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EV3 Skills and a Guide to Competitive Robotics

4.8 Filled star Filled star Filled star Filled star Half star
Based on 6 ratings
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Anuj Krovvidi

Hello. Welcome to the Apera Robotics Course. This course is designed to take any student with varying degrees of experience in robotics from beginner to advanced robotics skills. While this course can be used for general robotics knowledge but some content in the course will be targeted towards skills that would be used in competitive robotics like FLL. Competitive Robotics is becoming increasingly more popular as technology takes a forefront in this generation. This course is meant for students who are ready to learn robotics or take steps to make their team more competitive. Included in the course are skills that will be very beneficial on any robotics team as well as FLL specific challenges that will help you build your knowledge and problem solving skills.

Read more

Hello. Welcome to the Apera Robotics Course. This course is designed to take any student with varying degrees of experience in robotics from beginner to advanced robotics skills. While this course can be used for general robotics knowledge but some content in the course will be targeted towards skills that would be used in competitive robotics like FLL. Competitive Robotics is becoming increasingly more popular as technology takes a forefront in this generation. This course is meant for students who are ready to learn robotics or take steps to make their team more competitive. Included in the course are skills that will be very beneficial on any robotics team as well as FLL specific challenges that will help you build your knowledge and problem solving skills.

In this course we will also explain the competitive robotics pipeline and include additional challenges for students to build their confidence.In this course we will cover:

Unit 1: An Introduction to Robotics and Ev3

Unit 2: Designing and Building your Ev3 Robot

Unit 3: Coding your Ev3 Robot

Unit 4: Exploring Sensors, Attachments and Actuators

Unit 5: Basic Challenges and Core FLL Skills

Unit 6: Advanced FLL Challenges and FLL tips and strategies

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Designing a suitable robot based on the challenges needs
  • Navigating and controlling robot functions on the ev3 brick
  • Using engineering skills to build a functional robot
  • Using the ev3 sensors and motors to their fullest extent
  • Understanding how to write pseudocode and how to implement it into real code
  • Navigating and utilizing a block coding environment

Syllabus

Introduction
Introduction to the Course and Robotics!
In this section you will be learning about Ev3 parts and includes a step by step explanation on building your Ev3 robot.
Read more

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Covers skills applicable to any robotics team, with specific challenges tailored for the FIRST LEGO League (FLL), which is a popular competitive robotics program
Explores the competitive robotics pipeline, which may help students understand the different stages and requirements involved in robotics competitions
Begins with an introduction to robotics and EV3, then progresses to designing, building, and coding robots, which may help students build a strong foundation
Teaches how to connect the EV3 brick to a computer and use the LEGO software, which is essential for programming and controlling the robot
Explores various actuators and sensors, such as touch, color, ultrasonic/infrared sensors, and medium motors, which are essential for building more advanced and autonomous robots
Uses the LEGO Mindstorms EV3, which was released in 2013 and may not be the latest robotics platform available for educational purposes

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Reviews summary

Ev3 skills for competitive robotics

According to learners, this course provides a fantastic start for those new to EV3 and competitive robotics, particularly focusing on FLL skills. Students praise the clear, step-by-step guides for building and coding a basic robot and find the content on sensors and attachments helpful. The hands-on projects and challenges are seen as practical and directly applicable. While many reviewers find it perfect for beginners, some note that it may be too basic for those with prior experience and express a desire for more advanced examples. A potential warning mentioned by one reviewer is that the software version shown in the course might be outdated, causing some compatibility issues.
May be too basic if you have experience.
"Basic information, nothing groundbreaking. Useful if you know absolutely nothing about EV3. Experienced users won't get much from it."
"Some parts felt a bit slow, but overall helpful for my FLL team. Could use more advanced programming examples."
"I wish there were more complex challenge examples."
"If you have some prior robotics knowledge, much of this course will be review."
Clear explanations on using sensors.
"Good overview, especially the sensor sections."
"The sensor explanations were particularly clear."
"The unit on exploring sensors, attachments and actuators was very useful."
Practical exercises for building and coding.
"The projects were hands-on and directly applicable to FLL challenges."
"A must-have for anyone starting FLL. The units build well on each other. Practical and engaging."
"The challenges were good practice and helped me apply what I learned."
Easy-to-follow steps for building and coding.
"Excellent step-by-step guide to building and coding the basic robot."
"The explanations were clear, even for a beginner."
"Clear, concise, and practical."
"I found the guides on building and coding the chassis very easy to follow."
Excellent starting point for EV3 and FLL.
"This course was fantastic for getting started with EV3 and competitive robotics. The projects were hands-on and directly applicable to FLL challenges."
"Excellent step-by-step guide to building and coding the basic robot. The focus on FLL skills is perfect."
"Perfect introduction to EV3 and FLL. Clear, concise, and practical. Highly recommend for young learners or coaches."
"It walks you through everything needed for a basic FLL robot."
Software version shown might be outdated.
"Outdated software version shown, caused some compatibility issues. The content is okay if you can work around that, but frustrating for newcomers."
"I had trouble following along due to the software interface being different from the current version."

