Through the use of a fictional story, this book details how to build and design robots. Max, the story's main character, is part of an archaeological expedition investigating a newly discovered Mayan pyramid. During the expedition, the team encounters various problems, each solved with the help of a unique robot that Max creates using the Lego Mindstorms NXT kit.Although the book reveals possible robotic solutions and offers detailed information on how to build and program each robot, readers are encouraged to come up with their own. The book includes complete building theory information and provides worksheets for brainstorming.

LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3: The Mayan Adventure is great for the new LEGO EV3 user - especially one who loves step-by-step building and programming instructions. We combine well-illustrated instructions with a storyline of our Mayan king's tomb, filled with traps and passages. And how do our archaeologists make it past the traps? Young Evan brought his LEGO EV3 robot kit along, and his little bots save the day! Our book is an excellent choice for classroom adoption - the earlier edition is a proven favorite of robotics instructors, gifted student educators, and young people using it on their own. The book is unique in its use of real engineering design methodology and systems thinking. We don't just say "Here are the instructions - go build it our way." Instead, we support our students with a secure scaffold. Then as they build, they become skillful designers able to extend what they've learned from the book into whole new projects.

1. Tomb, Trap, and Trigger.- 2. ExploroBot - Planning and Design.- 3. ExploroBot - Build It.- 4. ExploroBot - Program It.- 5. String, Pebbles, and Gravity.- 6. StringBot - Planning.- 7. StringBot - Build It.- 8. StringBot - Program It.- 9. Scroll, Key, and Camera.- 10. SnapShotBot - Planning and Design.- 11. SnapShotBot - Build It.- 12. SnapShotBot - Program It.- 13. Get In, Grab It, Get Out.- 14. GrabberBot - Planning and Design.- 15. GrabberBot - Build It.- 16. GrabberBot - Program It.- 17. Bravery, Wisdom, and Honor.- 18. PushBot - Planning and Design.- 19. PushBot - Build It.- 20. PushBot - Program It.- 21. Discovery, Secret, and Home.- 22. Appendix A: The MINDSTORMS Community and EV3 Web Sites.- 23. Appendix B: Robot Commander Remote Control App.- 24. Appendix C: Kit Organization- Where Do All Those Parts Go?.- 25. Appendix D: Building Instructions for Bots.