EV3 Python

Nigel WARD

This is a course on programming the Lego EV3 robot (either the home or education version) with EV3 Python. This course does not teach the basics of Python, so you should be familiar with basic Python before taking this course.

Hello, I'm Nigel Ward. I've taught computer science and physics in many of the world's top international schools but recently I've been focused on helping people learn how to program the world's most popular pedagogical robot, the Lego EV3, with the world's most taught textual programming language, Python.

So, should you take this course?

You should not take this course if you don't have access to a Lego EV3 robot, of course.

You should not take this course if you want to make lots of cool-looking Lego robots because this course is about programming, not about building many different robots. Using variations on a standard design, the official Lego Education Vehicle is also a deliberate choice to make it possible for this course to be used in schools, where teachers don't have the time or pedagogical justification to have kids making many different models.

You should not take this course if you don't already have some knowledge of the basics of the Python programming language. This course will NOT teach you the basics of Python, and learning the basics of Python by learning how to program robots would make no sense because the special commands used to control robots are not basic Python commands. There are many ways to learn the basics of Python, including some good courses right here on Udemy.

You should not take this course if you are looking for some version of EV3 Python other than the one based on the ev3dev operating system and Python version 3. In particular, this course is not about the EV3 Python variant known as EV3 MicroPython.

You SHOULD consider taking this course if you like working with the Lego EV3 robot but want to program it with a more powerful, more standard programming language than the standard Lego one, sometimes called EV3-G. In fact the standard Lego programming language isn't really a language at all – it's a set of icons that you configure and connect together – this is very different to the textual programming languages used by professional programmers. In this course you will learn how to program the EV3 with the Python programming language, the most taught textual programming language in the world. This course won't teach you the basics of Python, but it will give you plenty of practice in working with basic Python concepts, and at the same time you will be learning about robots, which is really important given that robots and artificial intelligence are going to have a huge impact on human society in the coming decades. Billions of jobs are going to be partially or completely automated, and you should do all you can to prepare for the coming changes and to boost your chances of getting a job in one of the few fields that are likely to grow. Anything that deepens your knowledge of Python and robots increases your chances of getting a well-paid job. Python programmers are generally very well paid – in the US, for example, the average salary of Python programmers is well over 100 thousand dollars per year, equivalent to more than 4 million dollars over a whole career. With those kind of figures in mind, ask yourself whether it's reasonable to worry about the cost of taking this course, and don't forget also that Udemy has a money-back guarantee if you're not satisfied.

Working with robots, even a robot as modest as the Lego EV3, also increases your chances of getting a job working with robots, of course, and is one job area that is likely to grow quickly while others are automated out of existence in the coming years. Even if you don't work with robots, understanding how they work will make you feel more comfortable in a world where they will strongly impact our lives.

Wait a moment, did I just describe the EV3 robot as 'modest'? It's actually quite expensive compared to many other small robots out there. OK, so you're paying for Lego quality, reliability and modularity, but you're also paying a lot for something else: the possibility of programming your robot with many different programming languages. The EV3 can do that because at its heart is the so-called 'intelligent brick' a proper little Linux computer. When you buy an EV3 kit with more than 600 pieces there is one piece that costs more than all the other pieces combined – it's the intelligent brick. So if you spend all that money to have the possibility of programming in multiple languages and then only ever use the quirky Lego software then I'm afraid, my friend, that you may have wasted quite a lot of money.

Speaking of buying an EV3 kit, there are two types of kit out there: the retail (home) version, and the education version. Although the kits are rather different, this course is designed to be compatible with both types of kit. Due to differences between the two kits there are a couple of exercises that can only be completed with a specific kit, but the vast majority of the exercises can be completed with either kit.

As I said, the EV3 intelligent brick can be programmed in many different languages, but the fact that you're reading this indicates that you've already figured out that Python is the best choice among the many textual programming languages out there. It's become the most-taught textual programming languages in the world thanks to its combination of power, simple syntax and conciseness. In fact many experts now consider Python to be the world's most popular programming language.

