Learn Engineering with LEGO

About the Author .................................................................................ix

About the Technical Reviewer .............................................................xi

Acknowledgments .............................................................................xiii

Introduction ........................................................................................xv

Chapter 1: The Hub ...............................................................................1

Assembling and Charging the Hub ........................................................................1

Controls and Displays ...........................................................................................4

Exercise: The Motor Spinner .................................................................................8

Activating the Motor ......................................................................................11

Project: The Distance Spinner .............................................................................12

Using the Distance Spinner ...........................................................................15

Summary ............................................................................................................16

Chapter 2: Programming ....................................................................17

Using the Robot Inventor App ..............................................................................17

Installing and Updating the App .....................................................................18

The Interface .................................................................................................18

Connecting the Hub .......................................................................................20

Updating the Hub Operating System .............................................................21

Exploring the Hub Screen ..............................................................................22

The Program Design Process 24 ..............................................................................

Writing the Algorithm 25 .....................................................................................

Drawing the Flowchart 25 ..................................................................................

Coding in Word Blocks 28 ........................................................................................

Writing Comments 33 .........................................................................................

Coding in Python ...........................................................................................34 

Downloading and Running Code 41 ...................................................................

Debugging and Troubleshooting 42 ....................................................................

Project: The Dance Floor 43 ................................................................................

The Word Blocks Code 48 ...................................................................................

The Python Code 53 ............................................................................................

Summary ............................................................................................................57 

 

Chapter 3: Building Elements 59 .............................................................

Liftarms 59 ...............................................................................................................

Straight Liftarms 61 ............................................................................................

Bent Liftarms 62 .................................................................................................

Rectangular Liftarms 63 .....................................................................................

Connecting Liftarms 64 ............................................................................................

Pins 64 ................................................................................................................

Axles and Bushes 66 ..........................................................................................

Exercise: Triangular Structures 68 ...........................................................................

Connectors 76 ..........................................................................................................

Exercise: Symmetric Objects 76 ..............................................................................

Project: Mechanical Linkages 85 .............................................................................

The Universal Joint 85 ........................................................................................

The Eccentric 92 .................................................................................................

Summary ............................................................................................................96