To get the most out of this book

• Install EV3 Home Edition (version 1.2.2 or newer) on your computer. The software can be downloaded from https://www.lego.com/en-us/mindstorms/downloads/download-software.
• Spend some time familiarizing yourself with EV3. It is graphical programming software in which programs are written by connecting code blocks together. You should know the names of the blocks and where to find each one of them in the programming palette. You should also be comfortable with dragging and dropping blocks to place them in your program, know how to change their modes, and have a basic understanding of what individual blocks do.
• Familiarize yourself with the EV3 brick and understand the basics of using it. Know how to power it on and off, download programs from a computer via the USB cable, navigate its menus to select a program to run, and replace the batteries when necessary.
• You should have experience of building with LEGO Technic. All of the robots in this book are made using Technic elements.
• You may choose to install LEGO Digital Designer (LDD) version 4.3 on your computer. You can download the LDD software from https://www.lego.com/en-us/ldd/download. LDD is a LEGO CAD program that allows you to build and view digital models of LEGO creations. It also allows you to generate building instructions for a digital model. The LDD software will guide you when you build the projects in this book. You can download the LDD files (.lxf) for each project from http://builderdude35.com/downloads-2/ and open them using the LDD software.
• In addition to an EV3 retail set (31313), you will need additional LEGO Technic elements for the projects included in this book. (The only exception is the Timmyton, which can be made with the parts included in one EV3 retail set). You can use LDD to generate a bill of materials, which will help you identify the additional Technic elements you will need. Chapter 7, GPS Car – Autonomous EV3 Navigation, also requires some third-party hardware from Dexter Industries and HiTechnic.
• Before you start programming, update the firmware on your EV3 brick to version 1.09H or newer. Perform the following steps to update your EV3 brick's firmware:
  1. Start EV3 Home Edition on your computer.
  2. Turn on your EV3 brick and plug it into your computer using a USB cable.
  3. Open a new project in EV3.
  4. Navigate to Tools | Firmware Update.
  5. If version 1.09H is not already available, follow the steps to download it from https://www.lego.com/en-us/mindstorms/.
  6. Select the firmware version 1.09H (or newer, if available), click on Update Firmware, and wait for the update to complete. The EV3 brick will restart when the update is complete.