This course is cheap compared to the cost of an EV3 and compared to the boost that Python and robotic skills can give to your career prospects. Could you get the information in this course elsewhere? Some of it, no doubt, but this course is built around a new and very simple way of programming the EV3 with Python, so you won't find much out there to compete with this course. This course is based on programming with a free, open source, multi platform code editor called Microsoft Visual Studio Code, or simply VS Code. VS Code is compatible with Windows, MacOS and Linux. Recently an extension was released for VS Code that makes it very easy to write and run Python scripts for the EV3. How easy? As easy as 1, 2, 3. Once everything is set up, all you need to do is:

Write your Python script
Save it
Run it by pressing the F5 key (or by running it directly on the EV3, of course)

To summarize, here are some of the things you can expect to learn on this course:

Not only will you learn how to use your EV3 with a different and much more serious programming language but you will learn about many new functions are not available in the standard Lego software, such as speech synthesis and vastly improved handling of variables and text.
You'll get familiar with Visual Studio Code, a great multi-platform code editor used by many professional coders
You'll learn how to install Visual Studio Code on your computer and how to install extensions
How to usefully modify the VS Code settings
How to flash an alternate EV3 operating system (EV3dev) to an SD card
How to download all the official Lego sounds and images to the SD card so that they can be used by your EV3 Python scripts.
How to write code to interact with EV3 motors, sensors, buttons, display and speaker.
How to assemble the official Educator Vehicle (education set) or a similar vehicle (home set).
How to assemble a drawbot/writerbot.
Even if you don't plan to become a professional coder, learning to program will sharpen your thinking skills – coding does not forgive sloppy thinking.
You will learn (the hard way. ) that when robots operate outside carefully controlled factory settings and in the messiness of the real world their behavior tends to be somewhat approximate and unpredictable, unlike the perfectly predictable, perfectly accurate behaviors of programs that only output to a screen.
Learning about robots is vital, of course, in a world where robots and artificial intelligence are set to have a huge impact on human society over the coming decades. Maybe you'll never be a professional robot programmer but knowing how robots are programmed may make you feel more comfortable about the prospect of sharing your world with them.
Perhaps most important of all, you'll get lots of practice studying and modifying Python scripts, and thus deepening your knowledge of Python. A good knowledge of Python is extremely valuable in the workplace – remember how I said that in the US Python coders make more than 100 thousand dollars a year, on average?

So join now and boost your valuable Python skills while at the same time having find with your Lego EV3 robot.

There are about 20 videos altogether, with a total duration of about 5 hours. High quality subtitles are available for every video. The essentials of EV3 Python programming are explained in parts 1 and 2 (two hours) and parts 3 and 4 mainly give practice and examples. As such, parts 3 and 4 are optional.

In addition to the videos, this course includes:

A ZIP file with most of the Python scripts that are discussed during the course.
A PDF document (about 100 pages) which is essentially the script of the various videos.
Build instructions for the home version of the Education Vehicle and a link to build instructions for the education version of the Education Vehicle.
Build instructions for a bumper attachment.
Build instructions for a drawing and writing robot that is the subject of parts 3 and 4 of this course.

Table of Contents

Introduction (3 minutes)

Part 1: Setting up

1A (9 minutes) Set up the EV3
1B (5 minutes) Connect the EV3 to the computer
1C (23 minutes) Install VS Code and the two needed extensions, configure, and connect to EV3

Part 2: The Components

2A (24 minutes) Motors
2B (30 minutes) The Intelligent Brick (display, buttons, LEDs and speaker)
2C (19 minutes) Sensors

Part 3: Putting the pieces together (43 minutes)

