Robotics

Welcome to Robotics! 

Below you will find video lessons that get you started on the path to building and programming REAL robots! Please follow each video lesson in order and check yourself for understanding by answering the questions. At any time during the building and programming phases, you may come back to this website to refresh your memory on the lessons and programming skills you've learned. If you need more help, visit the Lego Mindstorms EV3 Website - click here. 

or click here 

Getting Started 1: Batteries 

Check Your Understanding:

1.     Which of the following CANNOT be used for providing power to the EV3?

                a.     6 AA batteries

                b.     6 AAA batteries

                c.     EV3 Rechargable DC Battery

                d.     The EV3 accepts any of the sources listed above

Getting Started 2 : Downloading Firmware

1.      What is Firmware?

a.      A special type of software that allows the EV3 to understand the programs you write

b.      A special type of software used by law firms

c.      The parts of the robot that are not flexible

d.      The physical appearance of the robot

2.      What software do you use to download firmware onto the robot?

a.      The special EV3 Firmware Downloader app for mobile phones

b.      The Introduction to Programming: LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 curriculum softwares

c.      The EV3 Programmming Software

d.      The firmware can only be updated at the factory

3.      Where in the software is the option to download firmware?

a.      In the Tools Menu, under Firmware Update

b.      On the main menu, as a button marked "Download Firmware"

c.      In the EV3's on-screen menus, under "Firmware Tools"

d.      In the lesson pages

4.      How do you turn on the EV3?

a.      Left Button

b.      Right Button

c.      Center Button

d.      Top Button

Getting Started 3 : Ports

    1.     Motor (output) ports are identified using ______.

a.      Numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4

b.      Letters A, B, C, and D

c.      Numerals I, II, III, and IV

d.      USB and PC Ports

2.      Sensor (input) ports are identified using ______.

a.      Numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4

b.      Letters A, B, C, and D

c.      Numerals I, II, III, and IV

d.      USB and PC Ports

Getting Started 4 : Menus

1.      How do you turn on the EV3?

a.      Press the Back button and hold it for 5 seconds

b.      Press and hold the Left and Right buttons for 5 seconds

c.      Press and hold both the Center button and Back button

d.      Press the Center button

2.      How do you turn off the EV3 properly?

a.      Remove the rechargeable Li-Ion battery pack

b.      Press and hold the Left and Right buttons for 5 seconds

c.      Press the Back button until a Shut Down dialog box appears, then selecting the check with the Center button

d.      Insert the Shut Down USB adapter into the USB port on the side of the EV3

3.      How do you navigate the menus of the EV3?

a.      Touch the screen with an included stylus pen

b.      Use the LEGO IR remote

c.      Use the direction buttons to navigate, Center button to select, and Back button to cancel or go back.

d.      Use the Sound sensor and the built-in voice commands

4.      To run a program from the Run Recent menu, what do you do?

a.      Run Recent (first tab) > Select the program then press the center button

b.      File Navigation (second tab) > Select the Project > Select the Program

c.      Brick Apps (third tab) > Port View > Select the motor or sensor that you just recently used to run that program

d.      Settings (fourth tab) > Brick Info > Recently Run, then use the center button to select

5.      To run a program from the File Navigation menu, what do you do?

a.      Run Recent (first tab) > Select the program then press the center button

b.      File Navigation (second tab) > Select the Project > Select the Program

c.      Brick Apps (third tab) > Port View > Select the project that is linked to available sensors and motors

d.      Settings (fourth tab) > Brick Info > Projects, then use the center button to select the programs

6.      How do you check the motor and sensor values on the EV3?

a.      Plugging the EV3 into the computer and using the EV3 Software to check

b.      Using the Brick Apps (third menu) > Port View > Select the motor or sensor you want to view

c.      Adding a block to display the motor/sensor value when running a program

d.      Attaching a second screen adapter to the USB Port on the side of the EV3

7.      Where can you find the speaker volume and other settings on the EV3?

a.      On the back of the EV3

b.      In the Settings (fourth tab) menu

c.      Behind the battery pack

d.      On the EV3 Software

Getting Started : How to use the Software

1.  How do you open the ev3 software? 

2.  How do you begin programming? 

3.  What can projects contain? 

4.  What are the basics of programming in the ev3 software? 

5.  What does a block represent? 

6.  What happens when blocks are placed next to each other? 

7.  What does a mode setting in the block do? 

8.  Once your program is done, what should you do? 

9.  Why should you give your program a name? 

10.  How do you run the program? 

11.  What does the play button do? 

12.  What do arrows on the edges of the screen do? 

13.  How do you zoom in or out? 

BIG Ideas #1 and 2

BIG Idea #3

BIG Ideas #4 and 5

Ultrasonic Sensor: Introduction to Hexarotor - Video 1 

Ultrasonic Sensor: Wait for Near - Video 2

Ultrasonic Sensor: Forward Until Near - Video 3

Ultrasonic Sensor: Maze Challenge - Video 4

Color Sensor: How the Color Sensor Works - Video 1

Color Sensor: Line Follower Video 2

Color Sensor: Line Follower Video 3