How to build SUV Box Robot for LEGO Competitions

There are a few main challenges with box robots and in the following tutorial we would like to resolve them. Read on and let's see how we could do this. 

  • #971
  • 19 Aug 2018
  • 0:09

Motors should be in the right direction

What we learned based on your feedback is that it is difficult for students to use a robot where the motors are not in the right direction. When this happens students have to enter minus seconds or degrees of rotation for the robot to move forward. This was the case with Box Robot 2. Entering "-2" to move 2 seconds forward is just not very natural. It makes you think and pay more attention to details. But it is not natural. 

For the SUV robot we've placed the motors in the right direction. As a conclusion try to always place the motors in the right direction.   

Balance between accuracy of Light/Color sensors and high of the robot

This SUV Box robot has a large clearance. It could move through high obstacles which makes it a very good fit for Into Orbit FIRST LEGO League competition. But there is a balance here. When the robot is this high the sensors are further away from the field. Errors might occur. So be carefully.  

NEVER use the USB programming port

The LEGO Mindstorms EV3 Brick is really great. But it has two major flows.

1. It uses Mini-B

2. It is used by students :D 

When students use the brick they constantly plug and unplug the USB cable and they will eventually brake it. And it will happen in a few months. And we talk from experience here. We've seen a lot of bricks that are broken in this way.

And then you have to upgrade the software. But since the USB port is broken, you can not.

The solution is simple:

Do not use the USB programming port. Always program the robot through Bluetooth. Use the USB programming port only for Firmware upgrade.

For this particular robot we've even constructed it in a way to discourage you from using the port.  

 

Courses and lessons with this Tutorial

This Tutorial is used in the following courses and lessons

Image for SUV Box Robot for Robotics Competitions
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Image for FLLCasts Off-season Challenge with LEGO Mindstorms EV3
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Image for (In development) Build SUV Box Robot
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