Motor Connectors

This page is a work in progress. As a result, the layout and/or content herein may be subject to change.

A motor is a type of connector found in LittleBigPlanet Karting. They serve as this game's equivalent to the bolt and joint connectors from the main series, and are used to move and rotate objects in various ways.

Usage and Behaviour

Motors are placed identically to any other object. Unlike bolts and joints, most motors are not dependant on other objects to exist in the scene. However, on their own they have no collision and will not be visible in Play Mode or Test Drive. When a new motor is placed, a connector pin automatically appears on the Popit Cursor; placing this onto an object will link it to the motor, allowing it to be transformed based on the type of motor that was just placed. A cyan sphere on the tip of every motor can be grabbed with the Popit Cursor to create a new connector pin, allowing multiple objects to be manipulated by a single motor.

While multiple objects can be controlled by a single motor, only one motor can be connected to any given object at a time; attempting to link another motor to an object will overwrite the first link. However, motors can be connected to other motors, allowing them to be chained together to create complex object movements.

While the Popit Cursor is being used, white lines are drawn between motors and any objects connected to them. A more detailed preview of a motor's movement can be seen by highlighting it, or while inside its tweak menu.

All motors have both an input and output, which can be used to control them using logic, or receive signals based on the motor's activity.

Shared Tweaks

Each motor has its own set of tweaks to configure its behaviour, but there are two tweaks that are shared between all five motor types.

Sync: (0.0s - 600.0s) Found in each motor's Timing section, this sets how long the motor will wait after being activated before it begins moving or rotating.

Motor Priority: ( Gameplay •‎ Scenery ) Determines the physicality of any objects connected to the motor. Gameplay Connected objects are solid, and are able to push drivers, their cameras, and dynamic objects. Scenery Connected objects have no physical presence in the scene; drivers and dynamic objects are able to pass through them.

Piston Motor

Piston Motor
Games:	LittleBigPlanet Karting
Type:	Gadgets
Category:	Motors
Inputs:	1
Outputs:	1
Obtained from:	Start

The Piston Motor functions similarly to the Piston from the main games, moving affected objects along a fixed axis. The angle of the piston affects which axis the connected objects will travel along.

The Piston Motor's output sends a digital ON signal whenever it moves, and an analogue signal based on how close it is to the target distance.

Tweaks

Distance

Distance: (0.1 - 400.0) Sets how far the motor can extend.

Start Distance: (0.0 - 400.0) Determines the initial start point for the piston, i.e. how close it starts to the end point. Note that this value cannot exceed the 'Distance' value specified above.

Timing

Time: (0.1s - 360.0s) Determines how long the piston takes to extend/contract from one end to the other.

Pause: (0.0s - 600.0s) Sets how long the piston stays at each end before moving again.

Motion

Input Action: ( On / Off •‎ Forwards / Backwards •‎ Single Cycle •‎ Speed Scale ) Determines how the motor responds to the signal it receives through its input. On / Off The motor starts moving when it receives a digital ON signal, and stops moving when it receives an OFF signal. Forwards / Backwards The motor extends to its end point when turned ON signal, and retracts when turned OFF. Single Cycle The motor performs a complete movement cycle each time it receives a signal. Speed Scale The motor's speed is determined by the strength of the incoming analogue signal.

Flipper Type: ( Off •‎ In •‎ Out ) Determines whether or not the motor snaps back to the opposite end once it reaches its destination, and which end it snaps to.

Acceleration

Curve Type Extend: ( Linear •‎ Accelerate •‎ Decelerate •‎ Smooth ) Determines how the motor accelerates when it extends. Linear The motor starts and stops abruptly with no smoothing. Accelerate The motor moves slowly initially, but speeds up towards the end of its path. Decelerate The motor starts moving fast, but slows down as it reaches the end. Smooth The motor smoothly glides from one end to the other, accelerating at the start and decelerating at the end.

