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🦾 EV3 102: #03 - EV3 Getting Started

By Matt Richardson
Last updated about 2 years ago
3 Questions
This course includes resources provided by the following:
  • LEGO Education
  • CS-STEM Network from Carnegie Mellon University
  • EV3-Scratch documentation provided by Raphael Holzer
  • Joe Olayvar & Evelyn Lindberg in association with the Washington State Library
🌏 Click here to access the LEGO Education website.
📑 Click here to access the EV3-Scratch documentation.
🎓 Click here to access the online EV3 course from CS2N.
📕 Click here to access the LEGO Mindstorms EV3 Programming Basics document in its entirety.
▶️ Click here to access the entire LEGO Mindstorms EV3 YouTube playlist from the Washington State Library.
EV3 Getting Started teaches the student about the robot's hardware, firmware, and how to write, compile, and run programs on the robot.

Programming with the Physical EV3

Getting Started with the EV3 and EV3 Classroom

In order to get started with Introduction to Programming with the EV3 using EV3 Classroom, you will need to download and install the EV3 Classroom software and get to know the EV3's ports and menu system.

Install It

Before continuing, ensure that your computer has the EV3 Classroom app installed.

🎓 Learn It

Carefully read and/or watch the instructional media and respond to the related questions.



How do I download/update the firmware?

In order to download/update your firmware, LEGO Education has a few different options to allow you to update your firmware. See this site to update: https://education.lego.com/en-us/product-resources/mindstorms-ev3/downloads/firmware-update

When should I update my firmware?

Your EV3 most likely already has the firmware downloaded. However, there are a few reasons why you would want to download or update the firmware:

LEGO Education releases firmware updates occasionally in order to address bugs or updates that coincide with the programming software. You should update the firmware when the software is updated (if a firmware update is available).

Warning: Updating the firmware clears/deletes everything that was downloaded to the EV3. So any projects or programs will be wiped out!
Updating firmware is also an easy way to refresh and clear out your EV3 (e.g. beginning of a new semester, too many projects in the EV3).

EV3 Classroom

When connected to your robot, EV3 Classroom automatically detects which type of motor or sensor is plugged into each port. You can see what device is plugged into each port and what value the device is reporting.

Virtual EV3 Curriculum

Several Mini-Challenges throughout this curriculum will include the option to practice with a virtual robot first. These virtual activities are just some of the 70+ simulated environments in the Introduction to Programming with Virtual EV3 curriculum.  If you'd like access to the full virtual solution, you can purchase it using the Digital Store button at the top of the page or at the CMU University store.

The Role of the Programmer

Physical vs Virtual EV3 Robot

The Virtual EV3, just like a physical robot, will perform differently depending on what surface you are driving on (like driving on a wooden floor vs. carpet). The virtual robot will have slightly different values for moving or turning a specific distance compared to a physical robot.  In the real world, you can check the values of a sensor from the Port View Menu or by displaying information on the EV3 screen.  The Virtual Robot Simulation has a built-in sensor dashboard that allows students and teachers to quickly inspect the values the robot sees, speeding up the process of developing and troubleshooting their code.

You will not have to worry about configuring different components on the virtual robot.  The virtual robot will already have the correct configurations set to successfully complete each activity!

Role of the Programmer

Because humans and machines do not speak the same language, a programming language must be used to translate the necessary instructions from human to robot. Instructions written in programming languages are called programs, or code. There are many different types of programming languages.Creating a successful robot takes a team effort between humans and machines.


How Programmers Program

The human who writes the program is called the programmer. Programmers don’t just sit down and start writing code. Remember that programming is explaining to a computer what you want it to do. For that, you must first have a clear idea of what it is you want the robot to do! Step 1: Identify the problem. What does the robot need to accomplish through its actions?


Step 2: Describe a series of actions that solves the problem. The description should be specific, but also flexible. It must also be specific enough for a robot to understand! Programmers use pseudocoding and other strategies to help them come up with the necessary steps for a solution!


Step 3: Program the robot. Write the plan into a program that the robot can understand!


Step 4: Test and improve. The program will probably not work on the first try. Test every part of the program and make fixes as needed!

Discuss

Consider the questions below, and then share your thoughts.
  • Do you think your “role as a programmer” changes depending on the task of the robot?
  • What role do programmers play in the real world? What do they program and what effect do their programs have on daily life?

The programmer’s role is to…

Which of the following do programmers typically do?

🧠 Retrieval Practice:
Summarize the content of this lesson. What topics, ideas, and vocabulary were introduced?