Insectronics : Build Your Own Walking Robot [Paperback]

Karl Williams (Author), Karl Williams (Author)

Book Description

Series: TAB Robotics | Publication Date: November 5, 2002

Step-by-step guidance on building a six-legged insect-like walking robot

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

BUILD THE BADDEST BUG IN TOWN!
IT WALKS ON SIX LEGS, POSSESSES ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, UTILIZES STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY, AND IS INCREDIBLY INEXPENSIVE TO BUILD!

This complete project book delivers all the step-by-step plans you need to construct your own six-legged insect-like robot that walks and actually responds to its environment. Using inexpensive off-the-shelf parts hobbyists can "build a better bug" and at the same time have loads of fun honing their knowledge of mechanical construction, programming, microcontroller use, and artificial intelligence.

Written by an award-winning robotics expert, Insectronics:
* Fully explains PIC programming, use of sensors, and robot intelligence
* Details tools and materials
* Covers obstacle avoidance, sonar room mapping, finding the best route, and maze solving
* Features an informative chapter on software that covers coordinating the servo motors for walking, monitoring infrared and sonar sensors, and controlling the output of sound and light emitting diodes
* Includes a comprehensive chapter on robotic grippers
* Explains how to implement radio remote control to operate the robot up to 1 mile away
* Shows you how to give your robot unique personalized features
* Tells you how to get it all done on a shoestring budget

If you want to the follow the lead of robotics experts who are looking to insects for structural inspiration – and have hours of amusement – Insectronics belongs in your home workshop.

From the Back Cover

BUILD THE BADDEST BUG IN TOWN!.

. IT WALKS ON SIX LEGS, POSSESSES ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, UTILIZES STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY, AND IS INCREDIBLY INEXPENSIVE TO BUILD!.

. This complete project book delivers all the step-by-step plans you need to construct your own six-legged insect-like robot that walks and actually responds to its environment. Using inexpensive off-the-shelf parts hobbyists can �build a better bug� and at the same time have loads of fun honing their knowledge of mechanical construction, programming, microcontroller use, and artificial intelligence..

. Written by an award-winning robotics expert, Insectronics:.
* Fully explains PIC programming, use of sensors, and robot intelligence.
* Details tools and materials.
* Covers obstacle avoidance, sonar room mapping, finding the best route, and maze solving.
* Features an informative chapter on software that covers coordinating the servo motors for walking, monitoring infrared and sonar sensors, and controlling the output of sound and light emitting diodes.
* Includes a comprehensive chapter on robotic grippers.
* Explains how to implement radio remote control to operate the robot up to 1 mile away.
* Shows you how to give your robot unique personalized features.
* Tells you how to get it all done on a shoestring budget.

. If you want to the follow the lead of robotics experts who are looking to insects for structural inspiration � and have hours of amusement � Insectronics belongs in your home workshop.. .

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics; 1 edition (November 5, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071412417
• ISBN-13: 978-0071412414
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,133,420 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but not great, September 7, 2003

By 

Allen Kennedy "allenkll" (Panama City Beach, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Insectronics : Build Your Own Walking Robot (Paperback)

Although the book seems very thorough on the surface, as you begin to build the robot described, obvious flaws come to play, Parts seem to jump at you from nowhere, dimensions seem to be incorrect, and the "debugging" leaves something to be desired.

However, it is a good resource for the first time 'bot builder, and can get you thinking in the ways of design, construction and programming.

As for the bot itself... As reproduced exactly from the books instructions there are problems structurally, and programatically, that can be overcome with some ingeuity.

So, If you are looking for a fool proof step by step to bot building, try Gordon Mccomb's Robot builder Bonanza, however if you are a step or two into the game already, then get this book.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!! Very detailed information, December 9, 2002

By 

Paul Daniels (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Insectronics : Build Your Own Walking Robot (Paperback)

I've been a big fan of walking robots since seeing them on television all the time and wanted to build one, but, where to start?
*** This book is where it's at!! ***
I'm really impressed with this book. A lot of the other robotics books don't really give you enough information to actually build the robots but this one does - and is very detailed - right down to giving the exact aluminum cutting and drilling dimensions and then actually showing great pictures of what each finished piece looks like. So when I to put the pieces together it actually worked.
It gives all the info for making the circuit boards. I was always apprehensive about making printed circuit boards but they turned out great and made the robot look so professional.
The cool thing about programming the robot is that the author includes all the .HEX files (and you can download them from a website - listed in the book too) needed to program the microcontroller so you don't have to actually compile code if you don't want to. The only thing is that you need a Pic programmer but it was very inexpensive but you can get a pre-programmed chip from the website too. Way cheaper than using a Basic stamp...
The infrared sensor chapter makes building an affordable sensor really easy - I actually used if for a different project too.
The room mapping with the sonar sensor is fascinating because it seems like the robot is really alive the way it knows where to go.
I'm going to add the radio control - haven't yet - but it looks pretty easy to interface to the microcontroller. And then use this technique for a video camera.
The gripper design looks great too - it could also be used for a robot arm if you wanted.
I have to say that for the low price of the book you get much great info!!
Even if you don't build the exact robot in the book, the detailed practical information about interfacing, motion control and sensor monitoring can be used for any project.
This bot is going to be useful for some artificial intelligence software that I intend to write - a perfect platform for experimentation.
The author writes in a style that makes is easy to understand and he has a way of simplifying the hard stuff... and the robot really does seem like it's alive.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book!, March 15, 2003

By 

Gary Scott (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Insectronics : Build Your Own Walking Robot (Paperback)

I've been building robots for several years now and this has to be the best book on the subject of building a walking robot! Easy to follow instructions and explanation of the code make this a winner in my book! The Author has a website that allows you to easily download the code and templates for construction. This is a winner!