#EV3Basic Using the Mindsensors Heat Sensor and Charmed Labs PixyCam with EV3 Basic

Continuing my series about robotics and using non Lego devices with EV3 Basic, here is an article which demonstrates how to use a camera and heat sensor.

The Robocup Junior Australia competition has introduced a new Rescue division this year (2017) for a Maze rescue. The Maze rescue challenge is much closer to a real life example of a how a rescue robot can save lives.

Maze rescue does not involve any line following, as real buildings don’t have lines on the ground marking paths to follow. The robot must navigate a building, represented by a maze, by identifying walls and working its way around the maze. It needs to explore every corridor and room to locate victims wearing Hi-Vis vests (represented by bright colours on the walls) and identify whether a victim is alive or dead (by looking for a heat source).

This seventh article covers using the Mindsensors IR Temperature Sensor for EV3 or NXT and Charmed Labs PixyCam (CMUcam5) for Lego with the EV3 Basic extensions for Microsoft Small Basic.

#EV3Basic Using the Mindsensors Motor Multiplexer with EV3 Basic

As discussed before, I am continuing to mentor for the All Saints’ College Robotics club, even though both my sons are now at university. I am also the Rescue Advisor on the Robocup Junior West Australian Committee for 2017.

Having a hobby that allows me to play with Lego and write software that actually does something physical in the real world is awesome. I would recommend purchasing a Lego Mindstorms EV3 set for any boy or girl that wants to learn to code while having lots of fun.

This sixth article covers using the Mindsensors Multiplexer for NXT/EV3 Motors with the EV3 Basic extensions for Microsoft Small Basic.

#EV3Basic Using the Mindsensors Sensor Multiplexer with EV3 Basic

Previously on this blog, I have mentioned that I mentor for the All Saints’ College Robotics club and volunteer on the Robocup Junior West Australian Committee.

Combining my childhood love of Lego with my career as a software developer has provided me with an exciting, fun filled hobby. Using my knowledge to mentor primary and secondary school students and help them find a love of robotics and software development is extremely fulfilling and a driving force behind why I do what I do.

This fifth article covers using the Mindsensors EV3 Sensor Multiplexer with the EV3 Basic extensions for Microsoft Small Basic.

#Robotics Using the EV3 Colour Sensor in RGB mode

This fourth article covers a really cool trick for working with the EV3 colour sensor. It resolves a couple of issues that I discovered when I first started working with Lego Mindstorms EV3.

The Robocup Junior Australia Rescue competition uses tiles to create the line following course. The starting point for the tiles is the Robocup Junior Rescue Field mat from Modern Teaching Aids which can be used whole or cut into 15 tiles.

#Robotics Designing and Building a Line Following Robot

This is my third article in a series on robot design and programming techniques. In this article I will be discussing how to design a line following robot including the positioning of the sensors.

Disclaimer: This article will use Robocup Junior Australia‘s Rescue (Line) Challenge with a Lego Mindstorms based robot as an example.

#Robotics Programming a Line Following Robot – Part 2

Here is my second article in a series on robot design and programming techniques. In this article I will be discussing how to make a robot follow a line with two sensors. I will be discussing some of the different methods and explain the pros and cons of each.

Disclaimer: This article will use Robocup Junior Australia‘s Rescue (Line) Challenge with a Lego Mindstorms based robot as an example.

#Robotics Programming a Line Following Robot – Part 1

Welcome to my first article in a series on robot design and programming techniques. I thought I would start with an article discussing how to make a robot follow a line with a single sensor. I will be discussing some of the different methods and explain the pros and cons of each.

Disclaimer: This article will use Robocup Junior Australia‘s Rescue (Line) Challenge with a Lego Mindstorms based robot as an example.