Robots, Androids, and Animatrons: 12 Incredible Projects You Can Build [Paperback]

John Iovine (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0070328048 | ISBN-13: 978-0070328044 | Publication Date: December 1, 1997

Starting with the novice level and progressing to medium-level complexity; author John Iovine leads readers through the construction of 12 state-of-the-art robotics projects, which provides the foundations and experience for building advanced robotic projects. After outlining how to modify base platforms for locomotion, the author provides detailed information on various types of robotic sensors, including tilt, bump, and road and wall detectors. He illustrates how to implement two different types of robotic intelligence-expert and neural. The remainder of the book focuses on specific, hands-on projects, including a functional, life-like android hand created with a soft rubber material and nitinol wire; a robotic "insect" controlled with a single-board computer programmed in BASIC; and a land rover robot with telepresence systems.

Editorial Reviews

Review

From New Literature Section:

Build your own walking, talking, thinking robot with the projects covered in this book on amateur robotics. Providing you with the building blocks of electronics and motion control, the book enables you to construct a robotic arm that reponds to your spoken command, put together basic modules to create sophisticated robot designs of your own, and more. First-time robot-builders and advanced hobbyists can complete these projects without programming or assembly language skills. (Poptronics ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Back Cover

Ever dream of building your own robot to do your bidding? Following the plans and instructions in this unique guide, you can construct a state-of-the-art working robot that will obey your orders, act as your surrogate, and even do some chores! Robots, Androids, and Animatron demonstrates step-by-step how to put the latest robotics technology--locomotion, sensing, and control--into a high-tech robot, animatron, or android that you can put together in your own workshop! With this book, you can--Make a lifelike robotic hand that performs repetitive tasts; Build a computerized robot that uses both an expert systems and neural network--for some very unexpected behavior; Create a telepresence robot that you can ``get inside of,'' with actual arcade and virtual reality applications; Build a robot with arcade applications; Create a robotic insect with a ``brain''; Build a computer-controlled robotic arm; Learn about sensing systems--tilt, bump, road, and wall--light, speech recognition and sound--even odors and gases; Be the first on your block to own and operate your very own android! Plus, you get an inside look at today's on-the-job robots. . .lists of robotics organizations. . .and an extensive guide to parts suppliers for the off-the-shelf items that you don't build at home.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 270 pages
• Publisher: Mcgraw-Hill (December 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0070328048
• ISBN-13: 978-0070328044
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,180,013 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Iovine's Robots,Androids and Animatrons:a great introduction, May 18, 2000

By 

R. Porter (CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Robots, Androids, and Animatrons: 12 Incredible Projects You Can Build (Paperback)

If you are looking for a comprehensive yet easily understood review and guide to robotics, this is a perfect book. After an introduction and history, the author discusses the primary elements of robots: power, drives and sensors. Then he explains one of the central topics in hobby robotics: neural networks. Iovine does an excellent job of contrasting this type of robot with more traditional types, and in doing so can save the novice many hours of research. The remaining chapters are devoted to specific types of robots--everything from battery powered "walkers" and solar-bots, to underwater and blimp-like devices. He also describes robotic arms, how to control robots with computers, and finally, how to construct an android hand! For all of these projects, Iovine provides schematic electrical diagrams and directions for construction.

This is indeed a terrific summary and guide to the fascinating field of hobby robotics.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and worthwhile, July 2, 2001

By 

E. Glenn Anaiscourt "LA" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Robots, Androids, and Animatrons: 12 Incredible Projects You Can Build (Paperback)

Robots, Androids and Animatrons covers a lot of bases. It provides tantalizing information and commentary on technology currently under development and envisioned for the coming few decades. The text is clear, and the projects are straightforward, creative and interesting. Iovine provides a taste of a variety of technologies, and ideas about where to go for additional, related information outside the scope of the book. This is not the consummate 'bot hobbyist's manual that McComb's Robot Builder's Bonanza is, but it will make a valuable addition to many an enthusiast's library. The style of the text is geared toward younger and less experienced readers. For example, Iovine discusses the BASIC Stamp, and does not discuss any other microcontrollers. He does not go into much detail or depth on any particular topic. I'd say that Iovine's audience is probably best represented by scientifically-inclined high-school students. However, there is an interesting section on employing DTMF (touch-tone dialing) for remote control which I think would tickle the fancy of any hobbyist. There are also sections on speech control, telepresence, pneumatics, and a robotic fish that contain information I haven't seen duplicated elsewhere. Not all of Iovine's projects are cheap. Some of the required parts are a little exotic, and may only be available through Images Company, to which John constantly refers. Readers seeking less expensive or alternative sources may have to get creative. But this is a minor inconvenience. Robotics isn't a cheap hobby, exotic parts are sometimes unavoidable, and Iovine's projects are super neat. His book is interesting and worthwhile.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Book if you have some electronics experience, January 6, 2000

By 

"srightnar" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Robots, Androids, and Animatrons: 12 Incredible Projects You Can Build (Paperback)

This book is good for someone who has some electronic experience and seems to be geared toward a beginner in robotics (Not electronics).This book requires you know basic electronic components and gives a good platform to begin building robots. Not all the projects in this book are cheap and do require the purchase of the BASIC Stamp but the basic stamp is an important tool in building more complex robots as a person progresses into robotics.Overall it was well worth the money.