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Build and Program Your Own LEGO® MINDSTORMS® EV3 Robots
Absolutely no experience needed! Build and program amazing robots with the new LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3!
With LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3, you can do modern robotics without complex wiring or soldering! This step-by-step, full-color tutorial teaches all you need to know, including basic programming skills most introductory guides skip. Even better—it’s packed with hands-on projects!
Start by “unboxing” your new EV3 kit and getting to know every component: motors, sensors, connections, remotes, and the EV3’s more powerful, easier-to-program “brick.”
Then walk through building your first “bots”…creating more sophisticated robots with wheels and motors…engineering for strength and balance…“driving” your robot…building robots that recognize colors and do card tricks…and more!
LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 robotics is the perfect pathway into science and technology… and this book is the easiest way to get started, even if you have absolutely no robotics or programming experience!
Marziah Karch is Senior Instructional Designer at NWEA, a Google Expert at About.com, and Senior Web Editor at GeekMom. She has more than a decade of experience in instructional technology and was senior educational technologist for Johnson County Community College, where she also taught interactive media development. She holds a master’s degree in Instructional Design and Technology, and is pursuing a doctorate in Library and Information Science. Her hands-on technology experience ranges from 3D animation to multimedia learning, content management to music video creation. She has extensively explored the educational potential of LEGO robotics. She is the author of Android Tablets Made Simple.
This book is not authorized or endorsed by the LEGO® Group.
Building Your First Bots with LEGO Mindstorms EV3
Download the sample pages (includes Chapter 4 and Index)
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Chapter 1 What’s In the Box? 1
Unboxing MINDSTORMS EV3 2
The LEGO Family Tree 6
LEGO DUPLO 6
LEGO System Bricks 6
LEGO Technic 6
Core LEGO Units 7
Beams 8
Angled Beams 10
Beam Frames 12
Pegs 12
Axles 15
Bushings 16
Axle Connectors 17
Ball Joints 19
Gears 20
Parts with Flair 26
Wings 26
Spikes 27
Other Decorative Parts 28
The Brains and Brawn 30
EV3 Intelligent Brick 30
Servos 34
Sensors 35
Cables 37
Summary 40
Chapter 2 What’s In the LEGO Education Box? 41
Storage Box 41
Color Scheme 44
Ball Caster 45
Tank Tracks 46
Rechargeable Battery Pack 47
Sensors 48
Touch Sensors 48
Gyro Sensor 49
Sonic Sensor 50
Gears 50
The Expansion Set 53
Extra Wheels 53
Extra Beam Frame Elements 54
Gears and Joints 59
Tank Cleats 65
Wings and Other Decorative Pieces 66
Summary 70
Chapter 3 Comparing the EV3 and NXT 71
The NXT Versus the NXT 2.0 Versus the EV3 71
The Brick 73
Sensor and Motor Connections 74
The Sides 76
Programming 77
Advanced and Alternative Programming Environments 78
Part Compatibility 80
Sensors 80
Motors 80
Batteries 80
Summary 81
Chapter 4 Building Your First Bots 83
Downloading Instructions 83
The EV3 Starter Robots 84
Track3r 85
R3ptar 91
Spik3r 93
Ev3rstorm 97
Gripp3r 102