Synopses & Reviews
THE BEST AND BIGGEST ROBOTICS BOOK ON THE BLOCKNOW BETTER THAN EVERSUPERCHARGED WITH TWO TOP ROBOTICS AUTHORS! Thousands of robot hobbyists -- and robots -- grew up on the first two editions on this book. Now Gordon McComb has partnered with fellow robotics enthusiast Myke Predko -- and together they've made this classic guide to building your very own robot more awesome than ever. Inside Robot Builder's Bonanza you'll find detailed plans for constructing robots that walk, see, feel, talk, listen, think -- and more!
Best of all, this book will make you want to build a robot -- and show you how you can! Packed with enthusiasm, fascinating science tidbits, field-tested projects, and modular organization to make it easy to invent and build your own designs, this best-seller puts it all together for anyone with the slightest curiosity about this fascinating hobby. Projects vary in complexity so everyone from novices to advanced hobbyists will find something to inspire and advance robot plans.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO BUILD A ROBOT!
Follow a plan or create your own design
- Robot Basics
- Parts and Tools
- Practical Robotics Projects
- Money-Saving Hacks
- Construction Techniques: Plastic, Wood, and Metal
- Computer and Electronic Control
- Power, Motors, and Locomotion
- Sensors and Navigation
- Robot Programming
- Tips, Tricks, and Tidbits
- Avoiding Common Mistakes
- List of Sources for Parts and Ideas
FULLY ILLUSTRATED PLANS FOR 99 AMAZING ROBOTS
NEW to the Third Edition:
- 30 Completely New Projects!
- Hundreds of Helpful New Illustrations
- Customizability Added to Every Project
- More Materials and Tools You Can Use to Build Your Robots
- State-of-the-Art Advances
- More Help with Microcontrollers for the Beginner
- Developments in Remote Control
- Advanced Locomotion
- Information to Turn Toys into Automatons
- High-Tech Sensors
- Suggestions for Robotics Competitions and Competing
- 75% Fewer Bad Jokes
Synopsis
A major revision of the bestselling "bible" of amateur robotics building--packed with the latest in servo motor technology, microcontrolled robots, remote control, Lego Mindstorms Kits, and other commercial kits.
Gives electronics hobbyists fully illustrated plans for 11 complete Robots, as well as all-new coverage of Robotix-based Robots, Lego Technic-based Robots, Functionoids with Lego Mindstorms, and Location and Motorized Systems with Servo Motors.
Features a pictures and parts list that accompany all projects, and material on using the BASIC Stamp and other microcontrollers.
Synopsis
Everybody's favorite amateur robotics book is bigger, bolder, and better than ever! This updated edition of Gordon McComb's best-selling
Robot Builder's Bonanza features fascinating science tidbits, field-tested projects, and modular organization to make it easy to invent and build your own designs. Full appendices provide suggestions for further reading, Internet information sources, names and addresses for mail order supply companies, and help with interfacing logic families.
This heavily illustrated "bible" of amateur robotics is the best you can ever find. Take it home and start building robots today.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO GET STARTED
Where to Get the Parts
How Much They Cost
Working with Plastic, Wood, & Metal
Constructing the 'Bot
Avoiding Common Mistakes Fully Illustrated Plans for these Amazing Robots
Minibot
Scooterbot
Roverbot
Six-Legged Walking Robot
Pepbot
Lego Lightbots that Seek and Avoid Light
Polar coordinate robotic arm
Revolute coordinate robotic arm
More
NEW IN THIS EDITION
Lego Technic-Based Robots
Functionoids with Lego Mindstorms
Fixed and Mobile Systems with Servo Motors
Using the Basic Stamp, BasicX, and Other Microcontrollers
Remote Controlled Robots
Infrared, Ultrasonic, Laser, and other High-Tech SensorsAbout the Author
Gordon McComb is an avid electronics hobbyist who has written for TAB Books for a number of years. He wrote the best-selling
Troubleshooting and Repairing VCRs (now in its third edition),
Gordon McComb's Gadgeteer's Goldmine, and
Lasers, Ray Guns, and Light Cannons. Myke Predko has 20 years experience in the design, manufacturing, and testing of electronic circuits. An experienced author, Myke wrote McGraw-Hill's best-selling 123 Robotics Projects for the Evil Genius; 123 PIC Microcontroller Experiments for the Evil Genius, PIC Microcontroller Pocket Reference; Programming and Customizing PIC Microcontrollers, Second Edition; Programming Robot Controllers; and other books, and is the principal designer of both TAB Electronics Build Your Own Robot Kits.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments Introduction Part 1: Robot Basics Chapter 1: The Robot Experimenter Chapter 2: Anatomy of a Robot Chapter 3: Structural Materials Chapter 4: Buying Parts Chapter 5: Electronic Components Chapter 6: Tools Chapter 7: Electronic Construction Techniques Part 2: Robot Platform Construction Chapter 8: Plastic Platforms Chapter 9: Wooden Platforms Chapter 10: Metal Platforms Chapter 11: Hacking Toys Part 3: Computers and Electronic Control Chapter 12: An Overview of Robot "Brains" Chapter 13: Programming Fundamentals Chapter 14: Computer Peripherals Chapter 15: The BASIC Stamp 2 Microcontroller Chapter 16: Remote Control Systems Part 4: Power, Motors, and Locomotion Chapter 17: Batteries and Robot Power Supplies Chapter 18: Principles of Robot Locomotion Chapter 19: Choosing the Right Motor Chapter 20: Working with DC Motors Chapter 21: Working with Stepper Motors Chapter 22: Working with Servo Motors Part 5: Practical Robotics Projects Chapter 23: Building a Roverbot Chapter 24: Building a Heavy-Duty Six-Legged Walking Robot Chapter 25: Advanced Robot Locomotion Systems Chapter 26: Reaching Out with Robot Arms Chapter 27: Building a Revolute Coordinate Arm Chapter 28: Experimenting with Gripper Designs Part 6: Sensors and Navigation Chapter 29: The Sense of Touch Chapter 30: Object Detection Chapter 31: Sound Input and Output Chapter 32: Robot Vision Chapter 33: Navigation Chapter 34: Fire Detection Systems Chapter 35: Experimenting with Tilt and Gravity Sensors Chapter 36: Home Robots and How Not to Chew Up Your Furniture Part 7: Putting It All Together Chapter 37: Robot Tasks, Operations, and Behaviors Chapter 38: Integrating the Blocks Chapter 39: Failure Analysis Chapter 40: Setting Up Workshops, Demonstrations, and Competitions Appendix A: Further Reading Appendix B: Sources Appendix C: Robot Information on the Internet Index