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

In this chapter, we took our project in a completely new direction and broke away from tank-style driving to make a purpose-built speed machine. While building the Falcon, we learned about some of the mechanical components used to make a car-style drivetrain, such as the differential. We reapplied the rack-and-pinion mechanism to use it for steering. We discussed how each of the mechanical features in the Falcon relates to the design of cars in the real world.

We extensively used the rotation sensor built into the EV3 motors to coordinate an intelligent steering system. We also learned how to make MyBlocks and saw the advantages they bring when they are used in a program. We applied knowledge acquired in previous chapters to make a car-style remote control program. Finally, we resolved the paradox of a smart remote control car: even though the user controls the Falcon...