Data types in EV3 programming language

Working with data is one important step if you want to take your robot programming to the next level. In EV3 programming language there are 3 data types - numeric, text, logic. In the following tutorial we will cover some basic facts about them.

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24 Sep 2018
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How is data represented in computers?

As you may have heard everything in modern computers is represented with 1s and 0s. To be more precise those 0s and 1s are combined in groups by 8 called bytes. Those bytes can represent numbers between 0 and 255. So if we want to represent numbers in computers its easy, we just write them in binary. Here comes the part where the type of the data is important. Lets say we have a byte that is 01000011. If that byte represents a number it will be 67, but if that byte represents a text it will be the character C. So as you can see it is quite important for the computer to know if that byte is a number or character.

How data is handled within the EV3 Software?

As you may have noticed every block may have several input and output parameters. Each parameter should be either number, text or logic. Data is passed betweet the blocks through data wires. Those wires can be pulled from output parameters and insterted in input parameters as shown:

The wires may be in three different colors. If the data wire is yellow, then it "caries" numeric data type.

If the data wire is orange it "caries" text

and if it is green it "caries" logic.

It is important not to mismatch data types, that is why it is useful to know which color represents which data type.

Courses and lessons with this Tutorial

This Tutorial is used in the following courses and lessons

Instructors Remote Training

If you are working with students and you want to introduce Robotics to your class or you want to mentor a FLL team, but you are insecure about your technical knowledge in the Robotics field, then this is the right place for you. Having in mind teachers' busy schedule, we have design two different schedules and added an option to design one just for you. FLLCasts's Mindstorms EV3 Robotics Online Training is the perfect match for any teacher.

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Robotics with LEGO - Level 3.5 - Measuring tools

The sixth level of the Robotics with LEGO curriculum for students in sixth or seventh grade.

In this level, we introduce student-created myBlocks. Any functionality that is used in several places in a program is grouped into myBlock thus shortening the program's length. Students create blocks that return the result of calculations as an output parameter. Input parameters can change the calculations in the myBlocks. The robot constructions measure physical properties like linear or rotational speed, the fuel level in a tank, or length, area and volume.