Building Robots With Lego Mindstorms : The Ultimate Tool for Mindstorms Maniacs (Paperback)

by Mario Ferrari (Author), Giulio Ferrari (Author), Ralph Hempel (Author) "Before you enter the world of LEGO robotics, there are some basic geometric properties of the LEGO bricks we want to be sure you know..." (more)
Key Phrases: dual differential drive, changeover catch, long joined axle, Johnny Five, Side View, Milk Guard (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This book is about building robots using Lego bricks and components. In the first section of the book (Part I) we will discuss why you might find an interest in robotics as a hobby, and why Lego is an ideal system to have a fast start and great results. If you're reading this book you probably own a Mindstorms set, so you already have an interest in robotics, and for this reason we kept this part very short. Nevertheless you might find there some thoughts about what robotics can give to you and your family, besides a lot of fun. And how it can change your perception of the environment that's around you.

The second section (Part II) is about how to build a robot. Here we provide a set of tools you need to explore the world of robotics. Some basic knowledge about mechanics, motors, sensors, pneumatics, navigation, and many tips and tricks. We will compare different standard architectures, discuss solutions to common recurring problems, learn how to organize complex projects in terms of subsystems.

In the third section (Part III) we start to face the tough question, the one we actually would try to answer with this book: "I got a Mindstorms kit, I have learnt how to use it, what do I build now?". Here we will show you a large survey of possible ideas, but do not expect to find complete models to copy step by step.

8-Page Full Color Insert

The 8-page, full color insert will contain detailed photography of the most impressive robots that readers will be able to build after reading the book. The photos will also detail the more complex electrical and construction challenges.

About the Author
Mario Ferrari received his first Lego box around 1964, when he was 4. Lego was his favorite toy for many years, until he thought he was too old to play with it. In 1998 the Lego Mindstorms RIS set gave him reason to again have Lego become his main addiction. Mario believes Lego is the closest thing to the perfect toy. He is Managing Director at EDIS, a leader in finishing and packaging solutions and promotional packaging. The advent of the MINDSTORMS product line represented for him the perfect opportunity to combine his interest in IT and robotics with his passion for LEGO bricks, which started during his early childhood. Mario has been a very active member of the online MINDSTORMS community from the beginning, and has pushed LEGO robotics to its limits. Mario holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Turin, and has always nourished a strong interest for physics, mathematics, and computer science. He is fluent in many programming l! anguages and his background includes positions as an IT manager and as a project supervisor. Mario estimates he owns over 60,000 Lego pieces. Mario works in Modena, Italy, where he lives with his wife Anna and his children Sebastiano and Camilla.

Giulio Ferrari is a student in Economics at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, where he also studied Engineering. He is fond of computers and has developed utilities, entertainment software, and web applications for several companies. Giulio discovered robotics in 1998, with the arrival of MINDSTORMS, and held an important place in the creation of the Italian LEGO community. He shares a love for LEGO bricks with his oldest brother, Mario, and a strong curiosity for the physical and mathematical sciences. Giulio also has a collection of 1200 dice, including odd-faced dice and game dice. He studies, works, and lives in Modena, Italy.

Product Details

• Paperback: 656 pages
• Publisher: Syngress; 1 edition (December 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1928994679
• ISBN-13: 978-1928994671
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.7 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #121,683 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource, December 30, 2003

By	BigC "cbc" (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

I am not ashamed to admit that I am 28-going-on-29 and I absolutely love this book. It is very well written and highly detailed. As a Mehanical Engineer with 6+ years work experience I was certain that this book wouldn't live up to the expectations that the first few pages that I read in the book store led me to develop. Was I wrong!! This book's simplified expanation of engineering concepts is unmatched. From Lego block geometry to gearing setup and programming. This book has it all if you'd like to go beyond the few missions that the mindstorm kit comes with. Don't be mistaken this book has no step-by-step instructions for building robots. It only introduces "snippet" to get your creative "juices" flowing. My understanding of Legos and their use has been greatly enhanced. To make things even better, the authors includes useful information on other Lego parts that are not included with mindstorm that are very important, i.e. light sensors, hydraulics, etc. If you are looking for a reference book to help you build better Lego creations, this book is it!!

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best Mindstorms book yet!, December 27, 2001

By	Richard Jenkins (Norfolk, VA) - See all my reviews

This is the most comprehensive book on building robots with Mindstorms yet published. It is mammoth (600+ pages) and has three sections. The first part deals with the basics, including chapters on such topics as walking, grabbing, and even a chapter on mathematics. The second section deals with specific projects. The final section discusses contests. The book is well written and even the math section is easy to understand.

Here are the pros and cons as I see them. Really, the cons exist by choice, as the authors chose to cover every imaginable design topic in detail and not use up space with programs or step-by-step diagrams.

Pros:

- Outstanding coverage of design principals, allowing the builder to learn concepts for building ANY robot.
- Lots of cool demonstration projects and plenty of building projects to work on, including a 2 legged walker!
- Open ended instruction lets you learn a design principal, then build and observe it.

Cons:

- No step-by-step building instructions and pictures. (Enough detail is provided by the photos that the models can be readily recreated.)
- Very little programming. (The authors' intent was to focus on the mechanical aspects of robot design. If you really want to learn programming, Dave Baum's book is a great resource for NQC).

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A FUNdamental approach!, January 14, 2002

By	Leo Dorst (Amsterdam Netherlands) - See all my reviews

This is a great book, since it not so much treats the basics of programming (as do many other Mindstorms books) but pays equally balanced attention to the principles behind making good mechanical constructions. I especially like the places where behaviorial issues that are seemingly 'obviously programming' are obtained by clever mechanical solutions, since it matches my own way of looking at Mindstorms. Often, these solutions free up motor and sensor ports, and therefore permit to add more behavior onto the basic behavior of the original design.

You really learn many things from this book which you do not find in other Mindstorms books, because the authors take a pleasantly fundamental approach. There are chapters on Lego geometry, and a chapter on walking robots starts with an experimental explanation of the center-of-gravity, which is of course the fundamental problem behind the designs that follow. There are also some basics of signal processing which should help solve sensory issues structurally, without hacking, another commendable improvement over comparable books that ignore such problems.

The playfulness of the authors shines throughout, and this is what makes this serious book such inspirational fun - who would think of using Mindstorms to build a pinball machine or flight simulator? It is brimming with non-traditional ideas like these. The many illustrations are excellent, and there is enjoyment at every level: the design issues at large (such as what to relegate to the hardware, and what to the software), but also the design details; for instance there is an incredibly compact and simple turtle foot that needs to be built to be believed.

Beyond the fun, the book really serves as a good introduction to the principles of robotics, with Lego as the tangible and affordable illustration of those principles. Useful tables in appendices convey the new flavor: Mindstorms is now being elevated from a toy to a specific technical design platform, and thus professionalized (to the extent that the tool allows, of course). In my mind, this enhances rather than reduces the enjoyment of the kits, since the structural approach should eliminate many minor frustrations in designing working robots.

Highly recommended!