Towards the Vision of an LMS Integrated, Browser-Based Simulation to Program LEGO MindStorms EV3s in ANSI-C

Abstract

In practical Computer Science lessons at our University of Applied Sciences the students (Bachelor of Engineering in Mechatronics as well as Electrical Engineering and Information Technology) learn the programming language ANSI-C during the curriculum. In 2015 the LEGO MindStorms EV3 robots were integrated into these lessons. Looking at this teaching and learning arrangement, the evaluations showed a higher level of undergraduates' motivation, more fun, and more practical relevance, but also some challenges; for instance the problem that the robots are only available in the lab during opening hours. Therefore, a transformer was developed to run an existing EV3 simulation. The plan is now to use a plug-in for integrating this option into the Integrated Development Environment Eclipse as an intermediate stage. In the long term, several developments shall be combined to build a browser-based development environment for programming EV3 robots as well as the self developed EV3 simulation.