Are you looking for a way to enable your students to program a LEGO robot without access to the hardware? Here’s a summary of some of the most popular and accessible EV3 emulators and virtual environments currently available, including both free and licensed software products. They range from open-ended tools that come with no agenda about how they are to be used through to highly-structured, curriculum-aligned activities.
CoderZ
Cost: By quote (* see note below)
CoderZ is an online learning environment for students to learn coding with a block-based programming language and a virtual 3D robot simulation. It’s structured around a series of gamified missions that provide over 15 hours of curriculum, activities, and assignments.
Features include:
- Block coding
- Runs in a browser, so no install needed
- Consists of a series of guided missions
- Teachers can create classes and monitor student progress
- Offers an online coding tournament where classes compete virtually.
*Note: Amazon Future Engineer offers free online virtual robotics & coding classes for any student or teacher affected by COVID-19 in the US, Canada, Argentina, Colombia and Chile. For more information, visit: https://play.gocoderz.com/lp/amazon/
EV3DevSim
https://www.aposteriori.com.sg/Ev3devSim
Cost: Free
DevSim enables students to write Python programs for a virtual EV3 robot. The same programs can be used on a physical EV3 robot running ev3dev.
Features include:
- Python programming
- Runs in a browser, so no install needed
- A variety of maps are available for testing
- Versatile robot and map configuation
- Extensive tutorials.
Gears
https://gears.aposteriori.com.sg/
Cost: Free
From the creator of EV3DevSim, Gears is a newer and more capable simulator that supports Blockly and Python. Generated Python code can run on a physical EV3 robot running ev3dev or Pybricks.
Features include:
- Blockly or Python programming
- Runs in a browser, no login or accounts needed
- Many built in challenges and missions, or upload your own image to use as a map
- Realistic 3D physics simulation (eg. the robot won’t run straight without the help of a gyro)
- Use one of the many built-in robots or configure your own.
MakeCode for EV3
https://makecode.mindstorms.com/
Cost: Free
MakeCode for EV3 is a browser-based programming environment that enables students to program a physical robot or a simulated EV3 brick.The simulator enables to students to test and debug their programs interactively. They can precisely control sensor input values and get immediate feedback about what’s happening with the motors and the display.
Features include:
- Program in drag-and-drop block coding, JavaScript text programming, or switch between them
- Runs in a browser, so no install needed
- Program a real EV3 brick or a virtual one using the interactive simulator
- Extensive tutorials.
Open Roberta Lab
Cost: Free
Open Roberta Lab enables students to write programs for a virtual EV3 robot using a block-based programming language.The same programs can be used on a physical EV3 robot running ev3dev.
Features include:
- Block coding
- Runs in a browser, so no install needed
- A number of maps are available
- The simulator is relatively versatile, allowing the user to move the robot and obstacle around the map while the program is running
- Robot configuration can be adjusted
- Provides good feedback about the robot’s sensor values.
QEV3Bot Simulator
https://sites.google.com/site/qev3bot/qev3bot-simulator
Cost: Free
QEV3Bot Simulator is a free Windows-based LEGO EV3 simulator. QEV3BotSim allows the user to configure the connection of up to four sensors chosen from the set of eight available sensors mounted on the robot.
Features include:
- RobotC text programming
- Runs on Windows
- EV3 brick emulator.
Robot Virtual Worlds
http://www.robotvirtualworlds.com/
Cost: Starts at $49 for single seat, or $299 for 30 seats for 365 days.
Carnegie Mellon University’s Robot Virtual Worlds simulates robots in 3D environments using RobotC and enables students to program virtual or physical robots.
Features include:
- RobotC text programming
- Runs on Windows 7, 8/8.1, or 10
- EV3 brick emulator
- A level builder enables you to build your own virtual worlds and import existing 3D models (*.stl files)
- A selection of curriculum packs are available.
Virtual Robotics Toolkit
https://www.virtualroboticstoolkit.com/
Cost: $65 perpetual / $50 subscription per seat
Cogmation’s Virtual Robotics Toolkit (VRT) is a highly-configurable and incredible versatile simulator that provides an experience that is a close match to the physical experience. Because it complements the EV3 Software rather than introducing an entirely new programming language, the VRT enables students to switch between virtual and physical programming.
Features include:
- Requires EV3 Software
- Runs on Mac OS X or Windows
- EV3 brick emulator
- Wide variety of virtual environments, including FLL and WRO competiton mats
- Highly configurable virtual robot
- Import custom robot models from free CAD tools such as LEGO Digital Designer
- Promotes collaboration through sharing virtual robots and sample code
- Configurable physics engine enables exploration of physical forces e.g. friction, gravity.
Last updated: July 24, 2020
Rob Torok
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