3A (3 minutes) Collide, back up, turn and continue
3B (2 minutes) Line follower
3C (7 minutes) Wall follower
3D (9 minutes) Steer with light
3E (2 minutes) Follow an object
3F (3 minutes) Follow a beacon (only for home model)
3G (5 minutes) Program with colors
3H (9 minutes) Self-parking
3I (3 minutes) Beware of steep slopes (only for education model

Part 4: Make a drawbot and a writerbot

4A Drawbot part 1 (38 minutes, with the option of skipping the final 15 minutes which is a mathematical derivation)
4B Drawbot part 2 (22 minutes)
4C Writerbot part 1 (33 minutes) Write a script that can write characters that do not contain arcs.
4D Writerbot part 2 (22 minutes) Modify the script so that it can also write characters that contain arcs

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What's inside

Learning objective

Program the lego ev3 robot using the python programming language.

Syllabus

This is a brief summary of the trailer video. It presents the structure of the course and the general concepts.

In this short introductory video I summarize the ideas that were presented in the trailer video. This course teaches shows you how to get started programming the Lego EV3 robot using EV3dev Python. It does not teach you the basics of Python which you should have acquired elsewhere before starting this course.

First you need to download an image file containing EV3 Python and the ev3dev operating system, a modified version of the Linux Debian Stretch operating system. Then you need to 'flash' that image to an SD card with a utility such as Etcher which is free to download. When you put the card in the EV3 and boot up the EV3 you will meet the Brickman interface that allows you to establish a connection between the EV3 and the computer, run Python files and do much more. Running EV3 Python on the SD card has the huge advantage that the firmware on the brick is not modified in any way so any time you want to return to the traditional icon-based EV3 programming environment all you have to do is turn off the EV3, remove the card and reboot.

This course is based on the use of a free, multi-platform code editor called Microsoft Visual Studio Code (VS Code) which is relatively easy to use but nevertheless popular with professional coders for all but the most complex tasks. VS Code is free to download for Windows, MacOS and Linux. This course shows you how to install the two needed extensions (Python and the EV3 Device Browser extension) and configure VS Code so that EV3 Python files can be run simply by pressing the F5 key.

The twenty or so videos that make up the bulk of this course are in four parts:

In part 1, we set up the EV3 and the computer and establish a connection between them.
In part 2, we learn the essential code that allows us to interact with the EV3 motors, sensors, display, buttons, LEDs and speaker.
In part 3, we develop some slightly more complex EV3 Python scripts, each making use of more than one of the just-mentioned components.
In part 4, we develop some significantly more complex scripts as we make a drawing/writing robot, for which building plans are provided. Since you will have learnt the essential commands for interacting with the EV3 by the end of part 2, you could consider the last two parts as optional but I encourage you to work through them because they will deepen your Python skills and because… you paid for them!

The resources attached to this lesson include:

a PDF document of about 100 pages which is essentially the script of all the videos
a ZIP file with most of the EV3 Python scripts used in this course and the code that needs to be copied into VS Code's user settings file
a troubleshooting document in PDF format

This lecture is the table of contents of the roughly twenty videos, both as an overview and in detail. The PDF resource is the same but also contains listings of the scripts that are included in the ZIP file resource that accompanies this course and information on where to find the build instructions for the education vehicle base, a bumper attachment for that model, and the drawbot/writerbot. In every case build instructions for both the home (retail) version and the education version of the EV3 are included.

Set up the EV3 and install Microsoft Visual Studio Code (a code editor) on the PC. Establish a connection from VS Code to the EV3.

In this video I first indicate where to find build instructions for the 'Education Vehicle' model (also called the Robot Educator or Driving Base). This is an official Lego model that is the basis for the most of the exercises included with the education version of the EV3 software. Instructions for building that model with the education version of the EV3 can be found here:

· education.lego.com/en-us/support/mindstorms-ev3/building-instructions#robot

· robotsquare.com/2013/10/01/education-ev3-45544-instruction/

Instructions for building a similar model with the home (retail) version of the EV3 kit are attached to this lecture as a downloadable resource. The home and education versions differ significantly in the size of the main wheels and the rear wheel mechanism. Also, the selection of sensors that is included with each version of the EV3 kit is not the same, and this means that a small number of exercises can be attempted with only one version of the Educator Vehicle.

