Exploring LEGO Mindstorms EV3

Tools and Techniques for Building and Programming Robots

Eun Jung Park

• Publisher: Wiley
• Year: 2014
• Print ISBN: 9781118879740
• eBook ISBN: 9781118879955
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Computer Science
• Subtopic: Hardware
• Index: Computer Science

The essential guide to building and programming LEGO EV3 interactive robots

Exploring LEGO Mindstorms: Tools and Techniques for Building and Programming Robots is the complete guide to getting the most out of your LEGO Mindstorms EV3. Written for hobbyists, young builders, and master builders alike, the book walks you through fundamentals of robot design, construction, and programming using the Mindstorms apparatus and LEGO TECHNIC parts. Tap into your creativity with brainstorming techniques, or follow the plans and blueprints provided on the companion website to complete projects ranging from beginner to advanced.

The book begins with the basics of the software and EV3 features then lets you get to work quickly by using projects of increasing complexity to illustrate the topics at hand. Plenty of examples are provided throughout every step of the process, and the companion website features a blog where you can gain the insight and advice of other users. Exploring LEGO Mindstorms contains building and programming challenges written by a recognized authority in LEGO robotics curriculum, and is designed to teach you the fundamentals rather than have you follow a "recipe."

• Get started with robot programming with the starter vehicle, Auto-Driver
• Explore the features of the EV3 brick, a programmable brick
• Design robot's actions using Action Blocks
• Incorporate environmental sensors using Infrared, Touch, and Color sensors
• Expand the use of data in your program by using data wires with Sensor Blocks
• Process data from the sensors using Data Operations Blocks
• Using Bluetooth and WiFi with EV3
• Build unique EV3 robots that each presents different functions: the Spy Rabbit, a robot that can react to its surroundings; a Sea Turtle robot, Mr. Turto; the Big Belly Bot, a robot that eats and poops; and a Robotic Puppy Guapo
• Discover ideas and practices that will help you to develop your own method of designing and programming EV3 robots

The book also provides extensive programming guidance, from the very basics of block programming through data wiring. You'll learn robotics skills to help with your own creations, and can likely ignite a lasting passion for innovation. Exploring LEGO Mindstorms is the key to unlocking your EV3 potential.

Chapter 1
Introducing LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3

Did you get a box that looks like the one shown in Figure 1.1?

Figure 1.1 The LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 set, item number 31313

If you did, you are ready to use this book. Several versions of the LEGO MINDSTORMS set are available, but throughout this book we use the LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 set, which has a LEGO item number of 31313. This chapter provides a brief overview of the equipment in the set and what it does.

Understanding the EV3 Set: It Begins When You Open the Box

The EV3 set consists of various components. You may have seen some of the components in other LEGO sets, but even those familiar with the previous version of LEGO MINDSTORMS will find some parts that they have never seen. Before you use your new set, it is important to know what you have. The key components include the following:

• The electronic components that come with the EV3 set
• EV3 software
• TECHNIC building parts
• Building instructions
• A test board

By understanding the various components, you will be able to design your robot more efficiently. Let's take a look at these components in more detail.

EV3 Electronic Parts

One of the most important characteristics defining a robot is that it processes commands and generates movements. The electronic components that come with your EV3 set will enable you to build robots that process the commands that you write and generate movements that are defined in those commands.

The EV3 Brick

The EV3 brick, shown in Figure 1.2, acts like the robot's brain. Like the way that our brain tells our body what to do, the EV3 brick instructs a robot how to behave. The difference between our brain and the EV3 brick is that our brain behaves on its own, whereas the EV3 brick only interprets the programs that you write. Note that you will need six AA 1.5V batteries to run the EV3 brick.

Figure 1.2 The EV3 brick

Motors

You will program the EV3 motors, shown in Figure 1.3, to create the movements of your robot. Saying that the EV3 brick is the brain of a robot, the motors are like muscles. As our muscles generate all of our body movements, the motors will power all the actions of your robot such as driving, walking, lifting, spinning, and so on.

Figure 1.3 The EV3 Motors: The large motors and the medium motor

As you can see in Figure 1.3, the large and medium motors have quite different appearances. The large motor is bigger than the medium motor, and the body size represents the strength of the motor. Also, the two motors move in different directions: The large motor's movement is parallel with the body of the motor whereas the medium motor's movement is perpendicular with the body of the motor, which allows you to effectively design a robot that can achieve your goal.

Sensors

Within the EV3 set, you will find a touch sensor, a color sensor, and an infrared sensor (see Figure 1.4). As you build the projects from this book, you will learn to use these sensors to make your robots interactive. In other words, your robot will be able to decide its action based on the inputs from its surroundings. For example, let's say you have a vehicle type robot. With an infrared sensor, it can detect how far an object is in front of it. Based on the data from the sensor, the robot can play a louder sound when it gets closer to the object.

Figure 1.4 The EV3 sensors

Remote Infrared Beacon

The remote infrared beacon, or the IR beacon, is one of...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Chapter 1: Introducing LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3
• Chapter 2: Building the Auto-Driver: A Starter Vehicle
• Chapter 3: Getting Started with Programming
• Chapter 4: Exploring Action Blocks Part 1: Programming Motors
• Chapter 5: Exploring Action Blocks Part 2: Using Display, Sound and Brick Status Light Blocks
• Chapter 6: Exploring Flow Blocks
• Chapter 7: Building the Spy Rabbit: A Robot That Can React to Its Surroundings
• Chapter 8: Sensing the Environments: Using the Infrared, Touch, and Color Sensors
• Chapter 9: Using the Timer and the Rotation Sensor
• Chapter 10: Building Mr. Turto: A Sea Turtle Robot
• Chapter 11: Programming with Data Wires and Using My Blocks
• Chapter 12: Using Data Operations Blocks
• Chapter 13: Building the Big Belly Bot: A Robot That Eats and Poops
• Chapter 14: Design Your Own Robot: How Did Guapo, the Robotic Puppy, Come to Be?
• Appendix: Using Bluetooth and WiFi with the EV3 Brick
• Foreword
• Introduction
• End User License Agreement