From the publishers of BattleBots: The Official Guide comes this do-it-yourself guide to BEAM (Biology, Electronics, Aesthetics, Mechanics) robots. They're cheap, simple, and can be built by beginners in just a few hours, with help from this expert guide complete with full-color photos. Get ready for some dumpster-diving!
JunkBots, Bugbots, and Bots on Wheels
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Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
From the Back Cover
Create a cool robot from scratch--in just a few hours!
Ever wonder what to do with those discarded items in your junk drawer? Now you can use electronic parts from old Walkmans, spare remote controls, even paper clips to build your very own autonomous robots and gizmos. Get step-by-step instructions from the Junkbot masters for creating simple and fun self-guiding robots safely and easily using common and not-so-common objects from around the house--or within a quick shopping trip away. Using BEAM technology, ordinary tools, salvaged electronic bits, and the occasional dead toy, you'll be able to construct a solar-powered obstacle-avoiding device, engineer a mini-sumo-wrestling robot, build a motorized walking robot bug, and much more. So grab your screwdriver, raid that dumpster, and join the robot-building revolution!
- Get an overview of basic electronics, robot construction methods, and learn the difference between "dead bug" and "live bug" electronics
- Identify the essential tools you need for mechanical assembly and gain important safety tips
- Find out why BEAM robotics is a growing alternative to traditional CPU-based robotics
- Learn "dumpster diving" strategies for collecting prime robot construction material that's available no other way
- Use a cell phone battery or solar panel from a calculator to create dual-power sources for your robot
- Understand how to use soldering equipment and various support tools
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
51 of 51 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is, by far, the best robotics how-to book I've ever read. I've been following the BEAM "movement" from its inception, and Dave Hrynkiw's work for years. This book makes the BEAM approach toward robotics accessible to everyone, from the complete newbie to the more experienced hobbyist.
I was amazed at how well the book was written (it's genuinely funny in spots), and how much attention to detail was evident in clear photos and well-done illustrations. This is a model for how such a book should be done.
There are seven projects in the book, from a simple solar-powered top to a rather sophisticated four-legged insect-like walker. Set-by-step instructions are given for each project, along with process photos and circuit diagrams.
One of the coolest things about BEAMbots is that they're often built from analog electronics scavenged from techno-junk (old solar calculators, Walkman, pagers, modems, etc.). Dave provides info on how to round up this junk and where to go for the parts you can't scrounge.
I think that making some of these little autonomous robo-critters and letting them scuttle and flail around in your office (seeking light, avoiding light, dodging obstacles) would be a great way of flexing your superior geek muscles. Make some of these babies and you'll be the envy of propellerheads everywhere!
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Great book for beginners in robotics OR electronics. This book focuses on the minimalist BEAM approach to robotics, as opposed to the full blown combat robots you see on TV. Starts with the real basics, everything from reading resistor color bands (BBROYGBVGW - Bad Boys etc...) to proper soldering techniques. Then it moves on to a series of step-by-step micro-bot builds, generously illustrated with photos and diagrams. If you can't find the parts around the house to build your bots, you can always take the author's dumpster diving tips to heart. I'd recommend this book for anybody who's not afraid of soldering and glue fumes.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As a graphic designer by trade, I dabble in building robots. The BEAM philosophy for building robots is really quite amazing because the focus is on reuse of discarded electronics while striving to make your robots look as asthetically pleasing as possible. The strength of this work is that now everybody may build a robot easily and quickly.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing
Dear Amazon Customers,
This book along with the book Insectronics were what got me into robotics. Read more
This book along with the book Insectronics were what got me into robotics. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Nalek
5.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting Book
This book is just what my son was looking for to enhance his learning in robotics. It has many projects that a curious boy would like to complete. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Booklvg family
4.0 out of 5 stars
JBBoW is Great fun!
Great read and fun projects for beginners. I learned a lot more than I thought I would. My son and I are having fun together working on the projects in this book.
Published 23 months ago by Chris Boyd
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book!!
This book was a gift for my boyfriend who was getting curious about engineering. He had a harder time finding things to make little solar run bots then understanding the book. Read more
Published on November 26, 2010 by Mike and Miranda
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lots of Electronic Fun
I've had this for about 8 weeks now and have built a few 'bots based on the ideas in this book. So far the advice has all been spot on, the book is an enjoyable read and I am happy... Read more
Published on June 11, 2010 by Christopher T. Dahle
5.0 out of 5 stars
the best book i never saw
i say this is the beginners guide for the robotics world and is very easy to understand i study hi def electronics and the schematics is very easy to understand and no need to... Read more
Published on October 24, 2009
4.0 out of 5 stars
lots of fun
I am a senior in high school and have taken many engineering and robotics classes both online and in school. Read more
Published on May 31, 2009 by J. D. Williams
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good book about B.E.A.M. robotics
This is a well written book about small robots, junk bots, etc. Goes step by step on how to build any of the projects, various points of interest, some history, and other good... Read more
Published on April 26, 2009 by MacGregor2k
5.0 out of 5 stars
High BEAM's
I am just investigating BEAM for some physical computing course work and was pleased by the straighforward nature of the examples and explanations of what it takes to make your own... Read more
Published on March 15, 2006 by D. Bamford
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
This book is very well done. The photos are phenomenal, the mechanical diagrams are very consice and exact and the subject matter is explained very well. Read more
Published on September 17, 2003 by Frank Kennedy
