell
/remote> connect serial /dev/cu.usbmodem3382397933381

Connecting to /dev/cu.usbmodem3382397933381 (buffer-size 512)...
Trying to connect to REPL  connected
Retrieving sysname ... LEGO Technic Large Hub
...
Welcome to rshell. Use Control-D (or the exit command) to exit rshell.

# copy file to hub
/remote> cp ./remote.mpy /pyboard/spike/

Examples

from runtime import VirtualMachine
from spike.remote import Remote
from util.print_override import spikeprint as print

# create remote
remote = Remote()


async def on_start(vm, stack):
    print("connecting...")
    await remote.connect() # wait for connection establishment
    # it's also possible to connect to specific address
    # await remote.connect(address="00:11:22:33:FF:EE")
    print("connected")
    
    while True:
        buttons = remote.pressed() # read pressed buttons
        if buttons is None: vm.stop(); break # stop vm if remote get disconnected
        print(buttons) # Output is a tuple for example: (LEFT_PLUS, LEFT, LEFT_MINUS)
        yield


async def on_cancel(vm, stack):
    remote.cancel() # disconnect if the program exit's 


def setup(rpc, system, stop):
    vm = VirtualMachine(rpc, system, stop, "3f157bda4908")
    vm.register_on_start("f76afdd318a1", on_start)
    vm.register_on_button("accda9ebca74", on_cancel, "center", "pressed")
    return vm

from spike.remote import Remote

# remote buttons:
remote = Remote()
remote.connect()

# show buttons
print(dir(remote.buttons))

# show colors
print(dir(remote.colors))

# change remote's color
remote.color(remote.colors.BLUE)

# buttons are iterable
# check for buttons

while True:
    buttons = remote.pressed()
    for remote.buttons.LEFT in buttons: print("Left pressed!")
    
    # check tuple
    if buttons == (remote.buttons.LEFT_PLUS, remote.buttons.RIGHT_PLUS): print("Left Plus and Right Plus pressed!")

Known Issues:

- The library uses an async connection process, this is why we need the python vm for the usage. performance is also better.
- The library uses internally ble notification service, sometimes the hub needs a restart to make this work (if tuple is empty on button press).
- I didn't found a good way to disconnect the remote if you reach the end of a program (there is currently no way to run `cleanup` code on program's end). fallback solution is to use the `Start/Stop` button.
- Just for clarification: remote needs to be reconnected on program start. if your program is exited and the remote is still connected
you need to unpair the remote by holding the green button until it's unpaired.