JunkBots, Bugbots, and Bots on Wheels: Building Simple Robots With BEAM Technology (Paperback)

by David Hrynkiw (Author), Mark Tilden (Author) "For a long time, robitics has been the domain of universities, industrial laboratories, and car-production assembly lines..." (more)
Key Phrases: Radio Shack, Mark Tilden, Solarbotics Ltd (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
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!

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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Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media; 1 edition (September 27, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0072226013
• ISBN-13: 978-0072226010
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #122,032 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #21 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Engineering > Mechanical > Automation
  #40 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Engineering > Mechanical > Robotics
  #45 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Engineering > Computer Technology > Robotics & Automation

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best of BEAM, November 5, 2002

By	Gareth Branwyn (Arlington, VA USA) - See all my reviews

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!

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Keeper, November 17, 2002

By	Morris E. Rosenthal (Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful & Simple, March 2, 2004

By	"discochang" (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

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.