Название: Learn Engineering with LEGO: A Practical Introduction to Engineering Concepts
Автор: Grady Koch
Издательство: Apress
Год: 2023
Страниц: 428
Язык: английский
Формат: pdf (true), epub
Размер: 68.2 MB

LEGO Mindstorms and SPIKE Prime are great products with vast capabilities, but are often so complex that many people don’t know how to use them. LEGO provides a walk-through of a few projects to build, which are cool, but after building these many people get stuck on “now what?” This book answers that question by showing the underlying principles required to build their own ideas.

One of the exercises or projects may provide an idea for a new project or solve a particular design challenge for a device. For example, examples are included for two fundamental drivetrains for a robot or vehicle: tank drive and rear-wheel drive. Building these two fundamental approaches provides the experience to decide on which is better suited to a customized project. Drivetrains are just one example of basic designs covered in this book. Building exercises are also laid out to build structures, gear systems, sensors, computer control, and mechanisms to spin, push, point, and shoot.

All of the parts used in the exercises and projects of this book are in the MINDSTORMS Robot Inventor set, also referred to by the part number 51515. With this set, there’s no need to buy any other parts. The electronic controller, called the Hub, for Robot Inventor is programmed by connecting to a host computer or smart device that the user provides, from which an app is run to control and program inventions. The Robot Inventor app works on a wide variety of computers and smart devices including iOS, macOS, Fire OS, Windows, and Android devices. Once the app is installed on a computer or smart device, the code described in this book can be entered for each particular exercise or project. Code is also available for download on GitHub.

Two programming languages are used, Word Blocks and Python, to work with the Hub; there is the option of using whichever language is of interest. Beginners, persons of more casual interest, or users of a smart device without a keyboard may prefer the Word Blocks version of the programs. But readers interested in advanced programming may find Python of greater interest. Many users, especially kids, start learning how to write programs with Scratch, which is quite similar to MINDSTORMS Word Blocks, and so it should be a quick adaptation to use the programs in this book. But many kids of middle-school age want to learn Python, but have a hard time. So another reason programs in this book are in both languages is to help the transition from Scratch to Python.

This book is a hands-on tour of how machines work with LEGO—there’s nothing like building a machine with your own to hands to understand how it works. It includes aspects of software engineering, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering. As parts and associated engineering concepts are presented, they will be shown in their practical use with graphical step-by-step assembly instructions.

The concepts conveyed are mostly learned through building examples, with text explanation to reinforce the ideas being learned. Every engineering concept has a building example to go with it, in a quick build of less than 15 assembly steps. At the end of each chapter there’s a project to tie the concepts of the chapter together of a little more complexity, involving 15 to 30 steps. These assembly steps are drawn with a computer aided design program that looks like the diagrams that LEGO produces for its products, so readers will be familiar with the look of the assembly directions.

What You'll Learn:

Layout a Word Blocks or Python computer program from scratch
See how LEGO building elements are meant to be assembled
Manipulate the power source of a rotating shaft from an electric motor
Use gears to alter the speed and torque of a power train
Change the motion from a rotating shaft to a desired action Basic mechanisms (turntable, differential, cam, ratchet, etc.) to
Use sensors (motion, distance, light, color) to make interactive inventions
Integrate mechanical, software, and electrical subsystems in a project

Who This Book Is For:
The knowledge presumed in this book is basic familiarity in building with LEGO, having past experience with building a set of moderate complexity of more than a 100 pieces. Basic familiarity with operating a personal computer is also assumed, such as to install an app. Likely interested readers are: LEGO fans looking for ways to build new and better inventions, middle-school and high-school age students who have an interest in science, math, and engineering, adults who like to learn how things work and tinker with inventions, and educators who use the SPIKE Prime set and are looking for new ideas for lesson plans.

Contents: