1. LEGO Robotics Workshop
Copyright © Leland Robotics Team 604, 2017.
All rights reserved

2. Overview Day 1 - Hardware and Robot Parts
Day 2 - Software and Programming
Day 3 - Complete Challenges!
Goal: Prepare you to be successful in FLL

3. Robot Parts and Design
Day 1

4. The Brick
This is the robot’s brain! It stores instructions for the robot, which is what you’ll be programming! Wires connect the brick to motors and sensors.

5. Brick Functions Display On/OK Button Off/Back Button Up/Down Buttons
Left/Right Buttons

6. Brick Functions

7. The Brick (cont.)
Ports A,B,C,D are for motors, motors can be connected to any of these ports
Underneath is the battery compartment; battery level affects how the robot runs
Ports 1,2,3,4 are for sensors, any sensor can be connected to any of these ports

8. Motors
Motors: These control robot movement and have internal sensors that can detect how much the motor has rotated.
Large Motor: Better for heavier, larger things
Medium Motor: Better for lighter things, rotates more quickly

9. Sensors Sensors: Ultrasonic Sensor: Used to measure distance
Touch Sensor:
Used to sense pressure (like a button)
Light/Color Sensor:
Used to detect color or light
Gyro Sensor:
Used to measure rotation

10. Pegs and Connectors
Basic pegs/pins and connectors used in building. Used to connect things together, mostly to fasten them.

11. Axles
Axles can be used to connect things that should not spin relative to the axle

12. Spacers
Spacers are used on axles to keep things a certain distance apart, or to hold things in place

13. Beams
Beams are used to create support structures, and are usually connected by pegs

14. Gears
Gears can be used to translate motion into different directions

15. Gears
Gears can be used to speed things up.

16. Gears
Gears can be used to increase the strength of motors.

17. When Designing Your Robot, Make Sure It...
Has reasonable dimensions
Generally, a smaller, simpler robot is better
Is balanced
The best way to do this is to put the brick on top of the motors
You don’t want this to happen:
Has a low center of gravity
You know that your robot has a high center of gravity if you can push it over easily
Is adaptable
Bonus points if you can use the same robot for different tasks!

18. 3 Wheel Design Very easy to turn,
Less friction (fewer points of contact with floor),
Not as stable or balanced as other designs

19. Tread Design: Lots of traction/friction, Very balanced and stable,
Easy to turn,
Slow

20. 4 Wheel Design
Balanced weight distribution, stable (4 points of contact),
Good speed,
More Friction,
Harder to turn

21. Some Ideas...

22. Build a Robot Base!
There are many different ways to use the parts provided in the kits!

23. Basic Programming Concepts
Day 2

24. Programming Environment
The EV3 Programming Environment uses colorful blocks to create programs, but most languages use text.
For the robot to understand the program, it must first be converted into a different kind of code that it can read; this is called compiling.
This code is then downloaded from the computer to the robot to be executed or run. (see the button on the lower right window)
Each block has parameters, or settings, which control many different functions in the robot.
These are move blocks
Which ports the motors are connected to
How many times your robot will do the action
These are Parameters
How fast you want your robot to move

25. Store multiple programs into one file
Don’t forget to save your program!
This starts a program

26. Motor Blocks
Sensor Blocks
Variables and Operations
Press to download the program onto the EV3 brick
Flow Blocks
The different types of blocks used in basic programming

27. Move Blocks Choose how much to turn Start Choose power of each motor
Choose power of both motors
Move Tank: This block also allows you to control 2 motors at once, but instead of choosing how much to turn, you choose how fast each motor turns
Move Steering: This block allows you to control 2 motors at once, and lets you choose how much you want the robot to turn

28. Motor Blocks
These motor blocks are used when you want to move only 1 motor at a time.
Motor Ports
Modes
Large Motor Block
Medium Motor Block
Modes: # Rotations, Degrees, Seconds, On, Off

29. Wait Blocks
Wait Block: Used to pause your program until a certain condition is met
Condition Parameter
E.g. 1 sec
Condition
E.g. time
Conditions: Time, Sensors

30. Loop Blocks
Loop Name
Loop Block: Used to repeat a sequence of blocks until a certain condition is met
Condition
Repeated Sequence
Conditions: Count, time, sensor input,

31. Switch Blocks Block sequence executed if test is passed
Switch Block: Used to perform 2 different sequences blocks based on the results of a test
Block sequence executed if test is failed
Testing method
Testing Methods: Sensor tests
Test Conditions depend on the test
Test Condition

32. Loop Interrupt Block Name
Loop Interrupt Block: Use to break out of a loop before the condition is met
Use a “Loop” if you want something to be done over and over until something happens
Use a “Switch” if you need to choose between two actions
Use “Wait” blocks to debug your program

33. Data Wires Port Touch Sensor Block
Data wires are used to input data from one block to another
Data Input
Data Output
Types of Data: Numeric Values or Numbers, Logic Values - true or false,

34. Light/Color Sensor Block
Port
Light/Color Sensor Block: Use this block to measure the color of something, or the brightness of the light
Measurement Data Wire Output
Mode
Modes: Measure color or light, compare color or light, calibrate

35. Light/Color Sensor Block - Calibration
Calibration: The process of setting a standardized scale for making measurements
For the light sensor, we need to calibrate, or set, what the lowest brightness is, because brightness is relative
The value set to the measured brightness
Mode: Set Min or Max
Modes: Measure color or light, compare color or light, calibrate

36. Ultrasonic Sensor Block
Port
Ultrasonic Sensor Block: Use this block to measure distance from an object or a surface
Measurement Data Wire Output
Mode
Modes: measure or compare distance in inches or cm

37. Motor Rotation Sensor Block
Port
Motor Rotation Sensor Block: Use this block to measure how much a motor has rotated, or to measure its power.
Measurement Data Wire Output
Mode
Modes: measure rotations, degrees, or motor power

38. Variable Block
Name
Variable Block: Use to store information or values from other sensors
Variable Type
Input Area for Data Wires

39. Following a Line
If test is passed (color sensor detects black), then one motor moves forward so that the robot turns slightly away from the black line, but moves forward slightly
If test is failed (color sensor does not detect black), then the other motor moves forward so that the robot turns slightly back toward the black line, but moves forward slightly
Switch, testing for black line
Infinite Loop

40. Don’t forget to ask for help!
But before you ask one of us, try to do it yourself!

41. Let’s Build a Robot!
Day 3

42. Building
Using all of the skills that you’ve learned over the past two days, build and program your own robot
Don’t use the instructions booklet!

43. Challenges (Choose 1)
Follow a line to the wall, then follow the line back
Push an object into a marked area
Differentiate between colored squares
Navigate the robot through a series of obstacles

44. Contributors to Curriculum
Evan Leung
Kayla McMurray
Brian Ng
Richard Feng
Aanya Subramaniam
Thuy Nguyen
Preet Amin

45. Workshop Mentors Evan Leung Kayla McMurray Brian Ng Richard Feng
Aanya Subramaniam
Thuy Nguyen
Thenu Senthil