Robot Builder's Sourcebook : Over 2,500 Sources for Robot Parts [Paperback]

Gordon McComb (Author)

Book Description

Series: Tab Electronics | Publication Date: August 15, 2002

This book offers everything the robotics hobbyist needs to learn - what it is - where to get it - how to get started - from the author of "Robot Builder's Bonanza!" Fascinated by the world of robotics but don't know how to tap into the incredible amount of information available on the subject? Clueless as to locating specific information on robotics? Want the names, addresses, phone numbers, and web sites of companies that can supply the exact part, plan, kit, building material, programming language, operating system, computer system, or publication you've been searching for? Turn to "Robot Builder's Sourcebook" - a unique clearinghouse of information for that will open 2500+ new doors and spark almost as many new ideas.Written by Gordon McComb, author of the classic "Robot Builder's Bonanza", one of the most popular books ever written on amateur robotics, the Sourcebook lists over 2500 mail-order suppliers and other sources, including local-area businesses, cross-referenced and categorized to make your search quick and easy. You'll find detailed information about the resources, including addresses and phone numbers: in short, everything you need to find - and acquire - common and uncommon robotics parts and supplies.In order to provide a true "robotics goldmine," this one-of-a kind guide also includes: dozens of informative "sidebars" to help you understand essential robotic technologies such as motor types, sensor design, and how to select the best materials; scores of relevant articles designed to fill-in informational gaps, stimulate thinking, and help you make the most of all the material the sourcebook makes available to you. If you want to know where in the world of robotics you can find it...turn to the "Sourcebook".

Editorial Reviews

Review

A comprehensive listing (with address, phone numbers, web sites) of over 2500 suppliers and manufacturers of robot components, materials, tools, and much more. There are even sources for tracking down older and hard-to-find parts. Also listed are books, journals, magazines, professional societies, and Internet resources, including education sites, competition information, and web sites where hobbyists can find examples of program code. Dozens of sidebars and articles on various robotics topics break up the directory feel. The author also indicates recommended sources based on his own experiences and identifies "premium" sources that are dedicated to robot hobbyists. (Library Journal )

From the Back Cover

EVERYTHING THE ROBOTICS HOBBYIST NEEDS TO LEARN -- WHAT IT IS -- WHERE TO GET IT -- HOW TO GET STARTED

FROM THE AUTHOR OF ROBOT BUILDER’S BONANZA!

Fascinated by the world of robotics but don’t know how to tap into the incredible amount of information available on the subject? Clueless as to locating specific information on robotics? Want the names, addresses, phone numbers, and web sites of companies that can supply the exact part, plan, kit, building material, programming language, operating system, computer system, or publication you’ve been searching for? Turn to Robot Builder’s Sourcebook – a unique clearinghouse of information for that will open 2500+ new doors and spark almost as many new ideas.

Written by Gordon McComb, author of the classic Robot Builder’s Bonanza, one of the most popular books ever written on amateur robotics, the Sourcebook lists over 2500 mail-order suppliers and other sources, including local-area businesses, cross-referenced and categorized to make your search quick and easy. You’ll find detailed information about the resources, including addresses and phone numbers: In short, everything you need to find – and acquire – common and uncommon robotics parts and supplies. In order to provide a true “robotics goldmine,” this one-of-a kind guide also includes:
* Dozens of informative “sidebars” to help you understand essential robotic technologies such as motor types, sensor design, and how to select the best materials
* Scores of relevant articles designed to fill-in informational gaps, stimulate thinking, and help you make the most of all the material the Sourcebook makes available to you

If you want to know where in the world of robotics you can find it . . . turn to the Sourcebook.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 711 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics; 1 edition (August 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071406859
• ISBN-13: 978-0071406857
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #881,403 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

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Roboteers must have sourcebook, October 16, 2002

By 

Robert L. Jordan (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Robot Builder's Sourcebook : Over 2,500 Sources for Robot Parts (Paperback)

If you spend much time thinking about building robots, this book is a must have. It is a great read and a good reference book. I couldn't put it down for all the pictures, educational comments, tutorials, vendor references, and articles relevant to building my robots.

I've been in the Dallas Personal Robotics Group for four + years and served as an officer. These pages taught me a bunch of new, useful info. Info like the name and sources for those wheels that roll forward and sideways - Omniwheels, where to find Electro luminescent "glow wire", etc. Also, I now know where to find my chart on screw sizes, metric conversion and screw cross-referencing to metric. There are even pages referencing books, with one-liner summaries, to focus my search for further reading.

Sources and suppliers for common and unusual parts abound as well as their URLs. Even a website with additional or more current URLs is maintained to help me.

The book is alphabetical by robot topic with the most relevant info. There is an index for parts and components by categories as well as an reference index by company name.

I love the pictures and overview of new and current products, like
- the motion control, Isopod state machine from New Micros Inc.
- the Quadravox digital sound boards
- the OOPic Micro controller and 2 page explanation.tutorial
- the perspective and explanation or the Parallax BS2 Basic Stamp and its cousins
- the extensive info on servos and servo controllers
- as well as good practical info on many sensors, even how to make a simple foam pressure sensor.

If you are going to cruise the Internet to learn more about robots and robot building peruse this book first. It has the most relevant info cleanly organized and explained for you.

All in all, I have too many dog-eared pages marking topics that ignite my creativity and imagination. You can be sure I'll be building more neat robots, easier because of this book. My thanks to Gordon McComb and McGraw Hill!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a great reference book!, August 15, 2003

By 

Ken Kressin (Cannon Falls, MN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Robot Builder's Sourcebook : Over 2,500 Sources for Robot Parts (Paperback)

This book covers all aspects of technology for building robots, as well as any many other "inventions". I found this to be of exceptional value. The web site inventory is tremendous. If this book is updated every couple of years, I will be back for another. No doubt, this was a great investment in information. The cover is a bit cartoonish for such a great reference.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Robotic Combat Competitor's View, October 29, 2002

By 

greyson paul jones (Reston, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Robot Builder's Sourcebook : Over 2,500 Sources for Robot Parts (Paperback)

The Robot Builder's Sourcebook in many ways a must buy for those who are going to start off building their first Battlebot(TM). The skills to be resourceful and save money are very important in robotic combat, not to mention the ability to get those special custom parts to get your bot running. With Robot Builder's Sourcebook, you are provided with an Internet yellow pages of sorts to save valuable time wandering through links. Although unfortunately I have found that, due to the fast growing nature of the sport, not to mention the Internet, some valuable sites have inevitably been overlooked or outdated. But this is a small price to pay for its convenience in finding parts and great prices it provides.
The sourcebook also inserts several "mini-articles" that provides some basic information and tips that will certainly be useful to many types of robot builders. However I found that the articles and tips pages crowd the book and are impeding to the true purpose of its pages as a quick reference. This can be especially extraneous if you have specified interests concerning robotics, such as robotic combat. The articles can serve valuable purpose though and definitely are a must have for those who still need aid in implementing/buying the right parts for their robot. A choppy read, as expected, but well worth the money for its usefulness.