Once you have built the Education Vehicle model, this video will guide you through the steps of setting up the EV3 robot for use with EV3 Python:

1. Obtain a suitable microSD memory card.

2. Download the latest Linux Debian Stretch ev3dev image.

3. Download and install Etcher, a free utility that will allow you to flash the ev3dev image to the microSD card.

4. Use Etcher to flash the image to the card.

5. Insert the card into the SD slot on the EV3, turn on the EV3 and explore the Brickman interface

In this video you will learn how to establish a connection between the EV3 and the computer, which can be via USB, Bluetooth, WiFi or Ethernet.

In this video you'll learn how to install VS Code and the two needed extensions, how to configure VS Code, and how to establish a connection between VS Code and the EV3. Here are the main steps:

1. Download and install Microsoft Visual Studio Code (VS Code). This is a free multi-platform code editor, compatible with Windows, Mac OS and Linux.

2. Start VS Code and install the two extensions that we need.

3. Configure VS Code. Note that at one point you will copy code and paste from a file that is included in the introductory lecture as a downloadable resource.

4. Write and run some non-EV3 Python scripts.

5. Connect VS Code to your EV3.

6. Open the starter project folder in VS Code and run the starter script.

Learn how to write code to interact withe the EV3's motors, sensors, display, buttons, LEDs and speaker

In this lecture you'll learn the basic EV3 Python commands for controlling the standard EV3 large and medium motors. Not only does EV3 Python have commands for controlling individual motors but also for pairs of motors, typically used to propel a mobile robot such as the Education Vehicle. These commands are equivalent to the Move Steering and Move Tank commands of the traditional icon-based programming system, so if you are familiar with those then you will have little difficulty learning the EV3 Python equivalents. Sample scripts are included on the ZIP file that accompanies the introductory lesson as a downloadable resource.

In this section you'll learn how to use EV3 Python to interact with the brick's LEDs, screen, sound and buttons. EV3 Python has much more powerful text handling and graphics capabilities than the icon-based system, so learning to use EV3 Python to control the display is something of a challenge. EV3 Python also has speech synthesis, an extremely useful feature that is not available in the traditional icon-based system. Not only that, but's very easy to use! It can be very helpful for prompting users to take certain actions while a script is running, especially since the EV3 display is small and dim and thus does a poor job at this. You will also learn how to display a BMP image on the display or play a WAV sound, where to download suitable sound and image files and how to download them to the brick.

This lesson explains how to use all the sensors that come with either the home or education version of the EV3 kit. Don't forget that the ultrasonic and gyro sensors are included only with the education version and the infrared sensor (and the infrared remote control/beacon) is included only with the home kit. These sensors are available for purchase as optional extras. As far as possible, I propose similar scripts for the ultrasonic and infrared sensors, both of which are capable of measuring the proximity of objects (the ultrasonic sensor is capable of far greater accuracy).

Note that EV3 Python is compatible not only with all the EV3 sensors but also with the older NXT sensors except that the NXT light sensor cannot be used to detect colors. EV3 Python is also compatible with many non-Lego sensors but that is not discussed here for this course only covers what can be achieved with standard EV3 kit.

3: Putting the pieces together

This is the first of a number of lectures that present slightly more complex scripts that make use of multiple components. In this exercise, for example, we interact with the touch sensor and the motors to control the robot which advances until it hits an obstacle, then back up while turning, then continues on its way.

Using the color sensor to make the robot follow one edge of a black line is a classic challenge.