Curve Type Retract: ( Linear •‎ Accelerate •‎ Decelerate •‎ Smooth ) Determines how the motor accelerates when it retracts. Linear The motor starts and stops abruptly with no smoothing. Accelerate The motor moves slowly initially, but speeds up towards the end of its path. Decelerate The motor starts moving fast, but slows down as it reaches the end. Smooth The motor smoothly glides from one end to the other, accelerating at the start and decelerating at the end.

Rotate Motor

Rotate Motor
Games:	LittleBigPlanet Karting
Type:	Gadgets
Category:	Motors
Inputs:	1
Outputs:	1
Obtained from:	Start

The Rotate Motor is used to rotate objects around a point in 3D space. The position of the motor is important, as it determines the pivot around which objects will rotate.

The Rotate Motor's output sends a digital ON signal while it rotates, and an analogue signal based on how close it is to completing a full rotation.

Tweaks

Speed

Speed: (0.1 - 30.0) Sets how fast the motor rotates.

Direction: ( Clockwise •‎ Counter Clockwise ) Determines which direction the motor will rotate in.

Motion

Input Action: ( On / Off •‎ Forwards / Backwards •‎ Single Cycle •‎ Speed Scale ) Determines how the motor responds to the signal it receives through its input. On / Off The motor starts rotating when it receives a digital ON signal, and stops when it's turned OFF. Forwards / Backwards The rotation direction alternates depending on the initial tweak and the state of its input, e.g. if set to rotate clockwise, then it will rotate in that direction when ON, but an OFF signal will make instead make it rotate counter clockwise. Single Cycle The motor performs a complete rotation cycle each time it receives a signal. Speed Scale The rotation speed is determined by the strength of the incoming analogue signal.

Hinge Motor

Hinge Motor
Games:	LittleBigPlanet Karting
Type:	Gadgets
Category:	Motors
Inputs:	1
Outputs:	1
Obtained from:	Start

The Hinge Motor rotates objects back and forth between two points. Like the Rotate Motor, the motor's position and orientation determines how attached objects will rotate around it.

The Piston Motor's output sends a digital ON signal whenever it moves, and an analogue signal based on how close it is to the target distance.

Tweaks

Angle

Angle: (1.0 - 360.0) Sets the range that the motor will rotate in.

Start Angle: (0.0 - 360.0) Determines the initial start point for the hinge, i.e. how close it starts to the end point. Note that the upper bound for this tweak is controlled by the Angle value specified above.

Timing

Time: (0.1s - 360.0s) Determines how long the hinge takes to rotate from one point to the other.

Pause: (0.0s - 600.0s) Sets how long the hinge stays at each end of the path before rotating again.

Motion

Direction: ( Clockwise •‎ Counter Clockwise ) Determines which direction the motor will start rotating in first.

Input Action: ( On / Off •‎ Forwards / Backwards •‎ Single Cycle •‎ Speed Scale •‎ ) Determines how the motor responds to the signal it receives through its input. On / Off The motor starts rotating when it receives a digital ON signal, and stops when it's turned OFF. Forwards / Backwards The motor rotates to its end point when turned on, and returns to its start position when off. Single Cycle The motor performs a complete rotation cycle each time it receives an input. Speed Scale The motor's speed is determined by the strength of the incoming analogue signal.

Flipper Type: ( Off •‎ In •‎ Out ) Determines whether or not the motor snaps back to the opposite end once it reaches its destination, and which end it snaps to.

Acceleration

Curve Type Extend: ( Linear •‎ Accelerate •‎ Decelerate •‎ Smooth ) Determines how the motor accelerates when it extends. Linear The motor starts and stops abruptly with no smoothing. Accelerate The motor rotates slowly initially, but speeds up as it reaches its target angle. Decelerate The motor starts rotating quickly, but slows down as it reaches its target. Smooth The motor smoothly glides from one end to the other, accelerating at the start and decelerating at the end.

Curve Type Retract: ( Linear •‎ Accelerate •‎ Decelerate •‎ Smooth ) Determines how the motor accelerates when it retracts. Linear The motor starts and stops abruptly with no smoothing. Accelerate The motor rotates slowly initially, but speeds up as it reaches its target angle. Decelerate The motor starts rotating quickly, but slows down as it reaches its target. Smooth The motor smoothly glides from one end to the other, accelerating at the start and decelerating at the end.

