Robot Builder's Bonanza (Tab Electronics) [Paperback]

Gordon McComb (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0071362967 | ISBN-13: 978-0071362962 | Publication Date: September 21, 2000 | Edition: 2

A major revision of the bestselling "bible" of amateur robotics building--packed with the latest in servo motor technology, microcontrolled robots, remote control, Lego Mindstorms Kits, and other commercial kits.

Gives electronics hobbyists fully illustrated plans for 11 complete Robots, as well as all-new coverage of Robotix-based Robots, Lego Technic-based Robots, Functionoids with Lego Mindstorms, and Location and Motorized Systems with Servo Motors.

Features a pictures and parts list that accompany all projects, and material on using the BASIC Stamp and other microcontrollers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The author of The Robot Builder's Sourcebook ... offers a series of easy-to-do projects ranging from adapting common toys to walking robots to giving your robot sound capabilities. He includes new information on LEGO(R) Mindstorms(tm), microcontrollers, robotics programming, and other technological developments. For learning the various components of putting together a robot, this is a great guide, and of course, as one would expect from the author, there are many useful resources listed. (Library Journal )

From the Back Cover

Everybody's favorite amateur robotics book is bigger, bolder, and better than ever!

Readers at Amazon say:

"It's not just good. It's greeaaaaaaaaaat! Awesome book."
"The projects are simple to build and give the beginner an excellent foundation in robotics."
"This is an excellent book for beginners. The author provides the pros and cons out of his own experiences."

*Robots that walk, see, feel, talk, listen, and think.
Remote-controlled robots and robots that find their own way.
A robotic arm and a robotic bug.
Robots made from toys, and robots controlled by computers.
Robots with "brains."

You can build them all from plans in this book, or design your own. Just look inside. This updated edition of Gordon McComb's best-selling Robot Builder's Bonanza features fascinating science tidbits, field-tested projects, and modular organization to make it easy to invent and build your own designs. Full appendices provide suggestions for further reading, Internet information sources, names and addresses for mail order supply companies, and help with interfacing logic families.

This heavily illustrated "bible" of amateur robotics is the best you can ever find. Take it home and start building robots today.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO GET STARTED
*Where to Get the Parts
*How Much They Cost
*Working with Plastic, Wood, & Metal
*Constructing the 'Bot
*Avoiding Common Mistakes

Fully Illustrated Plans for these Amazing Robots
Minibot
Scooterbot
Roverbot
Six-Legged Walking Robot
Pepbot
Lego Lightbots that Seek and Avoid Light
Polar coordinate robotic arm
Revolute coordinate robotic arm
More

NEW IN THIS EDITION
*Lego Technic-Based Robots
*Functionoids with Lego Mindstorms
*Fixed and Mobile Systems with Servo Motors
*Using the Basic Stamp, BasicX, and Other Microcontrollers
*Remote Controlled Robots
*Infrared, Ultrasonic, Laser, and other High-Tech Sensors

"Gordon McComb is my favorite how-to author."
--a reader at Amazon

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 720 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics; 2 edition (September 21, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071362967
• ISBN-13: 978-0071362962
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #582,812 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic in the making!, October 4, 2000

By 

Gerald Petrey (Tucson, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Robot Builder's Bonanza (Tab Electronics) (Paperback)

Gordon has outdone himself with this new edition of RBB. This is probabaly one of the most encompassing books on robotics ever. In these 750 pages, he has managed to include an in-depth coverage of almost all aspects of robotics including electonics, mechanical construction, programming, interfacing to all types of sensors, the use of the most popular motors, and very many of the microcontrollers available for robot brains. This book brings so much information together in one volume, that it makes the job of a potential robot builder vastly easier. For the newcommer to the field, there is much food for thought here. He covers much of the basics needed to get started and pulls together such a wealth of information that would otherwise take a lot of work to find (such as how to use hobby servos, how to modify them for continuous rotation, how to hack cheap Polaroid camera to use the sonar module for range measurements, etc.). If you can't find it here, you probably don't need it! For the more experienced builders, this should be a valuable reference and save you from having to search through a half dozen books to find some details of a particular sensor, construction technique, or microcontroller. Did I mention the price? This is an incredible buy! There is a lot of work and research invested in this book and anyone with a serious interest in robotics would be a fool not to own it. Look over the table of contents to get a sample of the breadth of coverage. The appendices also have a lot of useful resources such as additional books, sources for parts and Internet links. There should be a lot more little robot critters out there with the publication of this great book!

51 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply The Best Beginners Book on Robotics....., December 3, 2000

By 

Gary Kaminski (Charlotte, NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Robot Builder's Bonanza (Tab Electronics) (Paperback)

If your one of those who thought that the idea of building your own robot was just too daunting a task, there is good news. Gordon McComb has recreated what has long been one of the most popular books for the do-it your-selfer robotics enthusiast. The Robot Builder's Bonanza brings back some tried and true building concepts along with a fresh update of new technology. This is all packaged in a progressive step-by-step approach to helping the reader build upon previous lessons as he follows along with the projects. McComb is no amateur at helping turn the techno arcane babble of science into easy to understand concepts that can be grasped by the average person. He is also the notable author of Gadgeteer's Goldmine, (Tab/McGraw-Hill) and Lasers, Ray Guns, and Light Cannons, (Tab/McGraw-Hill), both still in publication.

You won't be making any R2D2s here. What you will find is a building blocks approach to constructing your own basic metal or plastic pal. Successive chapters will show you about robot building fundamentals using commonly available materials. Locomotion engineering on how to use motors, wheels and gears. Constructing robotic arms and hands. Sensor design on how to detect objects and navigate. Sound capabilities that will give your robot a voice or teach it to obey your commands. Remote control of your robot using wired and wireless technology. Programing micro devices for controlling your robot. This and much more is detailed in a no noncense clearly understood writing style. The book is profusely illustrated and diagrammed to help the reader with every project and example. I found the chapters on the Basic Stamp by Parallax,Inc., BasicX, and OOPic micro controllers to be worth the price of the book alone. Gordon quickly points out the features and benefits of all these devices in comparison and loads up a dash of practical application with each.

This second edition will certainly act as an inspirational guide to all hobbyists whether your considering the next robot ready for combat, or the next best fire fighting bot. The Robot Builder's Bonanza consists of 720 pages including a complete indexed resource guide that I can highly recommend to anyone who is even the least bit curious about the subject.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb introduction, December 30, 2000

By 

Nick Sheldon - See all my reviews

This review is from: Robot Builder's Bonanza (Tab Electronics) (Paperback)

I am a robotics researcher, currently pursuing my PhD and working as the director of a community-based iniative offering free courses to the general public at all levels. This is one of only two books I recommend to our students, and I can't recommend it highly enough.

The coverage of the material is balanced and well-presented, and more than this, it is genuinely exciting; it is this that will rub off on the reader. It is above all a "can-do" book, and will encourage readers who are new to the field to actually have a go at building their own robot.

If you are a young beginner in robotics, or a cynical old professional in the field nearing retirement, this book will do much to inspire you.