LEGO Mindstorms EV3 User manual

User Guide

Table of
ConTenTs
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Useful Information
+Sound File List ........................................................................................................ 46
+Image File List ........................................................................................................ 51
+Brick Program App—Assets List ............................................................. 55
+Element List .............................................................................................................. 56
Introduction
+Welcome ...................................................................................................................... 3
EV3 Technology
+Overview ..................................................................................................................... 4
+EV3 Brick ..................................................................................................................... 5
Overview ...................................................................................................................... 5
Installing Batteries ............................................................................................... 8
Turning On the EV3 Brick ................................................................................ 9
+EV3 Motors ................................................................................................................. 10
Large Motor ............................................................................................................... 10
Medium Motor ......................................................................................................... 10
+EV3 Sensors ............................................................................................................. 11
Color Sensor ............................................................................................................. 11
Touch Sensor ........................................................................................................... 12
Infrared Sensor ....................................................................................................... 13
Remote Infrared Beacon ................................................................................. 13
+Connecting the EV3 Technology .............................................................. 15
Connecting Sensors and Motors ............................................................. 15
Connecting the EV3 Brick to Your Computer .................................. 16
+EV3 Brick Interface ............................................................................................. 21
Run Recent ................................................................................................................ 21
File Navigation ......................................................................................................... 21
Brick Apps .................................................................................................................. 22
Settings ......................................................................................................................... 26
EV3 Software
+Minimum System Requirements ............................................................. 30
+Installing the Software ..................................................................................... 30
+Lobby ............................................................................................................................. 31
+Project Properties and Structure ............................................................ 32
+Robot Missions ....................................................................................................... 34
+Programming ........................................................................................................... 35
+Hardware Page ...................................................................................................... 38
+Content Editor ......................................................................................................... 40
+Tools ................................................................................................................................ 41
Troubleshooting
+EV3 Software Help .............................................................................................. 43
+Software Updates ................................................................................................ 43
+Firmware Update .................................................................................................. 44
+Resetting the EV3 Brick .................................................................................. 45

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IntroductIon
Welcome to the world of LEGO®MINDSTORMS®
In this LEGO®MINDSTORMS®EV3 robotics set you have all
theelements you need to create and command thousands of LEGO
robots.
If you have never built a LEGO MINDSTORMS robot before, we
recommend that you start by building one of the five cool robot
characters pictured on the EV3 packaging. In the Robot Missions
inside the EV3 programming software, you’ll find building instructions
and examples of how to program these robots. The robots have been
created by LEGO MINDSTORMS designers to demonstrate some of
the ways you can build and program with the LEGO MINDSTORMS
EV3 robotics system. Before you know it, you’ll turn your own LEGO
creations into live robots of every type and with many different kinds
of behavior!
With LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3, building and programming your
own robot has never been easier. Think of a robot and then build
it. Use the motors and sensors to add behavior and movement.
Thesoftware will guide you in bringing your robot to life.
Create: Build your robot using the LEGO elements, motors, and
intelligent sensors included in the set.
Command: Program your robot in the intuitive icon-based
programming interface. Drag and drop the actions that you want
into the programming window and adjust them to suit your robot’s
behavior.
Go! Once you have built and programmed your robot, it’s time to
play!
Visit LEGO.com/mindstorms to see what’s new and what others are
doing with their LEGO MINDSTORMS set. When you and other LEGO
MINDSTORMS fans share your creations and your experiences, we
all benefit.
See you there!
Welcome

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EV3
TEchnology
Overview
Touch Sensor
+Recognizes three
conditions: touched,
bumped, and released.
EV3 Brick
+Serves as the control center
and power station for your
robot.
Remote Infrared Beacon
+Remote controls your robot
from a distance.
Large Motor
+Lets you program
precise and powerful
robotic action.
Medium Motor
+Maintains precision, while
trading some power for
compact size and faster
response.
Color Sensor
+Recognizes seven different
colors and measures light
intensity.
Infrared Sensor
+Detects objects and can
track and find the Remote
Infrared Beacon.


