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-G Software

Mindstorms EV3-G is the main programming language provided by LEGO Education for the MINDSTORMS EV3 sets. EV3-G is graphical programming language that is also known as EV3 Lab, probably because it is based on Tufts University's Robolab, which is based on National Instruments' Labview.

ORTOP Resources

Programming Presentations

Sample Programs

Videos

External Resources

• Mindstorms EV3 software from LEGO Education

• Mindstorms EV3 User Guide from LEGO Education]

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

• Tutorials created by students affiliated with Tufts Center for Engineering Education and Outreach

• 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 Classroom

Mindstorms EV3 Classroom is an alternate graphical programming language for the Mindstorms EV3 sets based on Scratch. LEGO Education provided it for those using Apple macOS 10.14 (Mojave) and above as the EV3-G language is not compatible with macOS 10.15 (Catalina). As such it is similar to graphical language provided by LEGO Education for its SPIKE Prime set. LEGO Education has also announced that EV3 Classroom will become available for Windows 10 computers and Chromebooks.

External Resources

• EV3 Classroom software from LEGO Education

• 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 Scratch

SPIKE Prime software from LEGO Education

A website with a variety of learning resources

SPIKE Prime Videos