Philo

I already switched firmware on my EV3 from edu to retail and back a few times. The main difference (don't know if there is any other) is that Edu firmware contains an on-brick datalog applet. If you have Edu software, it allows to reinstall Edu FW...

It's difficult to sort out things without detailed curves... but it seems that the 40mN.m at 300mA is an "operational limit", not the stalled torque. According to my measurements, stall torque of PF-M is around 11N.cm at a 850mA current (see image below). And btw, 1mN.m = 1milliNewton.meter = 1N.mm = 1Newton.millimeter = 0.1Newton.centimeter. EV3 M-motor should indeed have more torque, but maybe the core motor is less powerful? (from size I don't think so). Will see soon on my test bench!

I have not yet put EV3 motors on my test bench... Anyway, some data has been published by LEGO: http://education.lego.com/en-us/lego-education-product-database/mindstorms-ev3/45503-m-motor http://powerfunctions.lego.com/en-us/ElementSpecs/Default.aspx#8883 ...and a comparison image:

I sometimes used small black plastic boxes (avalable in electronics shops, they are very cheap) and glue some LEGO connectors on it. See for ex. http://philohome.com/nxtpwr/adv4.jpg

According to Bricklink, no: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogList.asp?catType=M&catString=36

EV3 GRIP3R robot also has a single motor grabber/lifter. BIs here: http://www.us.lego.com/en-us/mindstorms/community/bi/

For me, it was the MINDSTORMS Robotics Invention System 1.5 that I initially bought for my daughter...

I have one, but never made extended tests on them. That said they are quite powerful.

I should be there on MINDSTORMS booth the last 4 days.

:thumbup: Like the music, too ;)

Indeed, they are available for LDraw 'cause I modelled them ;) The WeDo tilt sensor is there too. Please try SR3DBuilder, it should make it easier to use! Have a look at Sergio's too.

An alternate way is to create an LDraw part containing the text. Txt2dat utility makes this rather easy. This is the method I used to create my LDraw color chart: Here is the LDraw file. There are pros and cons for each method, for simple annotations the "add pictures" technique is probably better and simpler.

You're welcome ;) Thanks for adding these parts and functionnality so soon!

Your original code works fine here, the tire appears in first step (both in assembly and in in step BOM). Maybe you have a cache issue? try to clear parts list cache and assembly image cache (in LPub Tools menu)

I guess it's a pain to change and recharge batteries? Or do you use LEGO LiPo ones?

Sorry, I don't have one!

Nonetheless, result is pretty close to rated capacity (1100mAH). Maybe cell choice was more oriented towards safety than capacity? Cells are flat, see photos at the end of page. I was kind of surprised too... But no systematic error, or it would affect all cell technologies! The problem is that I used a pretty high current (750mA), typical of what we use in heavy duty applications (eg. trial truck) but actually above "normal" usage for alkaline cells. See for example this Energizer datasheet, their constant current performance test is done at 250mA. Higher current test (eg. 1A for photoflash) is done using low duty cycle intermittent discharge (10s/minute). Look at my 250mA discarge curve, it does start at 9V and is very similar to datasheet discharge curve. So many parameters to test... and with non-rechargeable cells it's kind of expensive ;) No detailed tests, but buggy motor is a real power hog. If you gear it up, friction in gears may well make it consume more current than what PF battery is able to provide (about 1A)

All you ever wanted to know about batteries and battery boxes to power your Technic or MINDSTORMS creations - discharge curves, capacity, voltage under load, current limitations...! The results of an extensive test campaign are summarized here. Here's the kind of data you'll find: Enjoy!

Marketing mysteries are beyond me... All I can tell is that - as I write this - there is no support for gyro and US sensro in retail version, but at some time LEGO could provide downloadable blocks for that. Note that this already occured with NXT: the temperature sensor never got support in retail version (but it's an I2C sensor that is easy to use with generic I2C blocks). BTW, this sensor is also supported in EV3 Edu software, not in retail one...

OTOH this part was unofficial for ages, and SR3D does include unofficial parts. So this part should be there anyway, even with wrong status.

I see it here... enter *44309 in search text field. (part is named: Tyre 22/ 73 x 30 ZR)

Right. Anyway retail software doesn't support Edu specific sensors (gyro and ultrasonic) BTW, if you want to get you feet wet with EV3 building before buying it, I have uploaded EV3 LDraw parts today... See http://www.eurobrick...7

With the official release of EDU Mindstorms EV3 sets (Sets 45544and 45560), I am now allowed to publish LDraw models that I have created for EV3 parts. They are now available on LDraw Parts Tracker, either as individual files, or more conveniently are included with the complete unofficial parts archive (this one may be updated only tonight). For the record, these models were created from 3D files that LEGO sent me for that purpose. This proves that even if they continue to provide support for LDD, they do also care for LDraw ;) Enjoy!

Mathematically exact... now the problem is indeed friction, with the air (should be low at this speed) and with axle bearings, between tires and ground, etc... So actual figure can be significantly lower. You just have to measure it, using a NXT ( - or EV3!) and some sensors placed wide apart ;)

Yes, they are pretty powerful and quite fast... but their torque is low. Nice agile vehicle!