[EV3] Programming

[schor]

Just got an ev3 and am having a hard time figuring out a few things with the ev3 graphical programming interface. I don't want to bore you with a bunch of questions.

Is there some in depth articles or videos around that get into more complex programming using this gui? I just need to know what I can and cannot do, what is good way to structure a program to be able to control motors based on multiple variable inputs from sensors.

I've only been at this for 2 days so forgive me if I am asking stupid, nonsensical or obvious questions.

[Jim]

Hey,

Welcome to EB. Nice to see a fellow Mindstorms Enthusiast.

First of all; you can ask all the questions you want. Not sure that you will get answers to all of 'em but feel free to ask.

I must admit that this probably isn't the best place for EV3 questions, but I will do my best to answer them or redirect you to the right source.

I do recommend getting a nice book about EV3 programming. With the graphical interface or maybe take some time to learn Robot-c or something.

Where are you from?

[FvdB]

The manual that is installed with the EV3 software is pretty good, but it's also quite well-hidden. Did you find that yet? The programming itself resembles Scratch. It's not difficult to get the hang of, but programs tend to get unmanageble when they get too big. If you start making difficult things, you could try LeJos. It's java-based and free. I have several EV3 books, and they thaught me that I tend to create programs that are way too complex for what I want. Reducing the robot tasks to manageble pieces in a skill in itself.

[knotian]

Google No Starch Press - they have excellent ( I bought 2 ) books with good details, examples, and supplemental robots for testing. Googling for downloadable books also gets results, but of questionable legality. No starch's books also include an PDF with the price of the Hard Copy, with the PDF available alone at a reduced price.

AND NO I don't work for them.

Ed

[BusterHaus]

http://www.stemcentric.com/ev3-tutorial/ is a great place to start. The videos will show you how to build programs and introduce some programming concepts.

Welcome to EB and to Mindstorms.

[schor]

Thanks for the replies, I am scouring the net for info, I just have not found any complicated programs to look over. I am a programmer for over 40 years so programming is not an issue, it's understanding how to make more complicated programs work in the graphical tool. I will look into the other programming interfaces mentioned.

One question I do have, I have tried to write to a variable from 2 different parts of a program, when I try this it does not work and the whole program seems to not do what it is supposed to. Any ideas?

[knotian]

Schor

Ah-Ah - A fellow greybeard! Did my first program in 1960 and was hooked until I retired. Why any sane ex would voluntarily get back into this rat race is inconceivable!! Take a look at the color sorter program to see relatively complex use.

Any way - I haven't tried what you asked about, but to my understanding it's just a matter of running the data wires.

Drop me a message and we can keep in touch. I wouldn't mind a programming forum for just the graphical language.

Ed

[schor]

Hi Ed, I am not retired yet and probably not for another 17 years, young kids finish university when I hit 72, hopefully I am allowed to work that long.

I always loved robotics, and have really been thinking of arduino's etc, maybe cnc my mill or lathe in my shop, but really I don't have the time for that, the lego route should fit the bill for now to get me playing with things and my kids can also play along, both girls, one is actually in the robotics club in school and really likes legos.

Programming specific forum(s) would be great.

So, remember this is my third day playing with the ev3 and I wonder what benefits there are in having either a single start and a big loop or having multiple starts each with a loop.

I can only put in image url's here so it's a pain to show quick pictures, hopefully people will understand what I mean. I am going to do some videos of programming this ev3 once I figure it all out, maybe help out some other people.

I found a few colour sorters, did you have a specific one that I should look at?

[knotian]

Steve,

I was referring to the one from Lego that the Education Set uses. Just spend some time with Google and you should find plenty of programs.

Ed

[schor]

Supposedly you can program multitasking but I am finding it is not truely multitasking. ie; I have one thread reading the ir sensor in a loop and storing the value in a variable, then I have another thread which reads that variable and controls the motors. But I am finding that the first thread is not continually looping, it seems to wait for the other thread to finish before the loop re-enters.

I have also tried using multiple start(s) and it seems to behave the same as described above. Does anyone know if I can write a real multitasking program using the ev3 programming tool?

[Samer]

I'm also new and I got several books but the one I decided to use for starting is "The Art of LEGO Mindstorms EV3 Programming". It is structured very well. It builds a model specific to the learning process of the book and uses it thoughout the chapters. It starts from "hello world" stuff and gradually adds up features. I think it's what U need IMHO.

I have no idea yet on multitasking.