TAB Electronics Build Your Own Robot Kit (CD-ROM)

by Myke Predko (Author), Ben Wirz (Author) "The assembled robot, with all it's important parts identified is shown in Figure 2..." (more)
Key Phrases: Electronics Build Your Own Robot Kit

Editorial Reviews

Review
looking for a hands-on kit ... a CD ... full of projects, as well as a ready-to assemble robot, then try (it). -- Poptronics, June 2002

Product Description
A dynamic learning platform! Pre-programmed for quick enjoyment, and comes with instructions for custom applications. Customizable, no soldering required. Learn basic skills toward advanced robot building.

This incredibly simple-to-build robot will provide you with hours of enjoyment and a great platform on which to develop more sophisticated applications. The 9-volt battery-powered robot (battery not included) is driven by dual electric motors and controlled by a Microchip PIC16C505 PICmicro Microcontroller.

With two light sensors and infra-red "collision detectors" the robot is pre-programmed with the following behaviors built in:

Random Movement – change forward direction when an object is encountered

Photovore – seek out light

Photophobe – avoid light

Maze Solver – follow wall

These behaviors can be selected along with the ability to manually control the operation of the robot by the infra-red remote control included in the kit (two AAA batteries required). With the addition of a BASIC STAMP BS2 Microcontroller (not included) customized applications can easily be built.

All of the software code for the Basic Stamp applications is included on the accompanying CD-ROM along with illustrated assembly instructions, many schematic. Block diagrams and over 100 pages of robot building basics are taken from the best-selling Robot Builder's Bonanza, 2nd edition, by Gordon McComb.

This product is designed for users aged 14 years and up. The kit includes: pre-assembled and tested PCB, robot hardware, remote control, instruction booklet, a CD-ROM containing BASIC Stamp 2 programming instructions and code.

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Product Details

• CD-ROM
• Publisher: Tab Books; Kit edition (November 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071387870
• ISBN-13: 978-0071387873
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.8 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,688,137 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Half a Robot, August 6, 2003

By	Michael J Edelman (Huntington Woods, MI USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

As others have noted, the "kit" here doesn't really include everything you need to build a robot. What you get is a bare-bones platform that requires, at a minimum, a remote control you need to build from parts you supply. What it really needs for full functionality is a Basic Stamp processor- which costs a bit more than this kit- and a computer to prgram the Basic Stamp. Given all that, yes, you'll have a simple robot.

This isn't a kit for kids; I'd recommend it for someone who already has some good skills at electronic assembly and is looking for a not-too-expensive program to experiment with. For younger (middle school and below) kids, I'd recommend the Lego Mindstorms robotics kits.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars And so it begins..., April 4, 2003

By	Daniel DeMoura "Bad movie connoisseur" (Westport, NY United States) - See all my reviews

So far, I can't find anything wrong with this starter kit. It has met my expectations and provided me with the groundwork to creating my own little robot empire. It is simple enough to understand without the need for an engineering degree. Unfortunately, I can only give it 4 stars because it does seem to mislead a bit on the BASIC Stamp issue. You must buy a BS2 - IC or compatible IC before you attach a serial cable and start coding commands for the little guy. Although simple to setup, the price of the BS2 chip costs as much as the kit itself and will quickly eat away at your budget depnding on where you find it. The robot included is little different from a prototype for the Friendly Robotics RL800 Robomower available in Amazon's Tools & Hardware (minus a few mower parts). That's pretty good considering the BS2 chip isn't included. The prices for this chip are pretty standard at the Amazon Scientific Supplies, Mondo-tronics Robot Store - 2002, and you'll notice a big choice of BS2 IC's to complete your package.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Quality time", November 22, 2002

By	Tom Platts (Acton, MA) - See all my reviews

I bought this kit as a way to spend some "quality time" with my 10-year-old son. I was not disappointed. This kind of project is a great way to get kids exited about science. The instructions were not hard to follow and in a few evenings we had a working robot. I can still see the sense of pride my son has when he plays with it and talks about it. The kit is for adults, but with a little help with construction, kids can enjoy it too.