USER GUIDE COMPUTER SCIENCE SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING MATH LEGOeducation.
TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION + Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 EV3 TECHNOLOGY + Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 + EV3 Brick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
INTRODUCTION Welcome LEARNING POWERED BY LEGO® MINDSTORMS® EDUCATION Since the beginning of this century, LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Education has led the way in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Education, inspiring users to engage in fun, hands-on learning. The combination of LEGO building systems with the LEGO MINDSTORMS Education EV3 technology is now offering even more ways to learn about robotics and teach the principles of programming, physical science, and mathematics.
EV3 TECHNOLOGY Overview Large Motor + Lets you program precise and powerful robotic action. Medium Motor + Maintains precision, while trading some power for compact size and faster response. EV3 Brick + Serves as the control center and power station for your robot. Ultrasonic Sensor + Uses reflected sound waves to measure distance between the sensor and any objects in its path. Color Sensor + Recognizes seven different colors and measures light intensity.
EV3 TECHNOLOGY EV3 Brick Overview The Display shows you what is going on inside the EV3 Brick and enables you to use the Brick Interface. It also allows you to add text and numerical or graphic responses into your programming or experiments. For example, you might want to program the Display to show a happy face (or a sad face) for a comparison response or to display a number that is the result of a mathematical calculation (learn more about using the Display Block in the EV3 Software Help).
EV3 TECHNOLOGY TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE EV3 BRICK EV3 Brick The Brick Status Light that surrounds the Brick Buttons tells you the current status of the EV3 Brick. It can be green, orange, or red and can pulse.
EV3 TECHNOLOGY EV3 Brick PC Port The Mini-USB PC Port, located next to the D port, is used to connect the EV3 Brick to a computer. Output Ports Output Ports A, B, C, and D are used to connect motors to the EV3 Brick. Input Ports Input Ports 1, 2, 3, and 4 are used to connect sensors to the EV3 Brick. Speaker All sounds from the EV3 Brick come through this speaker— including any sound effects used in programming your robots.
EV3 TECHNOLOGY EV3 Brick Installing Batteries With LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Education EV3, you have the choice of using normal AA batteries or the EV3 Rechargeable Battery pack included in the LEGO MINDSTORMS Education EV3 Core Set. If you experiment with both, you will find that each option has characteristics to consider when constructing your robots.
EV3 TECHNOLOGY EV3 Brick The EV3 Brick requires six AA/LR6 batteries if the EV3 Rechargeable Battery is not used. Alkaline or rechargeable Lithium Ion AA batteries are recommended. The AA batteries option is a good choice when a little more weight is desirable in your robot. 1 2 To install the AA batteries, remove the battery cover on the back of the EV3 Brick by pressing the two plastic tabs on the side. After you have inserted the six AA batteries, attach the battery cover again. AA, 1.
EV3 TECHNOLOGY EV3 Brick Turning On the EV3 Brick To turn on the EV3 Brick, press the Center button. After you press the button, the Brick Status Light will turn red and the Starting screen will be displayed. When the light changes to green, your EV3 Brick is ready. To turn the EV3 Brick off, press the Back button until you see the Shut Down screen. The Abort X will already be selected. Use the Right button to select the Accept check mark, then press the Center button for OK.
EV3 TECHNOLOGY EV3 Motors Large Motor The Large Motor is a powerful “smart” motor. It has a built-in Rotation Sensor with 1-degree resolution for precise control. The Large Motor is optimized to be the driving base on your robots. By using the Move Steering or Move Tank programming block in the EV3 Software, the Large Motors will coordinate the action simultaneously.
EV3 TECHNOLOGY EV3 Sensors Color Sensor Color Sensor The Color Sensor is a digital sensor that can detect the color or intensity of light that enters the small window on the face of the sensor. This sensor can be used in three different modes: Color Mode, Reflected Light Intensity Mode, and Ambient Light Intensity Mode. In Color Mode, the Color Sensor recognizes seven colors—black, blue, green, yellow, red, white, and brown—plus No Color.
EV3 TECHNOLOGY EV3 Sensors Gyro Sensor Gyro Sensor The Gyro Sensor is a digital sensor that detects rotational motion on a single axis. If you rotate the Gyro Sensor in the direction of the arrows on the case of the sensor, the sensor can detect the rate of rotation in degrees per second. (The sensor can measure a maximum rate of spin of 440 degrees per second.) You can then use the rotation rate to detect, for example, when a part of your robot is turning, or when your robot is falling over.
