Robot Builder's Bonanza

Why spend a lot of money on this year's big thing in robots - Roboreptile - and wind up with something that can only do a few basic commands and then falls over? Instead, buy this book, and you and your child can bond while building your own robots. This is a very healthy update to the 2nd edition, and makes it well worth your while to purchase, read, and use as a reference book. The third edition has been updated to show most of the latest technologies that robot builders have been using. Gordon has done a very good job at organizing a wide variety of current information into his book, and Myke Predko is a welcome addition to the authoring team, bringing with him is vast knowledge of microcontrollers. This book covers much of the basics of building robots, such as electronics, motors and motor control. There are plenty of diagrams, schematics, and details on the basics of building robots. There is even quite a bit of source code, and instructions on where to find and buy supplies for the projects outlined in the book. There are experiments with range finding, sound, ultrasonics, infrared, and a host of other popular technologies. The first four parts of the book are on the technologies and skills needed to build robots, but part five gives you some sample robots to build where you can apply your knowledge. This includes a roverbot, a walking robot, and robots with arms that have gripping capabilities. The final sections of the book cover more advanced topics such as navigation, sensor integration, object detection, speech synthesis, and even computer vision. It's a great source for complete instructions unlike many other hastily constructed books on the subject that omit individual robot construction steps or get them wrong entirely. I highly recommend it for the budding robot building enthusiast.

This is the big book on robots. In its third edition, it is more than seven hundred pages of information. This information basically includes virtually everything there is to know about modern robotics from converting a toy into a working robot to fairly fancy electronics that handle functions like speech (systhesis and recognition) eyes, collision detection and avoidance through the computer programming that will be required to tie everything together and make it work. The book is aimed at the robot experimenter. This could be at any level from the individual working in his basement to the student wanting a neat project for the science fair, and even up to the more advanced experimenter who may have great knowledge in one area but needs to know about other areas to be more complete in his knowledge. If you're going to buy one Robot book, this is the one.

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.

This second edition of Robot Builder's Bonanza provides a much needed update on the rapidly expanding interest in mobile robotics. Many amateurs started their robot building hobby with the appearance of the first edition in 1987. Since then there has been many updates in the sensors and especially microprocessors available for robot builders. Gordon McComb brings us up-to-date on this technology while maintaining the valuable construction tips and techniques of the first edition. Every book has an intended audience. I know of no better book than Robot Builder's Bonanza for beginners in this fascinating and future technology. The book is also a valuable compendium of ideas and techniques for more experienced robot builders. Finally, if you're a tinkerer, you have to have this book.

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!