Instruction Guide: EV3 - Kit Overview

Submitted by Randy Steele on 18 September, 2013 - 08:23

In this Lesson we have 3 Primary Instruction Resources:

1) The EV3 Placards

2) The EV3 Quick Inventory Sheets

3) The EV3 Part Pictures and Names Sheets

Organization

Have teams unpack (if necessary) and organize trays as illustrated on kit cover placards 

  • Stress the need to keep organized to reduce building times (finding parts)  

This ppt file of the EV3 kit placards contains a complete kit inventory on page 3. This can be printed out for students to use to verify the complete contents of their kit.

Inventory

Have students either do a complete count of components or use the Quick Kit Inventory Sheets to speed the process of accounting for most of the kit parts.

Parts Walk-Thru

Be sure to use the proper part names as students learn the kit components.  Part of engineering is precision in speech, so try to avoid having students refer to parts as "the round thingy", etc.  These Part Picture and Names Sheets have the actual names of the components.

Below are some points to emphasize as you walk students through the parts:

Electronics (mostly located in lower tray)

EV3 brick

  • Ports
    • Inputs (4) for sensors
    • Outputs (4) for motors
    • USB (1) for computer downloads
  • Buttons
  • Screen 

Battery (rechargeable & cover for AA’s)

Motors (2 large, 1 medium)

  • Students can manipulate red hub 
  • Insert any axle and attach any wheel to demonstrate motion

Sensors - Students can speculate on functions

  • Color
    • notice LED light emitter and detector 
  • Touch
      • notice axle connection to extend sensor reach 
  • Ultrasonic
    • notice emitter and receiver
  • Gyro
    • notice the symbol on the top

Wires 

  • Students can attach to brick/motors/sensors
  • USB cable for downloading 
  • Connectors cable for sensors/motors (different lengths)

Structural Components

  • Beams
    • Students can compare lengths
  •  Angled Beams
    • Notice some have axle connections at ends (arms)
  • Studded Bricks
    • Colored bricks fit over lights as colored lens (students can attach)
  • Plates 
  • Studded Plates
    • 1/3 thickness of bricks
  • Curved Beam plates
    • ½ thickness of beams

Connectors

  • Pegs
    • Short and long friction pegs
    • Axle/pegs; friction and non-friction
      • Students can test difference by building two “propellers” with friction and non-friction pegs 
  • Joints
    • Axle and pegs fittings
      • Students can attach pegs and axles to explore different configurations (or wait until Part Exploration, next)
  • Peg-Joints
    • Students can assemble structures using these with beams and axles (or wait until Part Exploration, next)

Specialty Parts

  • Axles
    • Students can attach to other elements
    • Lengths measured in “beam holes”
    • Structural and Functional uses
  • Bushings
    • Student can slide on to any axle
    • Attach gear to medium length axle and insert in any beam 
    • Students can use bushing on opposite side of beam to keep gear in place   
  • Wheels and hubs
    • Students can assemble all three types
  • Gears
    • Students can speculate on different uses
  • Turntable parts
    • Students can speculate on different uses
  • Tracks & Sprockets
    • Students can speculate on different uses
  • Curved Panels
    • Students can speculate on different uses
  • Ball Bearing
    • Students can speculate on different uses