The programs should be read from left to right. I recommend you take the time to try to comprehend the meaning of every setting within every block. In the images that illustrate each program, blue circles show which settings have been changed, relative to the default settings. Click any image for an expanded view.
A special note about the 'move' blocks
We will make much use of two blocks that can be used to propel the robot: 'move steering' and 'move tank'. Anything you can do with one block you can also do with the other, so which you use is a matter of personal preference. I usually prefer to use the move steering block.
Overall then, this program makes the robot do a hard turn right, then a medium turn right, then a gentle turn right.
Overall then, this program makes the robot do a hard turn right, then a medium turn right, then a gentle turn right. It is exactly equivalent to the previous program, except that it uses 'move tank' blocks instead of 'move steering' blocks.
Overall then, this program makes the robot lower the gripper bar, trapping an object, then it does a medium left turn backwards, pulling the object with it, then it raises the gripper bar.
This exercise assumes that a colour sensor is attached to port 3 and is suspended just above the ground, pointing at the ground, as in the photos at the top of this page.
Overall then, this program turns on the right motor (making the robot turn left), then waits until the brightness falls below a certain value (because the sensor has passed over a black line, for example) then turns off the motor.
This exercise uses the gyro sensor, which is assumed to be connected to port 2. The gyro sensor measures the angle in which it is pointing, relative to the angle that is was at when the program was launched. It's very important to keep the Gyro Sensor and EV3 steady when connecting the cable and during start-up of the EV3, otherwise the gyro reading will continually wander away from the correct value. If you are not sure that this condition was met then simply unplug the sensor from port 2 and then reconnect it before running the program, while ensuring that the EV3 and the gyro sensor are very still.
Overall then, this program makes the robot do a continuous medium right turn until the gyro detects that the robot has turned through 45°, then the robot moves straight until the wheels have turned through one rotation.
To summarize, the robot will move forward in a straight line until it has moved 11cm closer to the reflecting object in front of it, then it will stop and pause for one second, then it will back up continuously until it detects that it has moved 6cm away from the object, then it will stop.
You have now finished the 'Basics' exercises and are ready to start the 'Beyond Basics' exercises...