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
 
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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).
The Brick Buttons allow you to navigate inside the EV3 Brick
Interface. They can also be used as programmable activators. For
example, you might program a robot to raise its arms if the Up button
is pressed or to lower them if the Down button is pressed (for more
information, see Using the Brick Buttons in the EV3 Software Help).
Wireless Connection
Status Icons
(from the left):
Bluetooth enabled but not
connected or visible to other
Bluetooth devices
Bluetooth enabled and visible
to other Bluetooth devices
Bluetooth enabled and your
EV3 Brick is connected to
another Bluetooth device
Bluetooth enabled and visible
and your EV3 Brick is connected
to another Bluetooth device
Wi-Fi enabled but not connected
to a network
Wi-Fi enabled and connected
to a network
Battery level
USB connection established
to another device
Brick Buttons
 Back
This button is used to reverse
actions, to abort a running
program, and to shut down
theEV3 Brick.
 Center
Pressing the Center button says
“OK” to various questions—to shut
down, to select desired settings,
or to select blocks in theBrick
Program App. You would, for
example, press this button to
select a checkbox.
 Left, Right, Up, Down
These four buttons are used to
navigate through the contents of
the EV3 Brick.
Brick Name

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EV3
TEchnology
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. Brick Status Light codes are the following:
+Red = Startup, Updating, Shutdown
+Red pulsing = Busy
+Orange = Alert, Ready
+Orange pulsing = Alert, Running
+Green = Ready
+Green pulsing = Running program
You can also program the Brick Status Light to show different colors
and to pulse when different conditions are met (learn more about
using the Brick Status Light Block in the EV3 Software Help).
EV3 Brick
Technical
Specifications
for the EV3 Brick
+Operating System—LINUX
+300 MHz ARM9 Controller
+Flash Memory—16 MB
+RAM—64 MB
+Brick Screen Resolution—178x128/Black & White
+USB 2.0 Communication to Host PC—Up to 480 Mbit/sec
+USB 1.1 Host Communication—Up to 12 Mbit/sec
+Micro SD Card—Supports SDHC, Version 2.0, Max
32 GB
+Motor and Sensor Ports
+Connectors—RJ12
+Support Auto ID
+Power—6 AA batteries
Brick Status Light – Red Brick Status Light – Orange Brick Status Light – Green

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EV3
TEchnology
Input Ports
Input Ports 1, 2, 3, and 4 are
used to connect sensors to
the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.
Speaker
All sounds from the EV3 Brick
come through this speaker—
including any sound effects used
in programming your robots.
When the quality of the sound
is important to you, try to leave
the speaker uncovered while
designing your robot.
Check out the cool sound files
that can be programmed with
in the EV3 Software (learn more
about using the Sound Block in
the EV3 Software Help).
SD Card Port
The SD Card Port increases
theavailable memory for your
EV3 Brick with an SD card
(maximum 32 GB—not included).
USB Host Port
The USB Host Port can be used
to add a USB Wi-Fi dongle for
connecting to a wireless network,
or to connect up to four EV3
Bricks together (daisy chain).
EV3 Brick

AA, 1.5V x 6




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EV3
TEchnology
EV3 Brick
Installing Batteries
in the EV3 Brick
The EV3 Brick requires six AA/LR6 batteries. Alkaline or rechargeable
Lithium Ion AA batteries are recommended.
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.
Some important information about batteries:
+Never use different kinds of batteries together
(including mixing old and new).
+Remove batteries from the EV3 Brick when not in use.
+Never use damaged batteries.
+Use the correct battery charger under the supervision of
an adult.
+Never attempt to recharge batteries that are not rechargeable.
Note: If your batteries are weak, the Brick Status Light may stay red
after you press the Start button, while the Display continues to say
“Starting.”
Power-Saving Practices
+Remove the batteries between use.
Remember to keep each set of batteries in its own storage
container so they can be used together.
+Reduce the volume.
+Adjust the Sleep Setting.
+Turn off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when not in use.
+Avoid unnecessary wear on the motors.
Low Battery Power Indicator

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EV3
TEchnology
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. Your
EV3 Brick is now turned off. If you press OK while the X is selected,
you will return to the Run Recent screen.
EV3 Brick
Starting screen
Shut Down screen

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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.
Medium Motor
The Medium Motor also includes a built-in Rotation Sensor (with
1-degree resolution), but it is smaller and lighter than the Large
Motor. That means it is able to respond more quickly than the Large
Motor.
The Medium Motor can be programmed to turn on or off, control its
power level, or to run for a specified amount of time or rotations.
Compare the Two Motors:
+The Large Motor runs at 160–170 rpm, with a running torque of
20 Ncm and a stall torque of 40 Ncm (slower, but stronger).
+The Medium Motor runs at 240–250 rpm, with a running torque
of 8 Ncm and a stall torque of 12 Ncm (faster, but less powerful).
+Both motors are Auto ID supported.
For more information on using the Rotation Sensor in your
programming, see Using the Motor Rotation Sensor in the EV3
Software Help.
Large Motor
Medium Motor