Tutorials
Spike Prime
A quick look at Power Output of different LEGO Robotics motors. The NXT to the EV3 to the Spike Prime motors. What does it mean for your robot performance? Get the doc here.
LEGO EV3 Classroom Software (Scratch)
If you've tried to do complex programming with the EV3 Classroom app, you may be finding it let than clean. I went searching for a reference guide just for the basic command blocks and wasn't finding one. However, there is a Scratch reference guide that at least will give you the information you need for things like the Event, Control and Operators blocks. You just have to ignore all the info that doesn't apply to the classroom. The Move and Motion block sets in Scratch have been replaced by the Motors and Movement block sets in EV3 Classroom. <Scratch Reference Guide (PDF)> |
General Robotics and LEGOs
A primer on Batteries for your Robot: Check out this PDF to learn a few things about alkaline vs rechargeable vs battery pack options for your robots. Check it out here
Robot Locomotion Basics: This video will talk about the 3 basic wheel and tread designs. The 2 wheel robot with a pivot wheel; the all wheel drive; and the treaded robot.
LEGO Technic Tora no Maki Building Guide (English) A free download ($10 suggested donation) this is a 215 page book available as PDF for helping you build with LEGO Technic Pieces.
The Basic Robot Table: What makes a good table; what
materials to use; and how to build one when you've figured out what you want. 
Light Sensor Trigger assembly: Step-by-step directions for building this simple sensor housing unit to be used with a light source (we use laser line levels, but bright flashlights work too.
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Building with the EV3
EV3 Doma-like Robot: Step-by-step directions for building a 2-wheel EV3 robot with a rear pivot ball. Courtesy of Billy Wall.
Using the EV3 Display Block: This short PDF shows a few important considerations about what coordinate arrays are used with the different features of the display block. We find this to be one of the stickier points when using the block, but learnable.
LEGO TRACK3R Robot Building Guide: Here is a simplified version of the LEGO instructions. Just enough to build the basic robot.
To see the full directions, visit LEGO TRACK3R 
EV3 Simple Wheelbot: Step-by-step directions for building a Simple EV3 LEGO Robot. This is the the EV3 robot used in our track meet competitions for the speed build event.
Tracker, Mission 1: From the LEGO site |
Building with the NXT
Calculating Robot Travel Distances (worksheet): This worksheet allows you to scientifically calculate how far your robot will travel for each rotation of its motors.
NXT Robot Guide Sheets (21 pages): These are 11 different handouts for use in the classroom. All (but one) are two sides, designed to give a lesson with background information on the topic. From building a robot, to using gears, to turning, to light and touch sensors. Similar to our previous version for the RCX, but designed for use with the NXT.
Follow the Line: See the basic program for getting a robot to
follow a line using the NXT and a single light sensor. 
NXT AWD 4-Wheeled Robot: Step-by-step directions for building a four-wheeled robot.
Advanced Programming Guide for NXT MindStorms: Look at the Display Block, Variables, Data Wires, Switches and Loops.
Building a Simple NXT Treaded Robot: Step-by-step directions for building a Simple NXT Treaded Robot. Updated 7/2012 for use with the newer LEGO tread sets.
Using the NXT Touch Sensor: This video will show you some of the basics for using the NXT touch sensor as well as a simple program with the LEGO MindStorms software.
Building a Simple NXT Wheelbot: Step-by-step directions for building a Simple NXT Wheelbot. This is the NXT robot used in our track meet competitions for the speed build event.
Building the Domabot: Step-by-step directions from Damien Kee's website. Click the image to the left to open the directions.
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Maine Robotics is done in collaboration with the University of Southern Maine