EV3 comes in two versions/sets: Home (for children and enthusiasts) and Education (for teachers and students). There are very minor differences between the two sets, as detailed in the following table:
|
Home set |
Education set |
|---|---|
|
Requires 6 AA batteries |
Has a rechargeable battery pack |
|
IR remote controller | |
|
1 touch sensor |
2 touch sensors |
|
1 ultrasonic sensor | |
|
1 gyroscopic sensor |
There is also a minor difference when it comes to software, both internal and external. The two sets come with slightly different firmware, with a few components missing from one or the other.
Lego intends the stock EV3 to be programmed using a visual programming language running on either a Windows machine or a Mac. This programming suite does not run on Linux. The latter half of this book is dedicated to ways for overcoming this shortcoming with a much more powerful substitute.
All in all, there is not much that separates the two sets. Additional components can be purchased online to achieve parity between the two. Either set can be used to construct a stunning variety of robots.