This guide will get you up and running quickly with Pixy2 and LEGO Mindstorms EV3. You must have a LEGO Mindstorms EV3 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 with how to use your LEGO Mindstorms system. If you have LEGO Mindstorms NXT, we're sorry, but we no longer support NXT.
Please follow this guide closely and by all means, don't skip any steps!

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.

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.

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.

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:

• PixyMon on Mac
• PixyMon on Windows Vista, 7, or 8
• PixyMon on Windows XP
• PixyMon on Linux

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

• 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. 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.
  
   
  
   
• 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. Select “ccc_test.ev3” and click on Open.
  
  
  You should see something like this (below). This is the ccc_test 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.
   

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.

• Some Tips on Improving Detection Accuracy - must read!
• I get the message "No Pixy devices have been detected" in PixyMon

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.

• Try running the LEGO Line Tracking Test.
• Try running the LEGO RGB Sensing Test.
• 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!