Customer Reviews

Robot Builders Bonanza: 99 Inexpensive Robotics Projects

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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Do you have an interest in robots?, Are you a tinkerer or experimenter? Do you have a basic working knowledge of electronic circuits? Then this is the book for you. This book lays out in 33 chapters the information and know-how of building robots from the ground up and on the cheap. Chapters on batteries and motors will get you up and running on designing your first robot while later chapters give you ways of refining your designs. The book is modular in approach: The basics are covered first, followed by building techniques, and then refinements like eyes, sound detection, and remote control. Plenty of pictures and schematics are included to ease construction. Although this book lacks motion control equations and programming ideas, it lays the groundwork for anyone with more than a passing interest in robots.

As other reviews have commented, this book has a wealth of information on robotic systems and explained in a way that makes it very available to a beginner but with enough detail for the expert.

However, note that the book was published in 1987. There were not any microcontrollers for the hobbiest at the time (the computers quoted in the book are Apple IIe and IBM-PC clones).

If you want a good description of sensors and output systems, then this book is excellent, if you want information about programable brains of robots, this book will not satisfy you.

This rare gem of a book covers many important subjects related to robotics; subjects which range from mechanical design of robots, and the equally important electronic aspects. Aspects such as gripper design, locomotion, the senses of touch, hearing, speaking (yes, speaking!) and sight are discussed in considerable detail. Mechanical diagrams and lots of electrical schematics give a complete, practical solution to building the robots, and the subsystems discussed in this book. Futhermore, a lot of useful information is given concerning the electrical parts used in the designs. Finally the last few chapters deal with the fun and interesting area of computer interfacing one's robot - something which allows creation of the "intelligent" robot. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in practical robotics and electronics!

Good book over all. This book covered the basics well, from basic hardware frame to senors. The book is written in a modular way. The author does this to provide a mix and match ability of different components. I have tried any of the circuits yet. The robots the author walks you through in the book involve considerable hardware construction and metal parts. Lots of drilling, taping, screwing, bushings, chains, etc. A few pages of the book seemed to be disorganized and vage to me. Also, I was disappointed that the only coverage of a microprocessor and programming, was to use a notebook on the robot, and did not cover any onboard central processing. I will be purchasing "Mobile Robots: Inspiration to implementation" written by a couple of people at MIT to fill in the gaps. I would have ordered the later book if I had to choose again.

As a beginner hobbyist in robotics, I feel like already having all I need to start. This book explains everything from the motor, body, until the intelligent part of the robot. It also gives the reader some hints to use his/her imagination. Morely, the book supplies the appropriate information on how to get the parts that the reader needs.

Nothing you can complain from this book. It makes you feel like an expert and full of imagination.

This book covers the hardware half of robotics very well. It is woefully lacking when it comes to programming the robots from a PC though. All the examples are very vague and in BASIC. It was otherwise a very good book. Excellent idea source.

I have about 10 robotics books, yet this one is my favorite. This one has complete parts lists for making cool sensors such as a 40 KhZ ultrasonic ranging system, arms and grippers, sound detection etc. Clean diagrams + complete parts lists. This book is very inspiring and will kick the robotics door wide open. Word! Well worth the list price of 18.95

I have purchased just about every book in print on robotics to satisfy my hobby interest. this one has been by far the most helpful. It doesn't go off the deep end. Its basic and easy to read and understand. I have read it from cover to cover several times and refer to it often. Somewhat outdated but I consider that a plus. I am a bit behind in technology myself so it was just right for my level of knowledge.

This books aproach helps you see what you need,and what you are going to finish up with. It slightly out of date, but this really isnt a problem, a transister is still a transister. I highly reccomend this book for all ages.

This is an excellent book for beginners. It illustrates how to build robots starting from a basic frame, to locomotation, and to sensing. The author describes the multiple ways to make a robot, out of wood or plastic or metal, and provides the pros and cons out of his own experiences. This helps the reader avoid many common mistakes.

He also instructs you in what parts to acquire, their ballpark costs, and where you can get them.

He delves into basic electronics if you're not familiar with it.

He does the same for basic mechanical parts.

Overall, reading this book is wonderful because it is like going through a robotic apprenticeship.