The Unofficial Guide to LEGO MINDSTORMS Robots [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

by Jonathan Knudsen (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Using a project-oriented approach, The Unofficial Guide to LEGO(r) MINDSTORMS Robots introduces programming and constructing robots using the popular robotics invention. While presenting four complete and progressively more capable robots, the author cover the usage of sensors, motors, the Infra-red (IR) port, and programming languages. Programming topics are covered well, particularly the languages NQC and pbForth, and installing replacement firmware.

Although the book is stronger at covering the software than the mechanical aspects of robot design, the assembly plans incorporate many useful features that can be used in your own designs, including a directional transmission and a single-motor grabber.

Two projects provide clear demonstrations of using the IR port for communication. One involves creating a remote control and using it to communicate with a robot; the other project creates tag-playing robots to demonstrate inter-robot communication.

The series of step-by-step, robot-building photographs are helpful, but they are in black and white and are without a lot of accompanying text. For the simpler robots this isn't a problem, but for Minerva (which is somewhat complicated and a very good learning example) they are a little difficult to follow.

The last chapter of the book includes an informative discussion on building your own sensors, getting sensor input to the RCX, and configuring sensor inputs from your programs.

A thorough introduction, this book even provides links to many online resources. If you specifically need a detailed, organized tutorial on robot mechanical issues, this book may not suit you. If, however, you are looking for a book that introduces building MINDSTORMS robots with useful examples and covers programming them, replacing their firmware, and introduces building sensors for them, this is a perfect book. --John Keogh

Topics covered: Building robots using the Robotics Invention System, programming the RCX using RCX Code, NQC, pbForth, and C, using sensors and actuators, gears, transmissions and pulleys, obtaining and installing pbForth and legOS replacement firmware, communication with and between robots using the IR port, and making your own sensors.

From Library Journal
This is an exceptionally cool book on robotics. Knudsen discusses the concepts behind the LegoR Mindstorm Robotics Invention System, a kit for building robots, and then explains where to get the robot hardware and software. He presents in detail four hands-on robot projects (robots that will follow you, robots that play tag, etc.) from the simple to the more advanced, with building and programming instructions.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly; 1 edition (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565926927
• ISBN-13: 978-1565926929
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #543,395 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

82 of 89 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly poor production values for O'Reilly, December 2, 1999

By	Gary Rosen (NY, NY) - See all my reviews

Given my good experiences with O'Reilly books in the past, I was extremely surprised by the very *poor* production values in this book.

I can't figure out what parts go into the robots based on the pictures which are too dark and poorly focused.

A much better book with great pictures is "Dave Baum's Definitive Guide To Lego Mindstorms" which is also less choppy and I think explains things better.

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent introduction to Mindstorms, November 13, 1999

By	E. Freeman (Bainbridge Island, WA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As someone with no experience with Lego Mindstorms, but fascinated by the topic, I found this book an excellent introduction to not only the mindstorm kit itself, but also, at a very basic level, the issues of robotics. The book also does an excellent job of surveying the landscape of programming platforms that can be used to program mindstorms and points to many online resources for every aspect of building and programming lego robots.

If you are a professional robotics researcher or an experienced Mindstorms developer this book might be a bit basic for you, but for a new comer this book provides a very nice introduction. While in general I like many of the O'Reilly titles, I don't think I've ever had so much fun reading one.

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A treasure=trove of information, but unsatisfactory pictures, November 5, 1999

By	Peter F. Guenther ([e-mail]) (Detroit, MI) - See all my reviews

Although my enjoyment of this book is tempered by flaws in its illustrations and instructions, it is well worth buying.

The book offers a number of strong points. First, it brings together a wide range of information on MindStorms from sources other than Lego. The chapter on building customized sensors is thorough and enlightening. Throughout the book, information on user-created programming languages and environments and URLs for on-line resources are helpful.

Second, the robot designs offered by the author are fantastic. For instance, Minerva, a robot designed to pick up and return objects, has an elegant drive train that takes it straight forward but turns in reverse. It also has a forward grabber which, with one motor, both grabs and lifts. These robots are creative, educational, and fun.

However, the instructions to build them leave something to be desired. The book is illustrated with black-and-white photographs, labeled with colors where necessary, that in many cases don't provide enough contrast to easily see what has been done in the step. Additionally, there are some mistakes in the photos, showing pieces which aren't added until future steps.

Although this makes building the robots more difficult, it doesn't make it impossible, and the book's other features more than make up for it. This is indeed a worthwhile guide for anyone who wants to take MindStorms "beyond what's in the box."