pxt-ev3/docs/getting-started/try.md

Try

Get a quick introduction to programming with EV3.

We are excited to help you get started with @boardname@. In this project we will guide you through connecting your EV3 Brick, creating your first program, controlling a Large Motor, a Touch Sensor and a Color Sensor. These steps can take up to 45 minutes.

Turn on your EV3 Brick

Power on your EV3 Brick by pressing the Center Button.

Connect Your EV3 Brick to Your Device

Use the USB cable to connect your EV3 Brick to your device.

Create and Run your First Program

Code it: Create the program shown here.

brick.buttonEnter.onEvent(ButtonEvent.Pressed, function () {
    brick.showMood(moods.neutral)
    music.playSoundEffect(sounds.communicationHello)
})

• Drag out a ||brick:on button|| block from Buttons section in the ||brick:Brick|| Toolbox drawer.
• Drag a Brick Screen ||brick:show mood|| block inside the ||brick:on button|| block.
• Change mood to neutral.

brick.showMood(moods.neutral)

• Drag a Music ||music:play sound effect|| block below the ||brick:show mood|| block.
• Change sound effect to communication hello.

music.playSoundEffect(sounds.communicationHello)

Download: Click Download and follow the instructions to get your code onto your EV3 Brick. Press the center button on the EV3 Brick to run the program.

Did It Work?

Verify that the program you just created shows eyes on the Brick Display, and that the EV3 Brick played the sound “Hello!”

Well done!

Connect a Large Motor

Now you will learn to control the Large Motor.

Connect a Large Motor to Port D of your EV3 Brick using any of the connector cables.

Create and Run This Program

Code it: Create the program shown here.

brick.buttonEnter.onEvent(ButtonEvent.Pressed, function () {
    motors.largeD.run(50, 1, MoveUnit.Rotations)
})

• Start a new program.
• Drag a ||motors:run large A motor|| block inside the ||brick:on button|| block.
• Change large motor A to large motor D.
• Click on the (+) sign.
• Change to 1 rotation.

Download: Click Download and follow the instructions to get your code onto your EV3 Brick. Press the center button on the EV3 Brick to run the program.

Did It Rotate?

Confirm that your motor has turned one rotation at power level 50 before stopping.

Download and run the program as many times as you want in order to verify this, or tinker with different power levels and different rotations.

Connect a Touch Sensor

We will now control the Large Motor using a Touch Sensor.

Keeping the Large Motor connected to Port D, connect a Touch Sensor to Port 1 of your EV3 Brick.

Modify Your Program

Code it: Add code to the program for the Touch Sensor.

brick.buttonEnter.onEvent(ButtonEvent.Pressed, function () {
    sensors.touch1.pauseUntil(ButtonEvent.Pressed)
    motors.largeD.run(50, 1, MoveUnit.Rotations)
})

• Add a ||sensors:pause until touch 1 pressed|| Sensor block on top of the ||motors:run large motor D|| block.

sensors.touch1.pauseUntil(ButtonEvent.Pressed)

Download: Click Download and follow the instructions to get your code onto your EV3 Brick. Press the center button on the EV3 Brick to run the program.

Press the Touch Sensor

Confirm that the Large Motor has turned one rotation AFTER you press the Touch Sensor.

Download and run the program as many times as you want in order to verify this, or tinker with different Touch Sensor and Large Motor values.

Connect a Color Sensor

Now we will try to control the Large Motor using another sensor.

Keeping the Large Motor connected to Port D, connect the Color Sensor to Port 4.

Code it: Modify Your Program to use the Color Sensor.

brick.buttonEnter.onEvent(ButtonEvent.Pressed, function () {
    sensors.color4.pauseUntilColorDetected(ColorSensorColor.Green)
    motors.largeD.run(50, 1, MoveUnit.Rotations)
})

• Using the same program, replace the ||sensors:pause until touch 1|| block with a ||sensors:pause color sensor 4|| for color block.

sensors.color4.pauseUntilColorDetected(ColorSensorColor.Green)

• Select the color you want to detect (e.g., green).

Download: Click Download and follow the instructions to get your code onto your EV3 Brick. Press the center button on the EV3 Brick to run the program.

Place a Colored Brick in Front of the Color Sensor

Confirm that the Large Motor has turned one rotation AFTER the Color Sensor has detected the colored brick.

Download and run the program as many times as you want in order to verify this, or tinker with different Color Sensor and Large Motor values.

Click on the JavaScript tab and change the color the Color Sensor detects to Black, Blue, Green, Yellow, Red, White, or Brown. Use Title Case for the color names.

Well Done!

You have now learned how to control some of the inputs and outputs of the EV3.