How do you lift heavy objects with an attachment? In this episode we show a simple, interesting, but yet not very popular way to lift something heavy with and LEGO Mindstorms EV3 robot and without gears and motors as attachment. As a specific example we are using the Strength Exercise mission from the FIRST LEGO League 2012 competition.
This video tutorial focuses on accomplishing M05 Angler Fish, M09 Unexpected Encounter, collecting samples for M14 Sample Collection, 3 Krill for M12 Feed the Whale, and Reef Segments for M03 Coral Reef of the FIRST LEGO League 2024-2025 SUBMERGED Challenge using the Nautiq box robot (a LEGO Education SPIKE Prime robot). The run achieves a perfect 10 out of 10 score across these missions in one continuous sequence.
The robot collects and delivers samples, gathers krill and reef segments, pushes the Unknown Creature into the Cold Seep, and engages mission models with precision. The path is optimized for efficiency, combining multiple scoring actions with minimal wasted movement. You can watch the full explaining tutorial here.
In a competition environment like the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) or World Robotics Olympiad (WRO) the color sensor is more than useful. It makes positioning on the field quite easy and precise.
This video tutorial focuses on solving M05, M09, collecting samples for M14, 3 Krill for M12, and Reef Segments for M03 of the FIRST LEGO League 2024-2025 SUBMERGED Challenge using Nautiq box robot (a LEGO Education SPIKE Prime robot).
Positioning your MINDSTORM robot precisely on the FIRST LEGO League competition field is one of the first things you should learn while preparing. In this video tutorial, we will show three different attachments you could use when aligning to the walls of the competition table. We will show other ways and attachments in some of the next videos.
This video tutorial focuses on accomplishing M8 Artificial Habitat of the FIRST LEGO League 2024-2025 SUBMERGED Challenge using the Nautiq box robot (a LEGO Education SPIKE Prime robot). The run uses a simple active pinless attachment mounted at the front of the robot for precise engagement with the mission model.
The goal is a perfect 10 out of 10 runs by positioning all four crabs upright with their yellow bases touching the mat. You can find the full explaining tutorial here.
Looking at the field we must first think of a strategy of solving this line following problem. There are rules that the robot must follow and these rules should be programmed in the robot.
This video tutorial focuses on accomplishing M8 Artificial Habitat of the FIRST LEGO League 2024-2025 SUBMERGED Challenge using the Nautiq box robot (a LEGO Education SPIKE Prime robot). The run uses a simple active pinless attachment mounted at the front of the robot, designed for precise engagement with the mission model.
The goal is to position all four crabs upright with their yellow bases touching the mat for maximum points, a task requiring careful alignment and controlled movements. While it is possible to complete the mission with fewer crabs upright, this run is programmed for the full score, using dedicated movement commands in a separate run for maximum accuracy. This approach combines a reliable mechanical design with precise navigation to meet the mission’s demanding scoring conditions.
The robot uses one middle motor. This middle motor with the use of a few gear systems controls for different axsels. We have attached wheels on this axles so it is very easy to extend the robot construction for additional LEGO Mindstorms active attachments
This video tutorial demonstrates a 10 out of 10 on M13 Change Shipping Lanes, along with partial completion of M09 Unexpected Encounter and M12 Feed the Whale in the FIRST LEGO League 2024-2025 SUBMERGED Challenge, using the Nautiq box robot (a LEGO Education SPIKE Prime robot).
Recap on the attachments, their purpose and how you should use them.
The robot attachment build in this tutorial gives an idea on how to release a rubber band at a specific moment using a motor. It's a simple, but yet powerful technique on using rubber bands.
In this video we discuss part of the pinless attachments build by the ELM team. Without pinless attachment it is nearly impossible to achieve a good score at the FIRST LEGO League competition.
In this episode we continue from Episode 55 and we improve the durability and stability of the attachment for a LEGO Mindstorms EV3 robot. Many times attachments are not very stable which results in gaps between parts. The goal of the video is to give basic construction ideas.
In this video we are showing how to use two light sensors to do basic aligning on a black line. This is always needed at the competitions. We also show an example for following a line with two sensors.
This is where the confusion really comes. We are keeping the robot orientation straight while the robot moves, but at the end the, robot is not at the fiinal location that we would like it to be. The robot is still about 2-3 centimeters away after moving for about a meter.
Rubber bands can be quite powerful. Based on several requests from you we are starting a series on using the LEGO Rubber bands available in the Mindstorms set.
In this video we are solving one of the most important challenges on the FIRST LEGO League competition, i.e how to cover your Mindstorms NXT light sensors so that they are not affected by outer light sources at the day of the competition. Once again you would find 3 solutions and more will come in the next videos.
In this video tutorial we will show you three ways for making your robot stable on the field. We will present each one of them with their advantages and disadvantages - it's up to you to choose which one is the best for your case.
This one is very special- an attachment that could lock itself on purpose while working.
Cable management is very important on each competition. Cables could get in the way of attachments, levers, different wheels and so on. Brick accessibility is also very important. Do not forget that the brick should be charged from time to time and that you should also be able to access the buttons.
The way you move the robot is always imprecise. Don't TRY to fight with this. Programming motors for competitions like the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) or World Robotics Olympiad (WRO) is not very different from programming the motors in the STEM classes. But there are a few things you should have in mind.
Enchansing a previous attachment, but only this time we are solving the FIRST LEGO League 2012 Medicine mission. There is a lever and a rubber band. When the lever is released the rubber band activates the attachment.
Let's try to integrate more of the things we have learned into a single attachment. One that could accumulate energy, conserve it and use it at the appropriate time. All this because of a Rubber Band and a Flywheel - and if you don't know what a flywheel is you should definitely watch this videos
You need to pull. And also catch. You need a carabiner. We have done a number of videos on carabiners and this is one of the ideas for the FIRST LEGO League 2015 Trash Trek competition.
Here we continue examining FLL 2014 World Class missions. We show different ways, for putting the insert in place as well as taking the loop from the robotics arm. Some of them are quite specific, which reminds us, that you need to think out of the box, while solving the missions.
One of the very good things about box robots is that you could easily align with them both to the front, to the back or to the rear sides. This aligning is helpful for FIRST LEGO League, World Robotics Olympiad or other robotics competitions with LEGO Mindstorms EV3/NXT robots.