Robot Builder's Bonanza, 4th Edition [Paperback]

Gordon McComb (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 23, 2011 | ISBN-10: 0071750363 | ISBN-13: 978-0071750363 | Edition: 4

The Bestselling Robotics Book--Now with New Projects and Online Tools!

"Amazing...should be required reading for any budding robot builder!" -GeekDad, Wired.com

Have fun while learning how to design, construct, and use small robots! This richly illustrated guide offers everything you need to know to construct sophisticated, fully autonomous robots that can be programmed from your computer. Fully updated with the latest technologies and techniques, Robot Builder's Bonanza, Fourth Edition includes step-by-step plans that take you from building basic motorized platforms to giving the machine a brain--and teaching it to walk, talk, and obey commands.

This robot builder's paradise is packed with more than 100 affordable projects, including 10 completely new robot designs. The projects are modular and can be combined to create a variety of highly intelligent and workable robots of all shapes and sizes. Mix and match the projects to develop your own unique creations. The only limit is your imagination!

Robot Builder's Bonanza, Fourth Edition covers:

• Parts, materials, and tools
• Building motorized wooden, plastic, and metal platforms
• Rapid prototyping methods
• Drafting bots with computer-aided design
• Constructing high-tech robots from toys
• Building bots from found parts
• Power, motors, and locomotion
• Robots with wheels, tracks, and legs
• Constructing robotic arms and grippers
• Robot electronics and circuit making
• Computers and electronic control
• Microcontrollers--Arduino, PICAXE, and the BASIC stamp
• Remote control systems
• Sensors, navigation, and visual feedback
• Robot vision via proximity, light, and distance

New! FREE online content at:
www.robotoid.com

• My First Robot tutorial lessons
• Project parts finder
• Animated, interactive learning tools
• How-to videos, robot e-plans, bonus articles, links, and more

Plus, go to:
www.mhprofessional.com/rbb4 for:

• Downloadable programs
• RBB app notes
• Bonus chapters

Make Great Stuff!
TAB, an imprint of McGraw-Hill Professional, is a leading publisher of DIY technology books for makers, hackers, and electronics hobbyists.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Gordon McComb has written more than 60 books and thousands of magazine articles—more than a million copies of his books are in print, in more than a dozen languages. Gordon has been called "The father of hobby robotics" by MAKE Magazine. For 13 years, he wrote a weekly syndicated newspaper column on computers, which reached several million readers worldwide. Gordon is still a regular contributor to SERVO Magazine, and most recently completed seven years as writer of their popular Robotics Resources column.

Product Details

• Paperback: 736 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics; 4 edition (May 23, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071750363
• ISBN-13: 978-0071750363
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 1.1 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #27,810 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #8 in Books > Computers & Technology > Computer Science > Artificial Intelligence > Robotics
  • #15 in Books > Science & Math > Experiments, Instruments & Measurement > Experiments & Projects

More About the Author

Gordon McComb has written more than 60 books and thousands of magazine articles--more than a million copies of his books are in print, in more than a dozen languages. He's has been called "The father of hobby robotics" by MAKE Magazine.

For 13 years, Gordon wrote a weekly syndicated newspaper column on computers, which reached several million readers worldwide. He's still a regular contributor to SERVO Magazine, and most recently completed seven years as writer of their popular Robotics Resources column.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Read and the Instructions Work June 27, 2011

By onareach

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book accomplishes something rare: It's straight-forward for beginners and yet detail-rich for experts. I really liked the pace and depth.

The material is organized in a way that makes it easy to jump to a topic of interest, which makes it a useful reference book. With plenty of new information, it's worth a read from the beginning.

The thing that surprised me is that when I built one the projects (the Arduino robot), the instructions were actually complete and correct! (I didn't have to make the usual leaps or go through frustrating trials typical for most hardware/software/builder instructions.)

As a bonus, the jokes and personal asides are pretty entertaining. You can tell the author has really lived with his subject.

I highly recommend it.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The classic text on hobby robotics July 18, 2011

By Martin C. Heermance

Format:Paperback

This book is considered the classic text on hobby robotics, and I bought the third edition after becoming interested in robot building five years ago. I read that version cover to cover, and occasionally flip through it as a reference today. The book contains useful reference information on machining materials (e.g. wood, metal, and plastics), basic electronics, drive train design, and sensors. There are also projects within the book which apply the reference information to build specific types of robots.

The fourth edition retains this great format with a number of improvements: There's a new companion web site which has printable templates for making servo brackets, encoder patterns, and downloadable program code. New chapters on using the Picaxe, the Arduino, and more projects using RC servos (e.g. a servo based walker and arm projects). This is great because RC servos are so easy to control with a microcontroller. There's still a chapter on using the classic Basic Stamp 2 which is quite popular due to its ease of use and great support.

The author Gordon McComb is active in online forums and if you stick with the hobby long enough, you might virtually bump into him. You'll find he's as helpful and friendly in such encounters as he comes across in this book.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Robot Builders Bonanza August 3, 2011

By Van Rensburg Kevin

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

As in the previous editions Gordon McComb does an excellent job of explaining principles of tool use, basic building mechanics and programming. The many examples and projects make this an excellent handbook for any robotics enthusiast. The 2nd edition had some good examples and projects for the Lego RCX and the 3rd edition had a nice section on the Parrelax BASIC II microcontroller. This edition covers Arduino, PICAXE, and the BASIC stamp.