In this exercise you will learn how to make the robot follow a straight wall a a roughly constant distance, making use of either the ultrasonic sensor or the infrared sensor, according to which version of the EV3 kit you own. We improve the first script by introducing the concept of proportionality. We also think about how to deal with corners on the wall and even to solving mazes, though these challenges are not addressed in full.

It's a fun challenge to try to steer the robot using nothing more than the brightness of a flashlight that is held at varying distances above the robot. Hold the flash light close to the robot so that it detects a bright light and the robot will turn right. Hold the flashlight far away and it will turn left. Easy to understand, code and build, but surprisingly different to control!

In this lesson we also learn how to calibrate the sensor. We calibrate the color sensor so that the robot knows what it the dimmest and brightest light that it should expect.

In this lesson you will learn how to make the robot follow an object at a respectful distance, using either the ultrasonic or infrared sensor. This reminds me of a duckling following its mum!

The infrared sensor and beacon are included in the home version of the EV3 kit but not the education version so this exercise can only be attempted by owners of the home kit. It is similar to the previous exercise but takes advantage of the infrared sensor's ability to detect a rough bearing (direction) of the beacon to cause the robot to turn while it follows the beacon.

It's nice to be able to give the robot instructions after the program has been launched, and one way of doing that is to show a sequence of colors to the color sensor. We'll associate each color with a certain movement that we want the robot to execute. We'll store the colors in a list (called an 'array' in the traditional icon-based programming system) so this exercise will give us practice working with lists.

We hear a lot about self-driving robotic cars and no doubt they will outnumber human-driven cars within a couple of decades. We can expect that as soon as it becomes clear that self-driving cars are much safer than human-driven cars it will be made illegal for humans to drive any more on public roads. Anyway, to be comfortable with technology we need to be familiar with it and understand it, so let's see whether we can make a simple self-parking vehicle. We'll set our vehicle moving in a straight line parallel to a 'line of cars' (actually just a straight wall) and our script will try to detect a break in the line of cars that is long enough and wide enough for our vehicle to be able to park, and then our vehicle will reverse neatly into the space, or so we hope.

We'll use a sideways-pointing ultrasound or infrared sensor to detect spaces in the 'line of cars'. The infrared sensor is much less precise than the ultrasonic sensor for measuring distances so we can't expect that to work so well.

The gyro sensor is included in the education version of the EV3 kit but not the home version so this exercise can only be attempted by owners of the education kit. The gyro monitor is used to monitor the steepness of the terrain over which the robot is moving. If the terrain becomes dangerously steep then the robot will play an alert sound and back up a little.

Learn to build a drawing/writing robot and write code for it.

It would be neat to be able to make drawings with the EV3! Making drawings gives a tangible product, gives lots of potential for writing different programs and lots of scope for creativity. Good results have already been achieved by making the drawing with an arm that is attached to a fixed base since that stops the robot from wandering away from its intended location. But that severely limits the drawing to be a small size. Making a drawing with a robot that is free to move removes the size limit on drawings but also make it difficult to get a satisfactory result due to the robot's tendency to wander away from its intended position. We could try to use a sensor of some kind to limit the accumulation of errors in the robot's motions but that would complicate the code and we have to remember that the home and education kits do not contain the same set of sensors. So let's try to make a drawbot that does not use sensors - perhaps with careful coding we can get satisfactory results for drawings that are not too complex?

The code for this project is significantly more sophisticated than the code that we have seen previously - this project is designed to give a sense of what a real coding project might feel like.

Building plans for the drawbot are attached to this lesson for both the home and education kits. The design considerations for the two models are rather different and this leads to the two models having very different appearances.

To complete this project you will need to obtain a white board marker with a diameter of not more than 1.8 cm. The marker should preferably have a 'bullet tip' rather than a 'chisel tip'. A pencil or ball-point pen would not be suitable. You also need to obtain a couple of small elastic bands.

The last 15 minutes of this video is a mathematical derivation which you can skip if you wish. If you choose to work through the derivation then it makes more sense to do that using the PDF document than the video so that you can work at your own pace.

