Documentation
About FAQ Projects GitHub Troubleshoot EV3 Manager Bluetooth Forum LEGO Support FIRST LEGO League
Reference
show string show number show value show mood show image clear screen show ports on event is pressed was pressed pause until set light battery level
run stop reset set brake set inverted set regulated tank steer angle speed clear counts stop all motors
on event pause until is pressed was pressed
angle rate reset
on event distance pause until
on event distance pause until
on event pause until is pressed was pressed set remote channel
on color detected pause until color detected on light detected pause until light condition detected color light
play sound effect play sound effect until done play tone ring tone stop all sounds rest change tempo by set tempo note frequency beat set volume
seconds millis reset pause until
log log value send to screen
Blocks
On Start
repeat for while for of
if Boolean
assign change var var
Math JavaScript blocks Custom blocks
Python
Calling Sequencing Variables Operators Statements Functions Classes
JavaScript
Calling Sequencing Variables Operators Statements Functions Types Classes Interfaces Generics
Types
Number String Boolean Array Function
Developers
Command Line Interface Visual Studio Code support Blocks Embed
Getting Started
Try Use
Tutorials
Wake Up! Make An Animation What Animal Am I? Music Brick Run Motors Tank ZigZag Touch to Run Touch Sensor Values What Color? Line Following Red Light, Green Light Reflected Light Measure Reflected Light Calibration Object Near? Security Alert
Coding
Autonomous Parking Object Detection Line Detection
Design Engineering
Make It Move Without Wheels Make It Smarter and Faster Make a System that Communicates
Maker
Make a Sound Machine Make a Security Gadget
Documentation
About FAQ Projects GitHub Troubleshoot EV3 Manager Bluetooth Forum LEGO Support FIRST LEGO League
Reference
show string show number show value show mood show image clear screen show ports on event is pressed was pressed pause until set light battery level
run stop reset set brake set inverted set regulated tank steer angle speed clear counts stop all motors
on event pause until is pressed was pressed
angle rate reset
on event distance pause until
on event distance pause until
on event pause until is pressed was pressed set remote channel
on color detected pause until color detected on light detected pause until light condition detected color light
play sound effect play sound effect until done play tone ring tone stop all sounds rest change tempo by set tempo note frequency beat set volume
seconds millis reset pause until
log log value send to screen
Blocks
On Start
repeat for while for of
if Boolean
assign change var var
Math JavaScript blocks Custom blocks
Python
Calling Sequencing Variables Operators Statements Functions Classes
JavaScript
Calling Sequencing Variables Operators Statements Functions Types Classes Interfaces Generics
Types
Number String Boolean Array Function
Developers
Command Line Interface Visual Studio Code support Blocks Embed
Getting Started
Try Use
Tutorials
Wake Up! Make An Animation What Animal Am I? Music Brick Run Motors Tank ZigZag Touch to Run Touch Sensor Values What Color? Line Following Red Light, Green Light Reflected Light Measure Reflected Light Calibration Object Near? Security Alert
Coding
Autonomous Parking Object Detection Line Detection
Design Engineering
Make It Move Without Wheels Make It Smarter and Faster Make a System that Communicates
Maker
Make a Sound Machine Make a Security Gadget

Try

Get a quick introduction to programming with EV3.

Display on EV3 Brick with Music Notes

We are excited to help you get started with LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Education EV3. 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.

Hand pressing power button

Connect Your EV3 Brick to Your Device

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

Computer and cable connected to EV3 Brick

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?

EV3 Brick with eyes on the display

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

Well done!

Run it Again

EV3 Brick with Try in BrkProg_Save Folder in File Manager

Use the Brick Buttons and navigate to the File Manager tab. Open the BrkProg_SAVE folder, select Try and click the center button to run it again.

Connect a Large Motor

Now you will learn to control the Large Motor.

EV3 Brick with hands connecting Large Motor to Port D

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.

Large Motor D w/Rotating “WHRRR,” Hand, EV3 Brick

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.

Hands connecting Touch Sensor to Port 1 on EV3 Brick

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.

Hand Touch Sensor Pressed & EV3 Brick & Large Motor

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.

Hand connecting Color Sensor to Port 4, Large Motor D, EV3 Brick

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

IMG: Colored bricks in front of Color Sensor, hands, EV3 Brick

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.

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