Customer Reviews

Jin Sato's LEGO MINDSTORMS: The Master's Technique

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This is a very well written book. You can tell from the text that Mr. Sato is an expert at Mindstorms.

Unfortunately, the book covers chapter after chapter of project parts and programming code that do not ship with the $200 LEGO Mindstorms: Robotics Invention System 2.0 718 piece kit. If you are really into Mindstorms and want to hand-code your programs outside the supplied GUI interface using downloaded languages, this is a great book. But, if you just purchase the Robotics Invention System 2.0 kit, then this book is not going to help much unless you download more software from non-lego web sites, and purchase even more lego hardware. I returned the book.

In Jin Sato's Lego Mindstorms: The Master's Technique, software researcher and Lego expert Jin Sato offers an incredible, "user friendly" guide to making wondrous creations with Lego Mindstorms. Written by the creator of the MIBO robotic dog, individual chapters include computer programming and source code to craft balanced and functional assembly designs; putting together working gears step-by-step; and explicit instructions on how to create one's own MIBO or other grand projects, and more! Jin Sato's superbly presented, deftly written, 364 pages instructional guide is an essential reference for all dedicated Lego hobbyists.

GET THIS BOOK!

I've been waiting for this book for a few months now and I must say it was well worth the wait -- even if all you want to do is to build MIBO. Jin Sato really is the master, and it's alot easier to have him tell you how to build MIBO than it is to figure it yourself. It's quite a complicated model but an amazing challenge. The introductions to the various software are great too, and it's great to see things through Sato's eyes.

As you may be able to tell from the image this book is quite dated. It uses the older mindstorms brain. The gearing designs are still relevant, as are the building tips. If you've seen this 'dog' in motion you'll know that it's not that great as far as functionality goes. Lego gears have too much play in them to reliably operate such a mechanism over time. Don't get me wrong, this design is still very impressive. If you're looking for ways to use your turntables for robotic articulation then you should get this book.