This is the second and final video in the drawbot project.

In this project we will make a writing robot or ‘writerbot’ using the same model that we used as a drawbot. Even if we limit ourselves to capital letters and digits (0-9) only, that's 36 characters, so this is quite an ambitious project! It could also lead to a very long script so in part 1 we will limit ourselves to writing characters that consist only of straight lines. So that errors do not accumulate too much, we should not try to write strings of more than about 5 characters. You can change the target string in the code to make the writerbot write whatever short word you want, except that in part 1 you are limited to characters made up of only straight lines (in the video I write the word 'ALIKE').

This is the second and final video in the writerbot project. We extend the writerbot code to enable it to also write characters that contain arcs.

This video also includes a conclusion in which we review the many skills you have learnt in this course!

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides hands-on experience with the Lego EV3 robot, allowing learners to apply their Python skills in a tangible and engaging way, which is great for solidifying knowledge

Uses Visual Studio Code, a popular code editor among professional developers, which allows learners to gain familiarity with industry-standard tools and practices, and prepares them for real-world coding

Requires learners to have access to a Lego EV3 robot, which may be an additional cost or barrier to entry for some students, so learners should consider this before enrolling

Focuses on programming rather than building, which may not appeal to learners primarily interested in Lego construction, but is ideal for those seeking to develop coding skills

Emphasizes the use of EV3 Python based on the ev3dev operating system and Python 3, so learners should ensure compatibility with their existing setup and preferences, as other versions are not covered

Explores the use of speech synthesis and improved handling of variables and text, which are new functions not available in the standard Lego software, expanding the capabilities of the EV3 robot

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in EV3 Python with these activities:

Review Basic Python Syntax

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Reinforce your understanding of fundamental Python concepts before diving into EV3-specific applications.

Browse courses on Python Syntax

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Review data types, loops, and functions.
Practice writing simple Python scripts.
Complete online Python tutorials.

Review: "Python Crash Course, 2nd Edition: A Hands-On, Project-Based Introduction to Programming"

Show steps

Solidify your Python foundation with a comprehensive guide that covers essential concepts and project-based learning.

View Python Crash Course, 2nd Edition: A Hands-On,... on Amazon

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Read the chapters on basic Python syntax.
Complete the exercises at the end of each chapter.
Work through one of the project examples.

Follow EV3 Python Setup Tutorials

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Familiarize yourself with the specific setup and configuration required for EV3 Python development.

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Find tutorials on setting up ev3dev.
Install the necessary software and libraries.
Test the connection between your computer and EV3.

Five other activities

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Show all eight activities

Motor Control Exercises

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Master motor control by practicing basic movements and maneuvers with the EV3 robot.

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Write code to make the robot move forward and backward.
Implement turning and steering functions.
Experiment with different motor speeds and durations.

Document Sensor Experiments

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Deepen your understanding of sensor usage by documenting your experiments and findings.

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Choose a sensor to experiment with.
Write code to read data from the sensor.
Record your observations and results.
Create a report summarizing your findings.

Line Following Robot Project

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Apply your knowledge to build a line-following robot, integrating motor control and sensor input.

Show steps

Build the basic robot chassis.
Connect the color sensor and motors.
Write code to follow a line.
Tune the parameters for optimal performance.

Contribute to ev3dev Documentation

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Enhance your understanding of ev3dev by contributing to its documentation.

Show steps

Explore the ev3dev documentation.
Identify areas for improvement or expansion.
Submit a pull request with your changes.

Review: "Building Smart LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 Robots"

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Explore advanced robotics concepts and building techniques to enhance your EV3 Python programming skills.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

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Read the chapters on robot design and construction.
Adapt the code examples to EV3 Python.
Build one of the advanced robot projects.

