Author: Terry Griffin
Paperback: 276 pages
Publisher: No Starch Press
ISBN-10: 1593275684
ISBN-13: 978-1593275686
Synopsis:
With its colorful, block-based interface, The LEGO® MINDSTORMS® EV3 programming language is designed to allow anyone to program intelligent robots, but its powerful features can be intimidating at first. The Art of LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 Programming is a full-color, beginner-friendly guide designed to bridge that gap.
Inside, you’ll discover how to combine core EV3 elements like blocks, data wires, files, and variables to create sophisticated programs. You’ll also learn good programming practices, memory management, and helpful debugging strategies—general skills that will be relevant to programming in any language.
All of the book’s programs work with one general-purpose test robot that you’ll build early on. As you follow along, you’ll program your robot to:
React to different environments and respond to commands
Follow a wall to navigate a maze
Display drawings that you input with dials, sensors, and data wires on the EV3 screen
Play a Simon Says-style game that uses arrays to save your high score
Follow a line using a PID-type controller like the ones in real industrial systems
The Art of LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 Programming covers both the Home and Education Editions of the EV3 set, making it perfect for kids, parents, and teachers alike. Whether your robotics lab is the living room or the classroom, this is the complete guide to EV3 programming that you’ve been waiting for.
Requirements: One LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 Home OR Education set (#31313 OR #45544)
If you’re still building four walled jail cells (me) with your LEGO sets you may want to move past this post, because when I popped open the cover of The Art of LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 Programming it just about blew my mind. I mean, I’m aware of the amazing robotic culture that comes from fantastically automating LEGO bricks, but I was not mentally equipped for the awesome that was The Art of LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 Programming.
This book is for serious LEGO people, and if you think you have a budding engineering candidate on your hands then this might be the most perfect Christmas present (to be accompanied with Education Set; see above).
While beautifully laid out in colorful diagrams and step-by-step instructions, The Art of LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 Programming reads like the love child of a LEGO set manual and an electrician’s manual. It’s deep with content. It’s not here to win a beauty contest, it’s here to show off LEGO robotics.
This book isn’t for your pretty decorative houses or figures. The Art of LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 Programming is serious business and would be loved by adults, kids or even teachers who have an interest in robotics and programming. Like most LEGO instruction books, the best results will come by following the step-by-step instructions. It is also stressed that this book be completed chapter by chapter from start to finish.
Please keep in mind that the only single reason that I give The Art of LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 Programming 4 stars instead of 5 stars is because it is just simply not for everyone. Not every one who creates with LEGOs is up for this level of tech. But if you are up for this level of awesome LEGO infused technology, I highly recommend you accept this challenge.
I give The Art of LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 Programming Four Out of Five Stars.
The Art of LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 Programming is available from Amazon! Here’s a link!
[AMAZONPRODUCT=1593275684]
