Wheel Loader with Buwizz

The Sbrick has reached the goal in kickstarter in 2014, and comes the first non lego bluetooth controller, now theBuWizz brick appears, so what it that ? Is is better or not ?

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The BuWizz is a bluetooth powered brick for control your creations developed by BuWizz team. This creation is still in developpement and has comes to a kickstarter project that you can find here. Does it remind you the Sbrick ? Yes of course, it is basically the same aim but not the same hardware ! Buwizz bricks has chosen a self package lipo batterie with 4 external port for connecting motors / servo / LED and in bluetooth, that is to say controlling with your smartphone using android or ios.

The interesting thing is that the lipo battery is included, so comparing with the sbrick or lego solution power functions, the sbricks is very tiny, only one box, 4 motors and that is all, it is in fact the same dimensions as the lipo lego battery. The sbrick need an external battery and a wire, but is smaller, the power functions solution uses 2 Ir receiver, a battery and wires. The buwizz brick is the smaller solutions, but as you can see limited to 4 connected devices !

An other interesting features is the charging port using a micro usb ! That is very simple but excellent ! Damm Lego with your lipo charger which cost 30€, here with a single micro usb wire using on your computer, tablet, or external battery. That is very simple but very clever for me, a good point !

As the sbrick, the buwizz brick comes with better power features, which can run motor with more power than the power functions system regarding the current limitation. It cans also drives RC motor which is have a high consumption of power. It is also equipped with a fast mode which runs the motor up to 9V, for 10.5V, which causes a better speed of rotation of the motor without breaking it (internal lego motor can handle 12V without problem).

Concerning the app, there is a big point. The sbrick has failed the development of android app, which causes many angry people on the sbrick forum. Now with the V2, it works fine for android, 2 years after the launch of sbrick…

The buwizz has at this times a functional but simple ios app, I have not tested android app, but I have had some word from Roni Leben, the CEO of buwizz company who ensures me that they are developing the android app, they are in testing so I hope good thing ! Regarding the ios app, it is simple and clever, different profile, different creations, simple and reliable control, and fast mode. Also, the graphic profile can be modified and the protocol of communication will be opened which enable the control using standard bluetooth controller on linux for instead.

BuWizz has started the kickstarter program, in order to have this project comes true ! I truly encourage you to pledge on it, because I think it is better than the lego solution (better range and better control) and the sbrick (lipo battey included, charging port). The buwizz cost with the pledge 119$, which is less than the lipo lego battery + Ir receiver + Remote or the sbrick with lipo battery + wire + sbrick. So this is a good bluetooth control brick !

Also, I am happy to see more companies who develop custom solutions for controlling moc, because the lego solution with IR receiver is clearly out of date. Please lego, you have make a lipo battery, then make a good controller, using bluetooth, 2.4ghz or something else, with a decent and proportionnal controller, because the concurency is still there and it worth it !

Here is my french review, made 3 month ago when I had the prototyp of Buwizz :

And then the Sariel excellent review (in english)

 

(5) Comments

    Hello, understand and agree to your point. I have written on this new article that now the sbrick app works for me.

    But the major problem that I have with sbrick was the communication at the begining or the release of android, many people complain about it which it didn’t works, I think you release the app too soon, even if the BLE was immature, it is your responsability to releas ean app which works, especially if the product is for sale. anyway, now it works that is why I write the article on the small crawler loader.

    Hi Nico71, As I have participated in the rewriting of the BLE code of latest SBrick Android App version I want to comment on your statement of “mostly because I never make it works with the sbrick, connection on android is very difficult, for me it doesn’t work. (iphone is ok)”. I think it is mainly was not the fault of the App itself, but more the result of the immature BLE stack released with Android. You can fact check my statment by searching Android bug database for BLE releated issues or check app reviews of some prominent manufacturer like Parrot (they produce BLE controlled drones). I also find extremely unfair behavior form Buwizz to build maketing campaing on this statement. Can you re-check the latest version (or one which was released after late 2016)?

    Yes it can, see this video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1nb0xcaqXo Also, I prefere the buwizz because of the battery inside (and which cost less if you compare have a lipo battery) but mostly because I never make it works with the sbrick, connection on android is very difficult, for me it doesn’t work. (iphone is ok), the buwizz works fantastics on android.

    I’m not sure whether or not to get an Sbrick or Buwizz. I’m leaning towards Sbrick because I prefer to use Lego parts (battery box), and even though I know he motors can handle it, I wonder if the extra voltage could affect the warranty. Can the Buwizz provide enough power in normal mode to run a buggy motor or two, and at what speed? If it can handle 2, than one Buwizz is better value than two Sbricks

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