Exit LEGO Power Functions, hello LEGO Powered UP!

With the marketing of several sets integrating the new engine ecosystem Powered-UP, many fans are now worried about the new components being backwards compatible with those in the range Power Functions.

LEGO has just clearly answered the question: Backward compatibility will not be guaranteed by the manufacturer. In the best-case scenario, it will be up to fans or third-party manufacturers to try and come up with solutions. In my opinion, it would take a massive mobilization of fans / customers to convince LEGO to develop a technical bridge between the two ecosystems, and yet it is far from being won ...

The arrival of a system using Bluetooth technology is anyway excellent news, current products deserve better than an outdated infrared connection with limited performance.

The concept Powered-UP will therefore eventually replace the range Power Functions, doomed to be definitively withdrawn from shelves but whose different modules will continue to be marketed for an undefined period. So life goes, the two concepts are logically not intended to coexist in the LEGO catalog in the long term.

In short, if you don't want to invest in modifying all your trains, buy Power Functions as long as there is on sale. If you envision a gradual transition within your budget, you can get it started in the coming months by purchasing Power UP items at retail. Public prices for each of these items have not yet been released.

All of the manufacturer's ranges are affected by this change in technology, including DUPLO and Technic. Compatibility with products from the MINDSTORMS NXT / EV3 universe is not clearly defined even if we already know that the connectors of the two systems are different. LEGO seems to indicate that possibilities will exist via some unspecified "modifications".

LEGO also communicates some technical details on the possibilities offered by the Powered UP ecosystem. in a frequently asked questions, but remains for the moment very vague on many points.

The average customer will be content to know that he can control his train, his Batmobile or his future LEGO Technic crane via the basic remote control (Smart Controller) or via the LEGO application. Powered-UP (iOS and Android) which will be updated over time.

For the rest, know that LEGO does not close the door to any evolution, even if the current Bluetooth hub is only equipped with two connectors limiting the possibilities. To put it simply, the new system makes it possible to electrically identify the type of module which is connected to the hub (motor, sensor, etc.) and to maximize interactions depending on the module detected. No more chaining possible, but the promise of increased interactivity, in particular thanks to the possibility of updating the firmware of the various hubs (except that of the WeDo 2.0 hub which is not upgradable).

The communication interface is Open Source, its specifications will be made public in the more or less near future. The Bluetooth hub cannot currently be used as a simple battery, but we are only at the beginning of the commercialization of the Powered UP ecosystem and many developments are to be expected via the hub's firmware update. itself or via the various smartphone applications that will be available in the coming months.

Note that the remote control supplied in the LEGO CITY sets 60197 Passenger Train et 60198 Freight Train can be connected to a future smartphone application which will then allow specific functions to be assigned to the various physical buttons.

LEGO only mentions the possibility of using rechargeable batteries in the Powered Up hub so far, but it is obvious that a compatible rechargeable battery will be released sooner or later.

The full answers provided by LEGO to questions asked by fans can be found at this address.