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wiki:v2:pixy_lego_quick_start

**This is an old revision of the document!**

Pixy2 LEGO Quick Start

This guide will get you up and running quickly with Pixy2 and LEGO Mindstorms. You must have a LEGO Mindstorms EV3 or NXT brick with a fresh set of batteries. We try to be as detailed as possible in this guide, but it helps if you are somewhat familiar how to use your LEGO Mindstorms system.

Please follow this guide closely and by all means, don't skip any steps!

1. Make sure you're running the most recent LEGO Software

We recommend running version 1.3.1 or later of the LEGO Mindstorms EV3 Home Edition software. If you already have it installed, go to the Help menu and select Check for Software Updates to make sure you are running the latest version.

Or you can go to the LEGO website to download and install.

2. Make sure you're running the most recent LEGO firmware on your NXT or EV3 Brick

If you are using the NXT Brick you should be running firmware version 1.31 or later. This firmware is available from the LEGO website (you need to scroll down to find it). Note, we found this confusing, but you can run the EV3 software with NXT. In fact, this is required in order to use Pixy2 with LEGO – that is, you need to be running the newer EV3 software and not the NXT software. Possibly adding to the confusion is the fact that you can't upgrade the NXT firmware from the EV3 software. You need to upgrade the NXT firmware from the NXT Software. So go ahead and upgrade your NXT's firmware, if you are running firmware that is older than 1.31.

If you are using the EV3 Brick you should be running firmware 1.09H or later. This firmware is available from the LEGO website (you need to scroll down to find it). You can upgrade the firmware from the EV3 Software application by going to the Tools menu and selecting Firmware Update. Interestingly, if you select Check Online in the Firmware Update dialog box, the latest firmware you will be able to download (at the time of this writing) is 1.06H. We recommend using 1.09H, so download that version from the LEGO website and select Browse in the Firmware Update dialog box to select the firmware file you just downloaded and then click on the Download button in the Firmware Update dialog box to download the new firmware into your brick.

3. Install the Pixy2 EV3 Block

Let's install the Pixy2 EV3 block in the Mindstorms EV3 Software by performing the following steps:

  • Download the latest “LEGO blocks and examples” file from this page.
  • This is a zip file, so go ahead and unzip it.
  • Open the LEGO Mindstorms EV3 Software that you downloaded in step 1 above.
  • Open a New Project by selecting File➜New Project
  • Select Tools➜Block Import and then select Browse


  • Browse to the location where you unzipped the “LEGO blocks and examples” file. Choose the Pixy2-x.y.z.ev3b“ file in the blocks directory


  • Import the Pixy2 EV3 block by clicking on Import.


  • Close and restart the LEGO Mindstorms EV3 Software.

Whew, you're almost done with this installing software and firmware business. You just need to install PixyMon, which should be easy.

4. Install PixyMon v2

If you're just getting started with Pixy2, you should install PixyMon next. It will allow you to configure Pixy2 and see what it sees. Choose your platform below:

5. Teach Pixy2 an object

After you install PixyMon and get it running, the next step is to teach Pixy an object, or 2, or 3

6. Hook up to your LEGO brick and run the demo

  • Your Pixy2 should now be locating and tracking the object(s) that you taught it. (hooray!) You're now ready to connect Pixy2 to your LEGO brick. Use the supplied cable and the pictures below as a guide. If you are using an NXT controller, connecting Pixy2 is practically identical (see below.) Be sure to connect Pixy2 to sensor port number 1 (on the far left as shown.) All examples will assume Pixy2 is plugged into sensor port number 1.
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  • Next, turn on your LEGO brick if you haven't done so, and hook up a USB cable between your computer and your LEGO brick.
  • From the LEGO Mindstorms EV3 Software, go to the File menu and select Open Project.

  • Browse to the location where you unzipped the “LEGO blocks and examples” file, and then to the examples directory and then either to the EV3 or NXT directory depending on your brick version. Select “ccctest.ev3” and click on Open.


    You should see something like this (below). This is the hello world demo program. Note the Pixy2 sensor block!


    - Run the program! Click on the play icon in the lower right corner of your EV3 software window. If you don't see the play icon, make sure your LEGO brick is powered on, finished booting, and connected to your computer via a USB cable.


    - Move the object that you taught Pixy2 in front its camera lens. You should see the object move on your LEGO brick's LCD screen. If you are using an NXT brick, you will still see a circle on the screen, but you will only see the outline of the circle (the NXT brick cannot fill-in circle shapes.)

      You're done! You've successfully set up Pixy2 on your LEGO Mindstorms system! You are now ready to start building LEGO robot creations that use the powerful sensing capabilities of Pixy2. For more detailed info on the Pixy2 software block, check out this page. ===== Troubleshooting ===== * Some Tips on Improving Detection Accuracy - must read! * I get the message "No Pixy devices have been detected" in PixyMon * Pixy isn't detecting the objects I taught it If the above links don't solve your issue, or if you have questions or suggestions, please send them to support@pixycam.com. We also have a public forum where you can ask technical questions about the Pixy2 software or hardware, and learn what the Pixy community is up to. ===== Where to go from here ===== * The LEGO Chase Demo Tutorial is a great way learn how to use Pixy2 with LEGO. * Learn how to mount Pixy2 to your LEGO creation. * The Pixy LEGO Wiki index has lots of additional information. * Check out the Pixy2 LEGO software blocks reference. Thanks again for your support!
wiki/v2/pixy_lego_quick_start.1548460635.txt.gz · Last modified: 2019/01/25 23:57 by pixycam