Introduction to the EV3 Brick and Software
By Sanjay and Arvind Seshan
BEGINNER PROGRAMMING LESSON
LESSON OBJECTIVES
1. Learn how the EV3 brick operates
2. Learn about the main components of the EV3 software
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THE “BRICK” BUTTONS
1 = Back
Undo
Stop Program
Turn robot off
2 = Center Button
Select options 1
3
Run Program
Turn robot on 3 2 3
3 = L, R, Up, Down 3
Navigate menus
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THE “BRICK” SCREEN
Tabs on Screen
1. Run Recent
1 2 3 4 Find programs you ran recently
2. File Navigation
Find all programs by project
3. Brick Apps
Port views
4. Settings
Bluetooth, Wifi, Volume
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PORTS, SENSORS, MOTORS
Ports A, B, C, D = Motors
Default setup assumes Right
Motor in C, Left Motor in B
B
Default
Front
setup
C
Ports 1, 2, 3, 4 = Sensors 5
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EV3 SOFTWARE
Open Saved Project
Open New Project
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EV3 SOFTWARE: STARTING A
NEW PROGRAM Create a Project
Opened Programs
Opened
Projects Create a Program
Project Properties
List of programs
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PROJECTS VS. PROGRAMS
• You will start by creating a PROJECT which has a .ev3 extension. You
change the name of a project by using the Save Project As option from the
File menu.
• You will write many PROGRAMS as part of each PROJECT file. You change
the name of a program within a project by doubling clicking on the program’s
tab and typing in a new name.
• Note: If there is an * next to the project name, you have made changes to
the project and you have not yet saved yet.
• There is a “x” next to project and program names. Clicking on it simply
closes the file (it does not get deleted).
Here are some common file extensions in the EV3:
• Programs (.ev3p)
• Images (.rgf)
• Sounds (.rsf)
• Text (.rtf)
• Projects (.ev3) – the only type of file you can open with the EV3 software
• Import file (.ev3s) – can be imported by an EV3 project
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EV3 SOFTWARE:
PROGRAMMING SCREEN
Programming
Area or
The Communication
Canvas Pane
Connection status
Download programs ready to be run
Download/play programs instantly
Download a section of a program to
run
Intelligent EV3 Brick status: name and
battery level, etc.
Port status and sensor readings
Type of connection between the EV3
Programming Blocks in
Brick and the computer (BT, Wi-Fi, or Brick Status &
USB)
6 Colored Tabs Downloading
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USEFUL ICONS
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1. List Programs in Project: List of all programs in the project
2. Select: The cursor looks like an arrow and you can pick specific blocks
or areas of the screen
3. Pan: The cursor looks like a hand. When you click and move the
mouse, you can move through the program when it goes beyond one
screen.
4. Comments: Click on this icon to create the comment box
5. Save Project: Save the current version of your project
6. Undo and Redo: Undo or redo the last actions
7. Zoom Out, Zoom In, and Reset Zoom: Use to decrease, increase or
reset the magnification
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EV3 BLOCKS: COLORED TABS
ACTION BLOCKS FLOW BLOCKS SENSOR BLOCKS
Move, Large & Medium Start, Wait, Loop, Brick Buttons, Gyro,
Motor, Display… 1 Switch, Loop Interrupt 2 Color, Ultrasonic 3
1 2 3 4 5 6
DATA OPERATIONS ADVANCED BLOCKS MY BLOCKS
Variables, Array, Logic, Data Logging, Custom Blocks you
Math, Compare… 4 Unregulated Motor… 5 create 6
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CREDITS
Author: Sanjay and Arvind Seshan
More lessons are available at www.ev3lessons.com
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-
NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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