EV3 TECHNOLOGY EV3 Sensors Touch Sensor Touch Sensor The Touch Sensor is an analog sensor that can detect when the sensor’s red button has been pressed and when it is released. That means the Touch Sensor can be programmed to action using three conditions—pressed, released, or bumped (both pressed and released). Using input from the Touch Sensor, a robot can be programmed to see the world as a blind person might, reaching a hand out and responding when it touches something (pressed).
EV3 TECHNOLOGY EV3 Sensors Ultrasonic Sensor Ultrasonic Sensor The Ultrasonic Sensor is a digital sensor that can measure the distance to an object in front of it. It does this by sending out high-frequency sound waves and measuring how long it takes the sound to reflect back to the sensor. The sound frequency is too high for you to hear. 250250cm cm // 99inch 99inch Distance to an object can be measured in either inches or centimeters.
EV3 TECHNOLOGY EV3 Sensors Infrared Sensor and Remote Infrared Beacon Infrared Sensor The Infrared Sensor is a digital sensor that can detect infrared light reflected from solid objects. It can also detect infrared light signals sent from the Remote Infrared Beacon. The Infrared Sensor can be used in three different modes: Proximity Mode, Beacon Mode, and Remote Mode.
EV3 TECHNOLOGY EV3 Sensors The Remote Infrared Beacon is a separate device that can be handheld or built into another LEGO® model. It requires two AAA alkaline batteries. To turn the Remote Infrared Beacon on, press the big Beacon Mode button on the top of the device. A green LED Indicator will turn on, indicating the device is active and transmitting continuously. Another press on the Beacon Mode button will turn it off (after one hour of inactivity, the beacon will automatically turn itself off).
EV3 TECHNOLOGY EV3 Sensors Temperature Sensor Temperature Sensor The Temperature Sensor is a digital sensor that measures the temperature at the tip of its metal probe. The sensor measures in Celsius (-20°C to 120°C) and Fahrenheit (-4°F to 248°F) with an accuracy of 0.1°C. The Temperature Sensor is most commonly used to collect data for heat-related data logging projects. With a 50 cm–long Connector Cable and a 6.
EV3 TECHNOLOGY Connecting the EV3 Technology Connecting Sensors and Motors In order to function, motors and sensors must be connected to the EV3 Brick. Using the flat black Connector Cables, link sensors to the EV3 Brick using Input ports 1, 2, 3, and 4. If you create programs while the EV3 Brick is not connected to your computer, the software will assign sensors to default ports.
EV3 TECHNOLOGY Connecting the EV3 Technology Connecting the EV3 Brick to Your Computer Connect the EV3 Brick to your computer by USB Cable or wirelessly using either Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. USB CABLE Using the USB Cable, plug the Mini-USB end into the EV3 Brick’s PC port (located next to Port D). Plug the USB end into your computer. USB Cable connection LEGOeducation.
EV3 TECHNOLOGY Connecting the EV3 Technology WIRELESS—BLUETOOTH If your computer is not Bluetooth-enabled, you will need a Bluetooth USB dongle for your computer. Making a Bluetooth connection to the computer Before you can make a Bluetooth connection between the EV3 Brick and the computer running the EV3 Software, you will need to enable Bluetooth on the EV3 Brick. Directions for this can be found on page 33.
EV3 TECHNOLOGY Connecting the EV3 Technology WIRELESS—WI-FI Your first step in connecting to Wi-Fi is to acquire a Wi-Fi USB dongle. For a list of compatible dongles, ask your local LEGO® Education provider or go to the official LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Education website (www.LEGOeducation.com/MINDSTORMS). To begin the setup, you must have access to a wireless network, and know the network’s name and its password.
EV3 TECHNOLOGY Connecting the EV3 Technology Connecting the EV3 Brick to a network After selecting Wi-Fi on the Settings screen, use the Up and Down buttons to select Connections and press the Center button for OK. The EV3 Brick will now search for and list available Wi-Fi networks. Using the Up and Down buttons for navigation, find your network on the list. If the EV3 Brick is not already connected to your network (indicated by a check mark), select your network using the Center button.
EV3 TECHNOLOGY Connecting the EV3 Technology Making a Wi-Fi connection from the computer to the EV3 Brick Using the USB Cable, connect the EV3 Brick to the computer. Open an EV3 Software program. Access the Wireless Setup tool in the Hardware Window (at the bottom right of the screen), or select Wireless Setup from the Tools Menu. The computer will display which networks it detects. Select the network you want to connect to and click on “Connect” to configure the connection.
EV3 TECHNOLOGY EV3 Brick Interface The EV3 Brick is the control center for bringing your robots to life. Using the Display and the Brick Buttons, the EV3 Brick Interface contains four basic screens that give you access to an amazing array of functions unique to the EV3 Brick. It can be something as simple as starting and stopping a program, or something as complicated as writing the program itself. Run Recent This screen will be blank until you begin to download and run programs.
