Customer Reviews

Robot Builder's Bonanza (Tab Electronics)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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!

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.

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.

This second edition of Robot Builder's Bonanza provides a much needed update on the rapidly expanding interest in mobile robotics. Many amateurs started their robot building hobby with the appearance of the first edition in 1987. Since then there has been many updates in the sensors and especially microprocessors available for robot builders. Gordon McComb brings us up-to-date on this technology while maintaining the valuable construction tips and techniques of the first edition. Every book has an intended audience. I know of no better book than Robot Builder's Bonanza for beginners in this fascinating and future technology. The book is also a valuable compendium of ideas and techniques for more experienced robot builders. Finally, if you're a tinkerer, you have to have this book.

I am brand new to the world of amatuer robotics, and this was an excellent first book for me to read. By the time I finished reading the book, I knew where to begin with my initial design, and I had several sources of parts. It took from zero to 80%.

There are several small errors in the book, but none of them are show stoppers.

The only flaws in the book were the same problems with any survey book. The examples tended to show only one way to address an issue, some of the plans lacked enough detail, and some important topics were glossed right over. However, this did not detract from what I gained from the book.

If you are serious about trying to build your own robot, start here. By the time you finish with this book, you will be ready for more advanced topics.

I am an electrical engineering undergraduate at UC San Diego, and I decided to build a small robot recently, so the first source I came to was this book. I bought it over Amazon and received it a few days later. After reading through the book I decided that it was very helpful for beginners, but intermediate and expert robot builders would probably find it less helpful. It really does a fine job of telling you where to get started and a myriad of places to get what you need. The book goes through many key points on construction, both in mechanical and electrical aspects, that I would have otherwise not known. If you're a beginner BUY THIS BOOK!

This book has been instrumental in the development of my first robotics project. Being a mechanical enginnering student I had an idea for the shape and function of my robot but no clue how I was going work out the electronics. Each chapter of this book has answered questions and provided a clearer picture of how my project would be controlled. Great examples, great pictures and diagrams, great book...

I remember reading the first edition of the book and feeling disappointed, because this book showed you the various robot products that you could by, it really wasn't a tutorial that showed you how to complete a single robot from step one to finish. In many respects the second edition is written in much the same vain as the first edition. It's better to get this book if your an intermediate robot builder.

There are some many reasons why this is a good robot book, so here are three of them. First it gets you thinking and about building robots motivated me by the descriptions, second it tells you which kits or products are on the market, and finally
there are snippets of essential circuit board schematics.

As the other reviewers state this is a good book for beginners to learn about the issues and parts of robotic devices. My concern is with the many many errors in the circuits presented in the book. This may lead beginners to frustration and despair.

Especially regrettable is that many of these errors were present in the previous version. There really is no excuse for Mr. McComb not to have fixed these as this book is famous all over the Net for this very thing. I urge Mr. McComb to fix the circuit diagrams for the next printing of which I'm sure there will be many and to post an errata page on the Web somewhere.

Too tell you the truth - I didn't expect much from this book. I routinely come across "supposed" tutorials on how to teach beginners how to make an autonomous robot only to drown the hobbyist in technical jargon and "break the bank" advice.

This book is entirely different. With over 200 pages of spot on advice, you will have your first Bot up and working within a few days. Check out mine at www.robot-newbie.blogspot.com. Seeing is believing!