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 Skills and a Guide to Competitive Robotics with these activities:
Review Basic Programming Concepts
Reinforce fundamental programming concepts like loops, conditionals, and variables to better understand EV3 block coding.
Show steps
  • Review online tutorials on basic programming concepts.
  • Complete practice exercises on coding websites.
  • Summarize key programming concepts in your own words.
Review 'LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 Discovery Book'
Deepen understanding of EV3 robotics through a comprehensive guide with step-by-step instructions and project ideas.
View The LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 Discovery Book: A... on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the book's introductory chapters on EV3 components.
  • Follow the building instructions for one of the example robots.
  • Experiment with modifying the robot's code.
Review 'Winning Design! LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 Design Patterns for Fun and Competition'
Learn advanced design patterns for building competitive robots, focusing on effective techniques and strategies for FLL challenges.
View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the book's sections on robot design principles.
  • Analyze the design patterns presented in the book.
  • Apply these patterns to improve your own robot designs.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create a Video Tutorial on Line Following
Solidify understanding of line following by creating a video tutorial explaining the concepts and demonstrating the code.
Show steps
  • Plan the structure and content of the video.
  • Record footage of an EV3 robot following a line.
  • Explain the code and logic behind line following.
  • Edit the video and add narration.
Design and Build a Robot Arm
Apply engineering design principles and EV3 programming skills to create a functional robot arm capable of performing specific tasks.
Show steps
  • Define the arm's purpose and required range of motion.
  • Design the arm's structure using LEGO Technic parts.
  • Build the arm and integrate EV3 motors for movement.
  • Program the arm to perform a sequence of actions.
Practice Maze Navigation Challenges
Improve robot navigation skills by repeatedly solving maze challenges with increasing complexity.
Show steps
  • Design a series of maze layouts with varying difficulty.
  • Program the EV3 robot to navigate each maze.
  • Analyze the robot's performance and refine the code.
Create a Resource Guide for FLL Challenges
Enhance problem-solving skills by compiling a resource guide with tips, strategies, and code examples for tackling FLL challenges.
Show steps
  • Research common FLL challenges and their solutions.
  • Gather relevant code snippets and design ideas.
  • Organize the information into a user-friendly guide.