EV3 TECHNOLOGY EV3 Brick Interface Brick Apps The EV3 Brick comes with five brick applications preinstalled and ready to use. In addition, you can also make your own apps in the EV3 Software. Once downloaded to the EV3 Brick, the homemade apps will be displayed here. The five preinstalled apps are the following: PORT VIEW On the first screen in the Port View, you will see, at a glance, which ports have sensors or motors attached.
EV3 TECHNOLOGY EV3 Brick Interface IR CONTROL Control the forward and reverse motion of any motor connected to one of the four output ports using the Remote Infrared Beacon as remote control and the Infrared Sensor as receiver (the Infrared Sensor must be connected to Port 4 in the EV3 Brick). There are two different modes. In one mode, you will be using Channels 1 and 2 on the Remote Infrared Beacon.
EV3 TECHNOLOGY EV3 Brick Interface BRICK PROGRAM The EV3 Brick comes with an on-brick programming application similar to the software installed on your computer. These instructions provide you with the basic information you will need to get started. Create program Open up your Brick Program App. The Start screen provides you with a Start and a Loop block that are connected via a Sequence Wire. The vertical broken Add Block line in the middle indicates that you can add more blocks to your program.
EV3 TECHNOLOGY EV3 Brick Interface Delete blocks If you want to delete a block from a program, highlight the block you want to delete and press the Up button to go to the Block Palette. In the Block Palette, navigate to the trashcan on the far left and press the Center button. The block is now deleted. Run program To run your program, use the Left button to navigate to the Start block at the very beginning of the program. Press the Center button and your program will run.
EV3 TECHNOLOGY EV3 Brick Interface BRICK DATALOG The EV3 Brick comes with a simple-to-use, on-brick data logging application. These instructions provide you with the basic information you will need to get started. Main screen When you open the EV3 Brick Datalog app, you will see to the left a Graph Area. If a sensor or motor is connected to the EV3 Brick, a graph will show live readings from one of the sensors like an oscilloscope (if a motor is connected, it is readings from the in-build rotation sensor).
EV3 TECHNOLOGY EV3 Brick Interface Set up and run experiment If you wish to set up and run an experiment, start by clicking on the Brick Datalog Settings button in the bottom right corner symbolized by a wrench. Use the Down and Right buttons to navigate to it and the Center button to click OK. You can now decide the sample rate of your experiment, ranging from one sample per minute to a thousand samples per second.
EV3 TECHNOLOGY EV3 Brick Interface Settings This screen will enable you to see and adjust various general settings on the EV3 Brick. VOLUME There may be occasions when you will want to adjust the volume of the sound coming from the EV3 Brick Speaker. To change the speaker volume, go to the Settings screen. As the top menu, Volume will already be highlighted. Press the Center button. Use the Right and Left buttons to change the volume setting, which can be intervals from 0% to 100%.
EV3 TECHNOLOGY EV3 Brick Interface BLUETOOTH This is where Bluetooth is enabled on the EV3 Brick, and where you can choose some specific privacy and Apple iOS settings. Here you can also connect to other Bluetooth devices such as another EV3 Brick. When you select Bluetooth on the Settings page, there are four options presented—Connections, Visibility, Bluetooth, and iPhone/ iPad/iPod.
EV3 TECHNOLOGY EV3 Brick Interface Connections This option allows you to discover and choose other available Bluetooth devices (make sure Bluetooth is enabled). If you click on “Connections,” you will be taken to a Favorites screen, where the devices you trust are displayed and identified with a check mark. No passkeys are needed for your trusted devices. Using the check boxes, you can manage which devices you wish to have as Favorites.
EV3 TECHNOLOGY EV3 Brick Interface WI-FI This is where you enable Wi-Fi communication on the EV3 Brick and connect to a wireless network. After selecting Wi-Fi on the Settings screen, use the Up and Down buttons to select the word “WiFi” and press the Center button for OK. A check mark will appear in the WiFi box. Wi-Fi is now enabled on your EV3 Brick, and a Wi-Fi icon will be shown in the top left of the EV3 Brick Display.
EV3 SOFTWARE MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Prerequisites: + Silverlight 5.0 or newer + Microsoft Dot Net 4.0 or newer Operating systems: + Windows: Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 (excluding Win RT) (32/64 bit) with the latest service packs + Macintosh: Mac 10.6, 10.7, and 10.8 with the latest service packs While building robots is fun, the heart of robotics is bringing them to life—making them move and accomplish tasks.
