Raspberry Pi will soon release an add-on that allows you to use many of its small, affordable computers to control certain Lego robotic motors and sensors. The Build HAT is an add-on. It can be plugged onto the Raspberry Pi's GPIO pins to give you four ports for controlling Lego Educations SPIKE parts. It can also be connected to any other parts with an LPF2 connector (including the Lego Mindstorms robot inventor kits).
A Python library, which is basically a set or commands that you can use to control your robot's parts, is also available. This library will allow you to write software to control those robot parts. Programming Legos SPIKE parts with Python is not a new feature of Raspberry Pi. The SPIKE kit includes a hub that allows you to connect six devices (compared with the four that the Build HATs can). It can also store and execute Python programs.
You have a lot of flexibility when you add a Pi to your project.
A Raspberry Pi will give you more flexibility. A separate computer or iPad is required to program Legos hub. The Build HAT, on the other hand, can be connected to a computer with a keyboard, mouse and monitor. Depending on which Raspberry Pi you are using, this computer will likely have a USB port that can plug into a keyboard, mouse and monitor. The SPIKE Hub has only six LPF2 ports, whereas the Build HAT has four. However, the Pi has GPIO pins, which you can use for connecting other electronics and sensors. This gives you great flexibility when it comes to what you can do with your robots. If you are interested in controlling your motors or sensors at a lower level, the Build HAT will allow that.
Raspberry Pi claims that connecting the Build HAT to an 8V power supply using a barrel plug with a barrel connector will allow it to provide juice for both Lego accessories and the Raspberry Pi. If you don't have one, the company will sell you a 48W power supply.
Although this product is niche, I am glad that it exists. The Build HAT is a great way for your child or student to learn programming and electronics moddering with the motors and sensors they already have. The Raspberry Pi and Lego are a great match. Both brands share a DIY spirit, and they could create some very interesting projects together.
