FIRST LEGO League Challenge Programming

There are several ways of programming FIRST LEGO League Challenge Robots. The two most popular are EV3-G, which is also referred to as EV3 Lab, and a new language created by LEGO Education based on Scratch. The latter language was originally introduced with the SPIKE Prime set when it debuted in 2019. A version of this Scratch-based language called EV3 Classroom is now also available for programming EV3 robots on Apple Mac computers.

Mindstorms EV3 Software

Mindstorms EV3 Lab Software

EV3 Lab Sample Program

Mindstorms EV3 Lab also known as EV3-G was the main programming language provided by LEGO Education for the MINDSTORMS EV3 sets until fall 2020. EV3 Lab is graphical programming language where programming blocks are arranged horizontally. It is quite different from traditional programming languages.

Introductory Exercises

• Becoming Familiar with Your EV3
• Lab 1 – Getting Your EV3 To Move and Respond to Its Environment
• Lab 2 – Using a Color Sensor
• Lab 3 – Your Color Sensor Final Exam
• Lab 4 – Putting it All Together
• Appendix A - More Things You Will Need to Know about the EV3 Programming System

Wiki Articles

• Programming Presentations

• Sample Programs

External Resources

Software

• Mindstorms EV3 Lab software from LEGO Education

Documentation

• Mindstorms EV3 User Guide from LEGO Education

• EV3 Programming Basics by Joe Olayvar & Evelyn Lindberg, Library Development Team, Washington State Library

Video Tutorials

• STEM Robotics
  • Using EV3-G on a PC or Mac
  • Using EV3-G on a Chromebook
• Catlin Gable School
  • EV-3 video tutorials by Dale Yocum
• Tufts University
  • Tutorials created by students affiliated with Tufts Center for Engineering Education and Outreach

Focused Tutorials

• Gyro Programming from EV3Lessons.com
  • Gyro Sensors - Turns and Lag
  • Gyro Move Straight

• Line Following from EV3Lessons.com
  • Basic Line Follower
  • Color Follower for Distance
  • Color Follower Stops Based on Color Detection
  • Introduction to Proportional Control
  • Proportional Line Follower
  • PID Line Follower

Play Lists

• Programming with LEGO Education's Mindstorms EV3 by LEGO Education

• EV3 Programming videos from W.A.F.F.L.E.S. Community Robotics

Mindstorms EV3 Classroom (Scratch)

Sample EV3 Classroom Program

Mindstorms EV3 Classroom is a graphical programming language for the Mindstorms EV3 sets. It became the standard software for the EV3 Set for those running Windows 10 and macOS Catalina 10.15 in the fall of 2020. The Mac version also works with macOS Mojave 10.14. Those with earlier operating systems should continue to use EV3 Lab.

EV3 Classroom is based on an educational language called Scratch and is quite similar to Word Blocks, the graphical language provided by LEGO Education for its SPIKE Prime set. LEGO Education has also announced that EV3 Classroom will become available for and Chromebooks.

Workshop Videos

• Programming Using Scratch-based Languages

External Resources

• EV3 Classroom software from LEGO Education
• Gyro Programming from EV3Lessons.com
  • Gyro Sensors - Turns and Lag
  • Gyro Move Straight
• Line Following from EV3Lessons.ccom
  • Basic Line Follower
  • Color Follower for Distance
  • Color Follower Stops Based on Color Detection
  • Introduction to Proportional Control
  • Proportional Line Follower
  • PID Line Follower

Mindstorms EV3 Python

LEGO Education also provides a version of Python, a line-by-line programming language, for the Mindstorms EV3.

External Resources

• LEGO Education's Python for EV3 page
• Line Following Programs
  • PID line follower with explanation
  • Another PID line follower with explanation
  • Sample line follower

SPIKE Prime Software

SPIKE Prime Word Blocks (Scratch)

The main programming language for SPIKE Prime is called Word Blocks, which is based on Scratch.

Sample Word Blocks program

Introductory Exercises

• Getting ready to use your SPIKE Prime Kit
• Exercise 1 - Building your first SPIKE Prime robot and teaching it to move
• Exercise 2 - Teaching your robot to drive
• Exercise 3 - Using a Color Sensor
• Exercise 4 - Putting it all together
• Appendix A - Walk through of SPIKE Prime Hub
• Appendix B - Walk through of SPIKE Prime Project Screen for writing programs

Workshop Videos

• Programming Using Scratch-based Languages

External Resources

Software

• SPIKE Prime Word Blocks is included with the standard SPIKE Prime Software from LEGO Education

Learning Resources

• Lesson Plan Units from LEGO Education
• SPIKE Prime Lessons A website with a variety of learning resources]

Focused Tutorials

• Gyro Turn
  • Lessons from LegoEducation.com
    • Training Camp 1 from LEGO Education
• Gyro Move Straight
  • Lessons from PrimeLessons.com
    • Move Straight
• Line Following
  • Video: Spike Prime Line Following Robot With Instructions & Program
  • Lessons from PrimeLessons.com
    • Basic Line Follower
    • Proportional Line Follower
    • PID Line Follower

Play Lists

• LEGO SPIKE Prime Tutorial videos from Creator Academy Australia
• Getting Started with LEGO Education SPIKE Prime Very short videos from LEGO Education

SPIKE Prime Python

External Resources

• Python is included with the standard SPIKE Prime software from LEGO Education
• SPIKE Prime Python from LEGO Education
• Video: Getting Started with Python on SPIKE Prime
• Video: Program a FLL Line Following in Python with Spike Prime