Look At Motor

Look At Motor
Games:	LittleBigPlanet Karting
Type:	Gadgets
Category:	Motors
Inputs:	1
Outputs:	1
Obtained from:	Start

The Look At Motor is used to make objects point towards drivers or a Tag. The arrow on the top of the motor indicates which direction the object will point, with its position being the point the object rotates around. When the target leaves its trigger radius, the object returns to its default orientation.

This motor's output sends out a digital ON signal whenever its target is in range.

Tweaks

Trigger Mode

Shape: ( Sphere •‎ Cube ) Determines the shape of the motor's trigger zone.

Max Range: (1.0 - 500.0) Determines the size of the trigger zone.

Team: ( Team One •‎ Team Two •‎ Team Three •‎ Team Four •‎ Team Five •‎ Team Six •‎ Team Seven •‎ Team Eight •‎ Any Team ) Sets which team the motor will look at; drivers from other teams will be ignored.

Timing

Speed: (0.0 - 1500.0) Sets how fast the motor rotates to face its target.

Acceleration: (1.0 - 180.0) Sets how quickly the motor reaches its top speed.

Lead Target: (0.0 - 5.0) Determines whether the motor points in the direction that the target is moving, and by how much. At 0.0, the motor will just point at the target's position. At 5.0, the motor will point in the direction that its target is travelling rather than its actual position.

Follow Tag

Follow Tag: ( No •‎ Yes ) When set to Yes, the motor will look at a Tag instead of a driver.

Tag Colour: ( •‎ •‎ •‎ •‎ •‎ •‎ •‎ ) Sets the colour channel for the gadget. Sensors will only detect Tags matching this colour.

Select or Tweak a Tag Label Opens a dialogue box to create a new Tag label, or select an existing one.

Motion

Lock Elevation: ( No •‎ Yes ) If set to Yes, the motor's rotation will be restricted to its Yaw axis.

Input Action: ( On / Off •‎ Speed Scale ) Determines how the motor responds to the signal it receives through its input. On / Off The motor tracks its target when it receives a digital ON signal, returning to its initial orientation when OFF. Speed Scale The speed at which the motor tracks its target is determined by the strength of the incoming analogue signal.

Path Follower Motor

Path Follower Motor
Games:	LittleBigPlanet Karting
Type:	Gadgets
Category:	Motors
Inputs:	1
Outputs:	1
Obtained from:	Start

The Path Follower Motor moves connected objects along any paths in the scene. The motor must be attached to a path in order to function. When placing a Path Follower Motor, the closest path will be highlighted in green, and a white gimal appears at the point on the path where the motor will attach. Once attached to a path, pressing up or down on will move it along the track, and pressing will confirm its position. From there, objects can be attached in the same way as any other motor.

Once the motor has been attached to a path and an object is connected, it will travel back and forward along the path.

Tweaks

Timing

Time: (0.1s - 360.0s) Determines how long the motor takes to travel from one end of the path to the other.

Pause: (0.0s - 600.0s) Sets how long the motor stays at each end of the path before moving again.

Motion

Orient to Path: ( No •‎ Yes ) If set to yes, the object will rotate to face the direction it's travelling. Otherwise, it will maintain a fixed orientation.

Input Action: ( On / Off •‎ Forwards / Backwards •‎ Single Cycle •‎ Speed Scale ) Determines how the motor responds to the signal it receives through its input. On / Off The motor starts moving along the path when it receives a digital ON signal, stopping when turned OFF. Forwards / Backwards The motor starts moving to the end of the path when turned on, returning to the start when off. Single Cycle The motor runs a complete cycle through the path each time it receives a signal. Speed Scale The speed of the motor is adjusted depending on the strength of the incoming analogue signal.

Flipper Type: ( Off •‎ In •‎ Out ) Determines whether or not the motor snaps back to the opposite end once it reaches its destination, and which end it snaps to.