Career center

Learners who complete EV3 Skills and a Guide to Competitive Robotics will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Mechatronics Engineer
Mechatronics engineers work at the intersection of mechanical, electrical, and software engineering, designing complex systems. This course introduces key concepts that a mechatronics engineer uses in their daily work. The course content, which focuses on integrating mechanical design, sensor technology, and programming skills, is directly applicable to mechatronic systems. This course is highly relevant because its focus on building and coding robots, specifically using motors, sensors, and software, helps build a foundation for the integration of these different disciplines, a core part of the work done by a mechatronics engineer. This course would be useful because it offers hands-on experience with the kind of technology that is used in mechatronics, which a person would not typically get just from learning about theory.
See salaries and explore the career path for Mechatronics Engineer
Robotics Engineer
A robotics engineer designs, develops, and tests robots for a variety of applications. This course can help an aspiring robotics engineer by providing a foundation in robot design, construction, and programming using the EV3 platform. The course's focus on using sensors, motors, and coding helps build a strong understanding of how to make robots functional. The challenges and problem-solving exercises included in the course further prepares a student to take on complex engineering problems that they will encounter as a robotics engineer. This course is especially useful because it provides hands-on experience with the kind of components and coding environments that are central to robotics projects. A student who takes this course will better understand the different steps in the design process, and they will be better able to implement their designs in software.
See salaries and explore the career path for Robotics Engineer
Robotics Technician
A robotics technician builds, maintains, and repairs robots, often in industrial settings. This course is a good introduction for this career because it covers many of the skills that a robotics technician uses. The course's focus on robot design, construction, and troubleshooting, along with practical exercises using the EV3 platform, provides useful hands-on experience. This course is especially useful for developing the core skills that are used in robotics work. By learning about robotics, motors, and sensors, a student can better troubleshoot problems and diagnose issues. Specifically, the sections on robot assembly, sensor integration, and the debugging of connection issues make this course extremely relevant for future robotic technicians.
See salaries and explore the career path for Robotics Technician
Automation Engineer
An automation engineer designs and implements automated systems, often used in manufacturing and logistics. A course like this is useful for understanding the core principles of automation. The course teaches the fundamentals of operating electromechanical systems, a crucial aspect of the work that an automation engineer does. This course is especially useful for those wanting a career in automation because it teaches students how to use block coding and also how to design systems that make use of sensors and actuators; these skills are highly applicable in a variety of automation applications. By learning to solve problems and building an understanding of different devices, a student can better approach the challenging problems they will encounter in their career.
See salaries and explore the career path for Automation Engineer
Embedded Systems Engineer
An embedded systems engineer designs the software and hardware that control a specific piece of equipment or a system. This course is especially useful for an embedded systems engineer because it gives students an understanding of how the embedded systems that are found in robots work. The process of designing and coding different robotic functions, and doing so in the context of problem-solving exercises, mirrors the types of work that an embedded systems engineer does. Therefore, taking this course will help a student be better at writing code and working with hardware, both of which are essential requirements of the work. A future embedded systems engineer should take this course because it teaches them the fundamentals of interacting with electromechanical systems through code.
See salaries and explore the career path for Embedded Systems Engineer
STEM Educator
A STEM educator teaches science, technology, engineering, and mathematics concepts, often in a school or informal setting. This course is useful for a STEM educator because it teaches robotics fundamentals that can be adapted into a curriculum. The course’s focus on hands-on activities, problem-solving, and block coding for the EV3 platform provides an engaging way to teach STEM concepts. This course would be helpful in particular because the curriculum includes well-structured lessons and exercises, which can be used as is or can be modified by an instructor. In addition, the course gives a prospective STEM educator experience in operating and coding robots, as well as a feel for the types of struggles that students might encounter.
See salaries and explore the career path for STEM Educator
Educational Technology Specialist
An educational technology specialist integrates technology into educational environments to enhance learning. A course like this can help because it provides a solid understanding of how to use the LEGO EV3 platform, which is a popular educational tool. This course introduces the basic principles of robotics, coding, and sensor integration, which are all relevant when teaching with robots. A student should take this course because it gives a practical understanding of how to design lessons that make robots a useful teaching tool. This course gives experience in working with a hands-on tool that is increasingly found in classrooms today, and it also gives the perspective of a student who must learn the material using that tool, both of which are helpful for an educational technology specialist.
See salaries and explore the career path for Educational Technology Specialist
Control Systems Engineer
A control systems engineer designs and implements control systems for various applications. This course may be useful for a control systems engineer because it introduces the feedback loops that are essential in all control systems. The course's focus on using sensors, actuators, and coding to control robots provides a foundation for understanding control systems. A student learns about the practical implementation of feedback mechanisms, since the course requires them to implement similar control structures in their coding projects. This hands-on experience can therefore be a good starting place for a future control systems engineer.
See salaries and explore the career path for Control Systems Engineer
Product Designer
A product designer researches, designs, and develops new products. This course may be helpful for a product designer because it teaches problem-solving and design principles. The course challenges students to design robots to meet specific objectives, forcing them to go through the various stages of a design process. This course provides experience in iterative design by requiring students to implement and test their designs. A student who completes this course will have hands-on experience with a simplified design lifecycle, which could be useful when trying to improve and refine product designs. By learning to solve problems, that person will be better at designing all kinds of products.
See salaries and explore the career path for Product Designer
Mechanical Engineer
A mechanical engineer designs, develops, and tests mechanical devices and systems. This course may be useful to a mechanical engineer in that it introduces the principles of mechanical design as they apply to robotics. The course’s focus on building functional robots can provide a hands-on understanding of how mechanical parts operate together. Because this course deals with motors, actuators, and sensors, it could be a good first step for someone aspiring to this role. A mechanical engineer may find that the problem-solving aspect of this course is useful in their professional work.
See salaries and explore the career path for Mechanical Engineer
Software Developer
A software developer writes the code that makes software applications work. This course may be useful for a software developer because it introduces basic concepts of coding and software design. The course's focus on block coding, conditional statements, and loops can help build a foundation in programming principles. This course teaches students the principles of designing and implementing code by challenging them to design autonomous robots. This practice can help improve general skills in problem-solving, which will be helpful for someone wanting to become a software developer.
See salaries and explore the career path for Software Developer
Project Manager
A project manager plans, organizes, and oversees projects to completion. While this course is not directly related to project management, it may provide some useful experience. The course requires a student to design a functional robot that meets a certain set of requirements, and it offers challenges that must be approached systematically. A project manager could use the design experience from this course to become better at understanding and managing projects, especially ones that are technical. However, this course is not focused on the day-to-day responsibilities of a project manager, but rather on a particular technical domain.
See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager
Industrial Designer
An industrial designer combines art and engineering to create designs for manufactured products. This course may help an industrial designer by introducing the kind of design process that an engineer might take. The course focuses on design considerations, implementation, and testing, which are all concepts that an industrial designer would encounter in their work. However, this course is not directly related to the day-to-day design work of an industrial designer, since it is primarily focused on robotics rather than the design of human-consumable products.
See salaries and explore the career path for Industrial Designer
Technical Writer
A technical writer creates documentation for technical products or processes. The course may be useful for a technical writer in that it introduces students to specific technical concepts, which they might not know already. While the course does not make anyone an expert, it may help to fill out the background knowledge of a technical writer. However, this course does not address the skills that a technical writer uses daily. There are better ways to learn to be a technical writer than taking this course, which only peripherally touches upon the role.
See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer
Research Scientist
A research scientist conducts scientific studies and experiments. This course may be useful for a research scientist by introducing the kind of design process that an engineer might take when designing an experiment. This course also gives students the opportunity to methodically solve a challenge by designing, building, testing, and implementing. While these steps are all common to the creation of an experiment, this course is not directly focused on scientific methodology or theory. Thus, this course would not be a good place to start for a prospective research scientist.
See salaries and explore the career path for Research Scientist

