Video tutorials

Let's explain the problem of just waiting for the Gyro sensor to detect an angle and think of why the robotics systems work like that.

The motor’s contacts are connected by a wire that is wrapped in a special way. When electricity flows through the wire, it creates a magnetic field that makes the shaft spin. The direction the shaft spins depends on which way the electricity flows. If you switch the wires, the shaft will just spin the other way, and nothing bad will happen. The plus (+) and minus (–) marks on the motor only show which way to connect it if you want the shaft to spin in a certain direction.

Sometimes robot builders are so overwhelmed with the process of constructing a robot that they forget two very important parts. The brick should be accessible and the cables should not get in the way. These are referred by us as Brick Accessibility and Cable Management.    

Notice that we connect the switch to the red cables and not the black. That is standard practice aimed at minimizing the points through which power can accidentally be connected to other electrical components. Stopping the power near its source is the best way to do it.

Pinless attachments are smart and quick and could make a big differences between two robot constructions. In this video we are sharing a nice idea for a pinless attachment placed below the robot.

Connecting the other side of the motor directly to the battery will turn it on, but we want a way to control when we turn it on without having to disconnect and reconnect cables constantly. For that reason, we added a switch between one of the connections from the motor to the battery. It may seem easier to use a larger switch, but the DIP switch is meant to be soldered to a PCB, and that is what we'll do in the end.

Last part of the series. The final touch of the program makes sure that it works and is following the line with the LEGO Mindstorms EV3 Color Sensor in a smooth and fast way. 

It doesn’t matter if you connect the wire to the positive (cathode) or the negative (anode) terminal of the battery.

Note that for power sources, the cathode and anode are marked opposite to that of diodes and other electronics. In them, the cathode is the positive terminal and the anode is the negative one.

In this episode we build a reusable attachment for a LEGO Mindstorms EV3 robot that changes gears orientation and direction. It is one of the most useful attachments that you could use to move levers up/down and right/left. Adding the attachment on the robot takes 2-3 seconds and shows a very useful general principle of how to build reusable attachments.

Before you connect wires in your project, you need to take off the plastic covering (insulation) at the ends so the metal wire is exposed. This is called stripping the wire. You can do it with a wire stripper or even with simple tools you may have at home.

This video lesson is a revised version of Episode #1. Matt Gipson requested it in a comment. Using the EV3-G software we have developed a very simple program for following a line with two LEGO MINDSTORMS color/light sensors.

In this tutorial, we share a tip for organizing robot attachments in the FIRST LEGO League challenge. By designing attachments to hook onto the table edge, you can keep them close at hand for quick swaps, saving time and reducing mistakes.

Options include building hooks into the attachment design or using small separate hooks. This method is used by many teams and is a practical way to stay organized during competitions.

This video discusses the fact the robot requires a few more parts that are available in the LEGO Mindstorms EV3 robotics sets. We have a number of other constructions that require less parts, but for this particular robot construction we have decided to go beyond the standard sets, cheaply buy a few more parts and build a whole box robot with them. 

In this video tutorial, we demonstrate a full run for the FIRST LEGO League 2024-2025 SUBMERGED challenge, completing all missions in a single sequence. Each mission is shown individually beforehand, with close-up views of how the attachments work and the principles behind their design. All attachments are pinless, making them quick to change during the run, though aligning and loading the robot still requires practice. The strategy involves moving from one base to the other while accomplishing as many missions as possible, including retrying those close to base when needed.

While the complete run takes longer than the official 2.5 minutes, the focus here is on demonstrating reliability, consistency, and the trade-offs between time and scoring points. In some cases, missions are skipped to focus on higher-value tasks, but in this run, we aim to complete them all. The result is a strong performance that comes close to the maximum possible score.

In this tutorial we introduce the basic algorithm for following a line with one sensor and review the algorithm for quickly followwing a black line with one sensor, implementing both with the Mindstorms EV3 robotics kit.

The programming process for accomplishing M01 Coral Nursery, M02 Shark, M03 Coral Reef, and M04 Scuba Diver of the FIRST LEGO League 2024-2025 SUBMERGED Challenge is straightforward, despite covering multiple missions in one run. Each mission is accomplished with a simple and reliable approach that minimizes the impact on overall run accuracy.

