FIRST LEGO League Challenge Programming

There are several ways of programming FIRST LEGO League Challenge Robots. The most popular new language created by LEGO Education is based on Scratch called Word Blocks. A version of this Scratch-based language called EV3 Classroom is also available for those using EV3 sets rather than SPIKE Prime. LEGO also provides a special version of a line-by-line language called Python for programming robots.

General

• Programming Skills Quick Guide A PDF file with a series of brief guides on programming techniques with examples for both EV3 Lab and SPIKE Prime Word Blocks.
• Alternate Programming Languages For FLL A comparison table of the variety of languages that can be used to program FLL Challenge robots
• Programming a Robot from Anywhere in the World. Information on how a team can program their robot when they can't get together in person.

SPIKE Prime Software

SPIKE Prime Word Blocks (Scratch)

SPIKE Prime Icon

Sample Word Blocks program

The main programming language for SPIKE Prime is called Word Blocks, which is based on Scratch. LEGO Education provides an online introduction to the set and its software. The software app can be downloaded and installed before or after receiving the SPIKE Prime set.

• SPIKE Prime App Version 2 (2022 version)
• SPIKE Prime App Version 3 (latest version)
  • This new version of the app includes a variety of improvements but also reduces the number of choices for Movement blocks.
  • LEGO Education description of SPIKE Prime App Version 3
  • Youtube video about the changes in App Version 3
  • The current version of SPIKE App Version 3 will allow you to open projects saved using Spike App version 2 also known as Legacy.
    • When you open Word Block projects created using Version 2 they are automatically translated so that the program will work in Spike App 3.
    • To open a project created with Version 2
      • Click on File then Open.
      • In the File Name field type *.* to get it to display your Version 2 projects by showing each name followed by ".llsp".
      • You can then select and open one of your Version 2 projects.
    • Even though it will be translated to App 3 you may need to make some adjustments.
  • Slides showing how to convert Movement Blocks from App Version 2 to Version 3
  • If you upgrade to version 3 of the SPIKE Prime App, it will update your hub to new firmware that works with the new app.
  • If you decide to go back to version 2, you will need to change the firmware back to a version that works with App Version 2 of the App. See this link to downgrade your Hub firmware to the compatible version.
  • Lesson called "Guided Mission" that includes sample program for one of the 2023 MASTERPIECE missions

Slide Set for Coaches

Each year ORTOP holds workshops in the summer and early fall.

• Slides used in the workshops

Introductory Exercises for Coaches

• Introduction to SPIKE Prime Table of Contents
• 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

Season-Independent Lessons Using Small Printable Mat

One of the best ways for team members to learn how to program a LEGO robot is to have simple challenges with guidance on how they might solve those challenges. And, these challenges can performed on a 2x3 foot mat, allowing small groups or individuals to learn the skills they'll need for the annual challenge on the full-size mat. With this in mind, ORTOP has developed a set of simple lessons that feature such challenges that are backed up by short videos that give hints on how to solve the challenges. Follow this link to find out more.

Videos

Videos for team members on programming a SPIKE Prime Robot

Episode 1: Introducing Eva the parrot and Eaglet the baby LEGO eagle.

Episode 2: Eva arranges for Eaglet to get a ride home while we learn more about programming turns.

Episode 3: Eaglet finds his lost cat while we learn how to use the built-in gyro to control the robot's turns.

Episode 4: Eaglet brings his lost cat home while we learn how to program an attachment for retrieving cats.

Episode 5: Eaglet's Chariot robot learns how to drive in the middle of the road while we learn how to program a color sensor.

Episode 6: Chariot makes a better turn to Yellow the cat as we use our gyro programming skills.

Episode 7: Chariot stays in the middle of the road while we learn how to use a color sensor to follow the edge of a line.

Episode 8: Chariot uses a motor's built-in rotation sensor to measure distance while it uses line following to stay in the middle of the road.

Episode 9: Eaglet visits the Animal Shelter with the help of his Chariot robot programmed using a My Block.

Episode 10: Chariot delivers food to the Animal Shelter while we learn how to use a variable to count stripes to improve the robot's navigation. We also learn more about use My Blocks as well as how to display numbers on the top of the hub.

Videos for Coaches

• Geek Tutorials from LEGO Education
• Programming Using Scratch-based Languages
• Videos on SPIKE Prime Sensors
• See also link to line-following video and Play Lists below.

Information Specific to Particular Computers

• Backing Up or Restoring Project Files on a ChromeBook

External Resources

Software

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

Learning Resources

• List of Word Blocks from FIRST
• Lesson Plan Units from LEGO Education Units of Lessons featuring Word Blocks
  • Competition Ready
    • Training Camp 1 - Driving Around
    • Training Camp 2 - Playing with Objects
    • Training Camp 3 - Reacting to Lines
    • Guided Mission for 2023-24 FIRST LEGO League challenge
    • Material from FLL Tutorials relating to the Guided Mission
      • Code file with comments and relevant videos
      • Droid Bot M used in above
      • Video on making Guided Mission more reliable

• SPIKE Prime Lessons The PrimeLessons.org website with a variety of learning resources
• Unofficial SPIKE Prime Block Guide by PrimeLessons.org Descriptions of each block in the graphical Word Blocks Language.
• Backing Up Project Files Reduce the risk of losing your work by keeping backup copies.

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

GitHub Resources by ORTOP

• Python Lessons
• Python Code

External Resources

• Prime Lessons
• 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
• Code for controlling a pair of motors
• Advanced function descriptions

Mindstorms EV3 Software

Mindstorms EV3 Classroom (Scratch)

EV3 Classroom Logo

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 PCs with the 64-bit version of Windows 10, Chromebooks and Macs using 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.

Videos

• Programming Using Scratch-based Languages

External Resources

• EV3 Classroom software from LEGO Education Use this link to find EV3 Classroom for
  • Windows 10 computers (Version 1803 or newer)
  • Mac computers with macOS 10.14 (Mohave) or 10.15 (Catalina)
  • Chromebooks (Android 7.0 or newer)
  • Android tables (Android 7.0 or newer)
  • Fire tablets (Android 4.2 or newer)
  • iPads (iOS 11 or newer)
• To install the EV3 Classroom on a Chromebook use the Chromebook Play Store app and search for EV3 Classroom. If you get a "No app running" error when you start the software, go back to Play Store and search for Webview by Google and click on Update.
• Reference Document from LEGO Education
• Calculating rotations for EV3 movement
• Color Sensor Programming from EV3Lessons.com
• 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

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

Mindstorms EV3 Lab Software

EV3 Lab Icon

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 Previous version of EV3 Software. See EV3 Classroom above for the current software for EV3.

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