Career center

Learners who complete EV3 Python will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Robotics Engineer

A Robotics Engineer designs, develops, and tests robots and robotic systems. This role often involves programming robots to perform specific tasks, and this course will help one develop those essential skills. This course focuses on programming the Lego EV3 robot with Python, which helps one become familiar with the process of programming robots. The course uses a popular and versatile programming language, Python, which is often used in the robotics industry. The course also gives students practical experience with robotics principles, making them better prepared to work with real-world robotic systems. The hands-on nature of this course, along with the use of sensors and motors, provides a great way of learning about robotics. Those interested in becoming a Robotics Engineer should consider this course.

See salaries and explore the career path for Robotics Engineer

Automation Engineer

Automation Engineers design and implement automated systems, which often include robots. This course helps build a foundation for this career by teaching Python programming skills with the Lego EV3 robot. This course focuses on programming, giving learners experience with Python, a common language in the automation field. This course also provides practical experience with controlling robots which is necessary for an Automation Engineer. By learning to program the EV3 robot to perform a variety of tasks, one will gain an understanding of the basic principles of automation and robotics. This knowledge will help give one a better chance at becoming an Automation Engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Automation Engineer

Embedded Systems Engineer

An Embedded Systems Engineer designs and develops the hardware and software used in embedded systems, such as robots. This course provides an ideal starting point, giving learners a practical introduction to programming embedded systems. This course focuses on the practicalities of controlling a robot with Python and the ev3dev operating system. It also provides hands-on experience working with motors, sensors, and other components of embedded systems. The course also offers the experience of flashing an alternate operating system. The experience programming the Lego EV3 robot will help one gain essential skills to work as an Embedded Systems Engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Embedded Systems Engineer

Computer Science Instructor

A Computer Science Instructor teaches computer science principles. This course is relevant for those who want to use robots in the classroom. This course teaches learners how to program the Lego EV3 robot using Python. It is a great course for those wanting to use educational robotics. The course is designed to work with both the home and educational versions and is designed to be used in schools. The course also emphasizes the use of Visual Studio Code, which is a popular code editor used by professionals. This course would help someone who desires to introduce their students to robotics and programming.

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Mechatronics Engineer

Mechatronics Engineers work on integrated mechanical and electronic systems, which includes robots. This course helps in the planning for this role as it offers practice with the integration of hardware and software. The course provides an opportunity to write and run Python scripts to control motors and sensors which are common components in mechatronic systems. By completing the drawbot and writerbot projects as part of this course, one will gain a better understanding of the integration of hardware and software which is critical for a mechatronics engineer. This course is a good first step to becoming a Mechatronics Engineer.

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Control Systems Engineer

A Control Systems Engineer designs and manages systems that control the behavior of dynamic systems, such as robots. This course may help learners to progress in this role as it provides experience programming the Lego EV3 robot. The course involves coding in Python which is a standard programming language to carry out control operations. By working with sensors and motors, one can gain a deeper understanding of the principles of control systems. The practical projects of this course, such as the line follower and wall follower, help give learners a practical introduction to the subject. This experience will be helpful for someone wishing to become a Control Systems Engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Control Systems Engineer

Software Engineer

Software Engineers develop and maintain software applications. This course may be useful for those who wish to enter this field because it provides learners with Python programming experience. While this course focuses on robot programming, it helps one develop problem-solving and coding skills that are transferable to many software engineering tasks. This course also introduces one to using Visual Studio Code, a code editor used by many professional coders. The course offers practice in writing, saving, and running scripts. All these skills will help one become a Software Engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Research Scientist

A Research Scientist studies all kinds of topics including robotics and artificial intelligence. This course may be useful for those interested in this career as it introduces them to some of the concepts in a hands-on way. This course gives learners the opportunity to program a robot using Python which is a common language in this field. The course also offers experience in using sensors and motors to carry out different tasks. The course also provides the opportunity to learn the limitations of real-world robotic systems. For those looking to learn about robots, and perhaps later conduct research, this course may be a good choice.