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 Skills and a Guide to Competitive Robotics.
Cover image
The LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 Discovery Book
Save
Provides a comprehensive guide to building and programming LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 robots. It covers basic to intermediate concepts, making it a valuable resource for students new to robotics. The book offers step-by-step instructions and clear explanations, complementing the course material and providing additional project ideas. It useful reference for expanding knowledge and skills in EV3 robotics.
The LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 Discovery Book: A...
Paperback
$$
The LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 Discovery Book: A...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Putting Knowledge to Work
Save
Focuses on design patterns for building competitive robots with LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3. It provides insights into effective building techniques and strategies for various challenges. It is particularly useful for students interested in competitive robotics, such as FLL. The book offers advanced concepts and practical examples, expanding on the course's coverage of robot design and construction.
Putting Knowledge to Work
Paperback
Check
Putting Knowledge to Work
Kindle Edition
Check

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Course image
Rating
4.8 Filled star Filled star Filled star Filled star Half star
Effort
2 total hours
Via
Udemy
Instructor
Anuj Krovvidi
Language
English
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Covers skills applicable to any robotics team, with specific challenges tailored for the FIRST LEGO League (FLL), which is a popular competitive robotics program
Explores the competitive robotics pipeline, which may help students understand the different stages and requirements involved in robotics competitions
Begins with an introduction to robotics and EV3, then progresses to designing, building, and coding robots, which may help students build a strong foundation
Teaches how to connect the EV3 brick to a computer and use the LEGO software, which is essential for programming and controlling the robot
Explores various actuators and sensors, such as touch, color, ultrasonic/infrared sensors, and medium motors, which are essential for building more advanced and autonomous robots
Uses the LEGO Mindstorms EV3, which was released in 2013 and may not be the latest robotics platform available for educational purposes
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