Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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62 of 66 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Classic in the making!, October 5, 2000
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!
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50 of 54 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply The Best Beginners Book on Robotics....., December 3, 2000
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.
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21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb introduction, December 30, 2000
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.
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