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Curriculum Developer

A Curriculum Developer creates educational materials. This course may be helpful for this career as it introduces a novel approach to teaching robotics through programming. This course teaches how to program the Lego EV3 robot with Python. This is a practical and hands-on approach that uses a standard language. This course emphasizes the use of the free, open-source, multi-platform code editor Microsoft Visual Studio Code. This course would be useful to someone who plans to develop curriculum materials based on educational robotics.

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Data Scientist

A Data Scientist analyzes data to find patterns and insights. This course may be useful due to the Python programming element of the course. Python is an important language in data science. This course does not focus on data science, but it does focus on writing Python scripts and working with basic Python concepts. This course provides practical experience with the kinds of data processing needed to work with sensors and motors. The course gives exposure to Visual Studio Code, a code editor. This knowledge may be of help to someone seeking a career as a Data Scientist.

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Technology Consultant

Technology Consultants advise organizations on how to use technology to improve performance. This course may be helpful for this career by introducing the concepts of robotics and programming. The course explores robotics, and gives learners hands-on experience with programming robots using Python. The projects covered in this course may be of interest to organizations who need to develop robotics solutions. The course also uses a popular code editor, Visual Studio Code. These are practical skills that may be of interest to a Technology Consultant advising clients about technology solutions. For those looking to learn about robotics from a practical point of view, this course may be beneficial.

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Project Manager

Project Managers plan and oversee projects. This course may be helpful as it introduces aspects of technology and project implementation. This course involves using a software development environment, and completing a project with a robot. It requires problem-solving and technical skills, and is focused on completing specific projects with a robot. This helps one develop skills in planning, executing, and delivering results, skills which are needed by a Project Manager. This course could provide a solid foundation for those interested in managing technology-based projects.

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Technical Writer

A Technical Writer creates documentation for technical products or services. This course may be useful as it introduces detailed technical skills. This course offers an introduction to programming the Lego EV3 robot with Python. The course also provides build instructions for robotic models. The course also addresses how to install and configure specific software. By taking this course, a Technical Writer will be able to better describe and explain similar technical subjects. This course may be of value to someone looking to work as a Technical Writer.

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Systems Analyst

A Systems Analyst analyzes computer systems and recommends ways to improve them. This course may be helpful as it introduces software and hardware components of robotic systems. This course gives learners practical experience in how software and hardware interact. It also provides an introduction to programming the Lego EV3 robot using Python. A Systems Analyst would better understand the interplay of hardware and software through the course exercises. This course may be useful for someone who desires to work as a Systems Analyst.

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Hardware Engineer

A Hardware Engineer designs, develops, and tests computer hardware and other physical devices. This course may be helpful, as it introduces the hardware components in robotic systems. This course teaches the use of sensors and motors in conjunction with programming in Python. The course also provides build instructions for several robotic models. While the focus is not on hardware design, the course gives a practical understanding of hardware implementation. Therefore, this course may be an introduction to hardware for those looking to work as a Hardware Engineer.

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Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in EV3 Python.

Putting Knowledge to Work

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Focuses on building and programming advanced robots with the LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3. It provides detailed instructions and code examples for various projects. While it uses the standard LEGO programming environment, the concepts and building techniques are transferable to EV3 Python. It's a great resource for expanding your robotics knowledge and exploring more complex projects.

Putting Knowledge to Work

Paperback

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Putting Knowledge to Work

Kindle Edition

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Python Crash Course, 2nd Edition

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Provides a solid foundation in Python programming. It's particularly useful for those who need a refresher on Python basics before tackling EV3 Python. The project-based approach helps solidify understanding through practical application. While not specific to robotics, it builds essential Python skills.

Python Crash Course, 2nd Edition: A Hands-On,...

Paperback

Python Crash Course, 2nd Edition: A Hands-On,...

Kindle Edition

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