Ultimate Robot [Hardcover]

Robert Malone (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 27, 2004 | Age Level: 9 and up

Ultimate Robot is both a visual feast of the robot in pop culture and a reference guide for collectors of toy, kit, and warrior robot memorabilia - the first definitive guide for all readers fascinated by these amazing mechanical wonders. Packed with over 500 color photographs of all types of robots, from classic tin toys and film androids to Battlebots and futuristic fantasy robots, Ultimate Robot covers the history of robotics, the innovators who made robots possible, a glossary of useful terms, and the robots of tomorrow.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

This volume examines the uses of robots in popular culture and is presented in DK's signature design--posing a colorful central object against a white background, with captions and boxes explaining what we're looking at. Malone does conclude with examples of real-world robots, but the world of entertainment is emphatically his focus. Deriving from the 1920 play R.U.R. by Karl Capek, the word robot conjures up the wariness we feel toward animated machines, however friendly their design. The potential power we imagine they have has been exploited to dramatic effect, as shown by Malone's section on movies and TV series with robotic protagonists. Some are conventionally alien, such as Gort in The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), and others are comedic characters, such as buddies R2D2 and C-3PO, and all seem to have been re-marketed as action toys. From the tinplate productions of the 1940s to today's computer-driven toys, the robots on display in Malone's fun tour will amuse rather than alarm readers. Gilbert Taylor
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

A chairman of the Automation Hall of Fame and founder of Automation News, Robert Malone has been a leading player in the field of automation for more than 30 years.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: DK ADULT; First Edition edition (September 27, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 075660270X
• ISBN-13: 978-0756602703
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #555,451 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #96 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Heavy Machinery

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, if flawed, compilation of popular robots, November 29, 2004

By 

J. Myllyluoma (Stockholm, Sweden) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ultimate Robot (Hardcover)

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I am trying to determine which audience this title is intended for. It seems too esoteric for someone with merely a casual interest in robots, yet far too superficial for the serious robot enthusiast. I cannot imagine there being very many people in the intermediary group, so I suppose the book will have a fairly limited audience.
Yet DK must be given credit for publishing it in the first place. It is not often one sees books delving into this particular subject matter.

How well does it do it, then?

The book is divided into a number of chapters dealing with a variety of robot types - toys, artistic representations, movie/TV robots, robot pets, robot kits, etc. The category boundaries, as well as the selection in each, seem at times somewhat haphazard.
In each category is represented a number of "main" entries, giving a fairly comprehensive amount of information on each entry, and "gallery" entries, merely showing what else is out there in that particular category.

Any assessment of the content must reasonably take into account two factors: First, how comprehensive and/or representative the selection of entries is, and second, how relevant and/or accurate the information given in the entries is.

For the first part, the book does cover most of the basics, although there are a number of glaring omissions. I would have to say that the selection is fairly comprehensive, but fails on the representativeness criterion.

As for the second part, I must say I am fairly disappointed. Most entries have some minor factual error, and some have grave, major errors. As for the relevance of the technical information presented, it is for the most part too limited to be truly useful.

In the end, the book still gets four stars from me, partly because of the beautiful, picture-laden physical presentation, and partly because it represents a stellar starting effort. Whereas the information contained within the binders has serious gaps, omissions, misrepresentations, and outright errors, it is still a handy - as well as beautiful - compilation of robots in popular culture. But that is where I see its main value: as a compilation for those who already know enough of the subject not to depend on the information given for its veracity. As a source of information, it is seriously flawed.

If Robert Malone gets around to writing a second, revised edition ... the work might live up to its potential.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Mystery of Artificial Intelligence, October 12, 2004

By 

Rebecca Johnson "The Rebecca Review" (Washington State) - See all my reviews
(COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ultimate Robot (Hardcover)

Whether you are interested in Androids or robot pets, this book celebrates robots in all their forms. This book includes surveys of the most famous robot toys, influential robots that have become popular in our culture and a discussion about why we are so intrigued with robots. This book also takes a look at the future. What's Next?

Robert Malone is an expert in the fields of robotics and automation. He contributes to many magazines, including Omni, Industrial Design, Industrial Equipment News, Inbound Logistics, and Dot Zero. He also lectures, designs and makes appearances on television to bring awareness to advances in robotic science.

This visual guide to robots is divided into four main sections:

Robot Toy and Collectibles
Robot Construction Kits
Robots in Art & Entertainment
Robots: The New Generation

Transformers, GoBots, MicroPets, Humanoid Toys and AIBO Dogs are all featured in full-color pictures with detailed explanations. Star Wars Droids, The Terminator and Data all make their appearance. There are also sections for Children's Favorites on TV and Computer Games.

Unique Sections:

Robot Artists
Robot Sculptors
Soccer Robots
Surgical Robots
BattleBots
Music Robots
Computer-Controlled Fish

Each page is filled with full-color pictures and specification charts (manufacture date, country of origin, manufacturer, height, power source, intelligence, capabilities).

I definitely need one of those Electrolux Trilobite vacuum cleaners or the Roomba with intelligent navigation. DK has definitely created a definitive guide to the world of robots and whether you collect robots or enjoyed watching Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation, there is a wealth of information that is sure to impress.

~The Rebecca Review

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Compleat Robot, September 10, 2006

By 

Gord Wilson "alivingdog.com" (Bellingham, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Ultimate Robot (Hardcover)

Britain's DK Books are known for their lavish, full color coffee table creations, and this volume is no exception. At just under 200 pages it surveys nearly every avenue of things robotic. As such, it's a great overview, interest jogger or introduction to the subject whether your interest lies in toy collecting, robot building or sci-fi films. The flip side is that such a brief treatment can't hope to be exhaustive. My four stars is not due to any lack in the book, but merely because this book is easily used up. But not before it's achieved its purpose in directing the interested reader toward further study and reading.

My take on this book is that it's overwhelming and covers so much ground as to be a jack of all trades and expert in none. Again, that's not a bad thing for an introductory book. The reading level is also curious. It's in the "adult" DK series but the writing is easily graspable by a smart teen. What it all comes down to is that robots are their own thing; like them or you don't. If you do, this is very much your book.

This book does what other robot books fail to do in presenting humanoid robots and their toy-like offshoots. Since it's British, it covers The Hitchhiker's Guide (the original BBC mini-series, not the Disney movie), Dr. Who's K-9 and the Daleks and UK shows like "Little Robots" which will hopefully make it stateside soon. Malone sweeps briefly over robot toys but those covered get full page or even two page color spreads. He gives a brief, thoughtful summary of robotic history and touches on their aesthetic and imaginative appeal. Since the book is from 2004, it covers the first Robosapien and not the new model, but that's more than made up for by the bits on Japan's lesser-known PaPeRo and Sony's QRIO along with the AIBO robot dog. Casting such a wide net, this book cannot hope to be exhaustive of any one area, but it's lavish presentation will enchant any robot afficianado.