Book Image

Building Smart LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 Robots

By : Kyle Markland
Book Image

Building Smart LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 Robots

By: Kyle Markland

Overview of this book

Smart robots are an ever-increasing part of our daily lives. With LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3, you can now prototype your very own small-scale smart robot that uses specialized programming and hardware to complete a mission. EV3 is a robotics platform for enthusiasts of all ages and experience levels that makes prototyping robots accessible to all. This book will walk you through six different projects that range from intermediate to advanced level. The projects will show you building and programming techniques that are used by engineers in the real world, which will help you build your own smart robot. You'll see how to make the most of the EV3 robotics platform and build some awesome smart robots. The book starts by introducing some real-world examples of smart robots. Then, we'll walk you through six different projects and explain the features that allow these robots to make intelligent decisions. The book will guide you as you build your own object-tracking tank, a box-climbing robot, an interactive robotic shark, a quirky bipedal robot, a speedy remote control race car, and a GPS-navigating robot. By the end of this book, you'll have the skills necessary to build and program your own smart robots with EV3.
Table of Contents (9 chapters)

Summary

Wow, we learned a lot in this chapter! Let's review what we covered.

We started by introducing some cool new building techniques, such as creating a unique exterior design, using caster wheels for maximum mobility, and taking advantage of the bevel gear's ability to make both parallel and 90-degree gear meshes. Then, we revisited some of the engineering principles that we learned in earlier chapters, such as tank-style steering (this time with wheels) and cam-and-rod mechanisms.

We also expanded our knowledge of EV3 programming. We learned how to make a custom GUI, then incorporated the color sensor and the random number generator block for the first time. We reapplied beacon following, tank-style remote control, and obstacle detection/avoidance. Throughout the programming process, we saw some examples of how creative programming can give a robot its own unique...