Robot Building for Beginners

by David Cook

Overview

“I wrote this book because I love building robots. I want you to love building robots, too. It took me a while to learn about many of the tools and parts in amateur robotics. Perhaps by writing about my experiences, I can give you a head start.” —David Cook

Robot Building for Beginners, Second Edition is an update of David Cook’s best-selling Robot Building for Beginners. This book continues its aim at teenagers and adults who have an avid interest in science and dream of building household explorers. No formal engineering education is assumed.

The robot described and built in this book is battery powered and about the size of a lunchbox. It is autonomous. That is, it isn’t remote controlled.

You’ll begin with some tools of the trade, and then work your way through prototyping, robot bodybuilding, and eventually soldering your own circuit boards. By the book’s end, you will have a solid amateur base of understanding so that you can begin creating your own robots to vacuum your house or maybe even rule the world!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781430227489
Publisher:	Apress
Publication date:	12/30/2009
Series:	Technology in Action
Edition description:	2nd ed.
Pages:	453
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.20(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

David Cook is an engineering manager at Motorola. He has 20 years of experience as a software developer, creating everything from award-winning computer games to mobile background-check applications for police. Self-taught in electronics and basic mechanics, David explains his years of robot experiences to the average backyard scientist in a comfortable and helpful manner, without scholarly intimidation. David hosts the popular robot site RobotRoom.com.

Table of Contents

Welcome Robot Inventor!.- Where to Obtain Tools and Parts.- Safety.- Digital Multimeter.- Numbers and Units.- Robot Line-Following.- Nine-Volt Batteries.- Clips and Test Leads.- Resistors.- LEDs.- Power On!.- Solderless Prototyping.- Solderless Breadboard Setup.- Variable Resistors.- Comparators.- Transistor Switches.- DC Motors.- Adding Gearhead Motors.- Wheels.- Coupler.- Soldering Equipment.- Soldering and Connecting.- The Motherboard.- Body Building.- Launching the Line-Follower.- Encore.