Learning Goals 3 min
By the end of this lesson you will be able to:
- Build the Apache Helicopter with its Medium Motor in port A.
- Show an image and a line of text on the Brick screen with display [Eyes / Neutral v] and write [Hello] at line (1).
- Spin the rotors while the screen shows the helicopter's status.
Meet the Model — the AH-64 Apache 6 min
What is a helicopter?
A helicopter is an aircraft that flies using spinning blades on top instead of fixed wings. The AH-64 Apache is a famous twin-engine helicopter. Unlike a plane, it can rise straight up, hover in one spot and fly in any direction.
The science behind it
The spinning rotor blades push air downward. By Newton's third law, the air pushes back up — this reaction is the lift that holds the helicopter up. Tilting the blades changes the lift, so the pilot can hover, climb or fly forward.
Where you meet it
Helicopters fly rescue and air-ambulance missions, carrying people who need help fast. They also fight fires from the air and gather news and traffic reports above busy cities.
What we'll build
We'll build the Apache model. A Medium Motor on port A spins the rotor through gears. The Brick screen will show images and text — the helicopter's status.
Warm-Up 4 min
So far the robot has spun and beeped. The Brick also has a screen — a little display it can write on.
Quick-fire puzzle
Ravi runs this. What appears on the Brick screen?
when program starts :: events hat clear display :: display write [ROTORS ON] at line (1) :: display
Reveal the answer
The screen wipes blank, then the words ROTORS ON appear near the middle. clear display rubs the screen clean first, so nothing old is left behind.
New Concept — the Brick display 10 min
The screen is like a tiny whiteboard. You can clear it, draw a picture on it, or write words at a chosen spot.
Blocks reference
| Block | Category | What it does |
|---|---|---|
clear display :: display | Display | Wipes the screen blank, ready for new text or images. |
display [Eyes / Neutral v] :: display | Display | Draws a built-in picture you pick from a list (eyes, faces, arrows…). |
write [Hello] at line (1) :: display | Display | Writes text at a screen position. x is across, y is down. |
x and y — where on the screen
The screen is a grid. x is how far across (left to right). y is how far down (top to bottom). x: 0, y: 0 is the top-left corner. Bigger y means lower down.
Why it matters
Real machines show their status on a screen — a microwave's timer, a lift's floor number, a car dashboard. Your helicopter can show "ROTORS ON" so anyone watching knows what it is doing.
Build & Program — the Apache Helicopter 17 min
Part A — Build
Build the AH-64 Apache Helicopter. A Medium Motor drives gears that spin the main rotor, the tail rotor and the nose gun together.
Components & ports: EV3 Brick · Medium Motor → port A.
- Build the body and clip the four-blade main rotor on top.
- Connect the Medium Motor through gears to the main rotor; plug it into port A.
- Link the tail rotor and nose gun to the same gear train so they turn together.
- Spin the rotor by hand to check the gears mesh smoothly.
Part B — Program
Show a status screen, then spin the rotors.
- Drag in the hat that starts the program:
when program starts :: events hat
- Wipe the screen clean:
clear display :: display
- Write the status line:
write [ROTORS ON] at line (1) :: display
- Set the rotor speed:
[A v] set speed to (70) % :: motors
- Start the rotors spinning:
[A v] start motor [clockwise v] :: motors
when program starts :: events hat clear display :: display write [ROTORS ON] at line (1) :: display [A v] set speed to (70) % :: motors [A v] start motor [clockwise v] :: motors
Expected behaviour: the screen clears and shows ROTORS ON. The rotors, tail and gun all spin together at 70% speed and keep spinning. Press the Brick's back button to stop.
Try It Yourself — three small builds 11 min
Goal: Show a face picture instead of text while the rotors spin.
when program starts :: events hat display [Eyes / Neutral v] :: display [A v] set speed to (70) % :: motors [A v] start motor [clockwise v] :: motors
Goal: Two lines of text — call sign on top, status below.
when program starts :: events hat clear display :: display write [APACHE 01] at line (1) :: display write [ROTORS ON] at line (2) :: display [A v] start motor [clockwise v] :: motors
Goal: Siti wants a take-off sequence: show "STARTING", spin for 3 rotations, then change the screen to "FLYING".
when program starts :: events hat clear display :: display write [STARTING] at line (1) :: display [A v] run [clockwise v] for (3) [rotations v] :: motors clear display :: display write [FLYING] at line (1) :: display
Mini-Challenge — the dashboard helicopter 6 min
Combine today's display blocks with last lesson's play beep (60) for (0.2) seconds. Beep, show a status line, then spin the rotors at a speed you choose.
It works if:
- A beep sounds before take-off.
- The screen shows a clear status line while the rotors spin.
Recap 2 min
You used the Brick screen. clear display wipes it, display [Eyes / Neutral v] draws a picture, and write [Hello] at line (1) writes text at an x/y spot. x is across, y is down.
- display image (block)
- Draws a built-in picture on the Brick screen.
- write at x y (block)
- Writes text at a screen position. x is across, y is down.
- clear display (block)
- Wipes the screen blank before you draw or write.
Homework 1 min
Name your aircraft. Show your own call sign on the screen, then spin the rotors for 5 rotations.
Bring back next class: a phone photo of the Brick screen showing your call sign.
Heads up for next class: EV3-L1-06 builds the Flying Chair and uses the Brick's status light — green for go, red for stop.