FSS FLL Additional Information

Getting Started

Using the Simulator

You don’t need anything! Just head over to the FSS Gears Pybricks Simulator

Using the EV3 Bot

Official Lego Education instructions on how to get an EV3 bot up and running with Python:

https://education.lego.com/en-us/product-resources/mindstorms-ev3/teacher-resources/python-for-ev3

Note there are different versions of Python available for running on the EV3. The current recommendation is to use the Lego Education supported EV3 Micropython which is a slimmed down and simplified version Python making it easier for beginners to use. Micropython can be paired with a dedicated Visual Studio Code extension that includes project templates and documentation.

To run on an EV3, you’ll need the following:

  • MicroSD Card (4GB to 32GB of type microSDHC) to store the operating system and python programs on the EV3
  • MicroSD Card reader or adapter to write the OS to the MicroSD Card
  • Wifi USB dongle to connect to the EV3 wirelessly using Microsoft Visual Code Studio (not required, but recommended).

    Connecting to the EV3 Bot

  • USB Cable: Wired programming of the EV3 is supported
  • Wifi: Adding a USB dongle to the EV3 allows for the bot to be programmed using wifi. Connection instructions provided below.
  • Before connecting to the ev3 robot in a classrom environment it is strongly recommended to first rename the EV3 robot.
    1. Insert the dongle when the bot is off
    2. Power up the EV3 and wait for the bot to fully boot
    3. Navigate and select the “Wireless and Networks” menu option
    4. Navigate and select the “Wi-Fi” menum option
    5. If needed, select the “Powered” menu option to enable the Wifi. The check box should be filled in once selected.
    6. Click the “Start Scan” menu option to select identify available Wifi networks
    7. Once the scan is complete, select the desired Wifi network. This must be the same Wifi network as used by the computer used to program the EV3.
    8. Enter the Wifi password, the click “ok”
    9. Wait for the wifi to configure and associate.
  • Bluetooth: Other ev3 Python users have reported that Bluetooth is not reliable and is therefore not currently recommended.

Additional How-To’s:

Additional Details:

This simulation above is a clone of the https://github.com/kendmaclean/gears_pybricks/ repository which itself is a fork of the https://github.com/QuirkyCort/gears repository initially created by the great people at https://www.aposteriori.com.sg/

More Resources