The code consists mainly of movement blocks and gyro turns, allowing for consistent navigation between mission models. By keeping the programming uncomplicated, the robot can perform pushing, collecting, and delivering tasks efficiently without introducing unnecessary complexity, ensuring a smooth and dependable multi-mission run.

If you think that the quick pinless attachments shown in video 63 are quick enough, see this tutorial and you will find out that the quick pinless attachments could be even quicker. These attachments can work without motors but by using the inertia forces.

The programming process for accomplishing M01 Coral Nursery and M03 Coral Reef of the FIRST LEGO League 2024-2025 SUBMERGED Challenge is straightforward, focusing on controlled movement and stability. The motor-powered attachment lifts the coral tree smoothly to the coral tree support while also delivering reef segments outside the launch area.

The robot moves forward to position itself, raises the coral tree, and then returns to base. To ensure the reef segments remain secure during the run, the program uses slow acceleration and reduced speed when needed. This simple yet reliable approach keeps the sequence easy to execute while maintaining consistency in performance.

In this episode we look at the way this robot is balanced. A well-balanced robot could handle heavier attachments without losing track of its position on the robotics competition field. 

The programming process for accomplishing M06 Raise the Mast and M07 Kraken’s Treasure of the FIRST LEGO League 2024-2025 SUBMERGED Challenge is streamlined, focusing on controlled movement and precision. The design of the attachment ensures that the mast is lifted to the correct height while the treasure chest is securely captured.

The code uses simple maneuvering to reach the mission model, but the return path requires special handling. If the robot makes a sharp turn, the chest can be lost, so the program uses light steering to maintain stability while returning to base. This combination of straightforward navigation and careful return control ensures consistent success for both missions in a single run.

The Gyro sensor can be positioned horizontally, vertically or at a random angle. Have you ever wonder what does the gyro detect when it is positioned vertically. This is the subject of this video tutorial for the LEGO Mindstorms EV3 Gyro Sensor.

The programming process for accomplishing M05 Angler Fish, M09 Unexpected Encounter, M14 Sample Collection, M12 Feed the Whale, and M03 Coral Reef of the FIRST LEGO League 2024-2025 SUBMERGED Challenge is streamlined, making it easier to manage even in a large multi-mission run. The design of the two-part attachment system significantly influences how the robot moves, simplifying the code and reducing complexity.

The program is surprisingly simple for such a comprehensive run, with the robot performing a series of maneuvers to collect, deliver, and push mission elements. For maximum accuracy, it uses gyro turns, slow acceleration, and reduced speed in trickier spots to maintain control. By letting the attachments guide much of the interaction, the programming remains clean and reliable, enabling the robot to handle multiple scoring tasks efficiently in a single trip.

This programming tutorial focuses on accomplishing M8 Artificial Habitat of the FIRST LEGO League 2024-2025 SUBMERGED Challenge using the Nautiq box robot (a LEGO Education SPIKE Prime robot).

The sequence is optimized to position all four crabs upright with their yellow bases touching the mat for maximum points. The code uses straightforward but highly accurate movement commands, ensuring the robot engages and adjusts the mission model with precision. This dedicated program minimizes errors and allows for consistent high-scoring runs, combining efficient programming with the attachment’s reliable design.

The third robot has the brick and motors placed vertically. This is quite unusual and difficult, but the construction is very powerful because it saves space.

Тhe programming process is streamlined, making it more accessible even for beginners. The design of the attachment significantly influences how the robot moves, simplifying the code and reducing complexity.

The program is way easier due to the form of the attachment that makes the first movement just forward to complete M13 Change Shipping Lanes, and then moving backwards towards M09 Unexpected Encounter. This approach eliminates the need for complex directional adjustments at the start, allowing the programmer to focus on precise positioning later in the sequence. By letting the attachment dictate the natural forward motion initially, the programming logic becomes shorter, cleaner, and easier to debug. As a result, both the initial movement and the reverse action toward M09 can be executed with minimal code changes, ensuring faster development and more reliable performance. Along the way, the robot also partially accomplishes M12 Feed the Whale.