Robot Builder The Beginner's Guide to Building Robots

Absolutely no experience needed! Learn robot building from the ground up, hands-on, in full color!

Love robots? Start building them. It’s way easier than you ever imagined!

John Baichtal has helped thousands of people get started with robotics. He knows what beginners need to know. He knows your questions. He knows where you might need extra help. Now, he’s brought together this practical knowledge in one incredibly easy tutorial.

Hundreds of full-color photos guide you through every step, every skill. You’ll start simple, as you build a working robot in the very first chapter. Then, you’ll grow your skills to expert-level: powering motors, configuring sensors, constructing a chassis, even programming low-cost Arduino microcontrollers.

You’ll learn hands-on, through real step-by-step projects…and go straight to the cutting-edge with in-depth sidebars. Wondering just how much you can really do? Baichtal shows you 30 incredible robots built by people just like you!

John Baichtal’s books about toys, tools, robots, and hobby electronics include Hack This: 24 Incredible Hackerspace Projects from the DIY Movemen t; Basic Robot Building With Lego Mindstorms NXT 2. 0; Arduino for Beginners; MAKE: Lego and  Arduino Projects for MAKE (as coauthor); and the forthcoming Building Your Own Drones: The Beginner’s Guide to UAVs and ROVs. A founding member of the pioneering Twin Cities Maker hackerspace, he got his start writing for Wired’s legendary GeekDad blog, and for DIYer bible MAKE Magazine.

• Make your robots move with motors and wheels
• Build solar-powered robots that work without batteries
• Control robots via Wi-Fi, radio, or even across the Internet
• Program robots to respond to sensor inputs
• Use your standard TV remote to control your robots
• Create robots that detect intruders and shoot them with Nerf® darts
• Grab and carry objects using claws and grippers
• Build water-borne robots that float, submerge, and “swim”
• Create “artbots” that paint or draw original artworks
• Enable your robots to send text messages when they take specific actions
• Discover today’s new generation of hobbyist-friendly robotics kits
• Organize your ultimate robot-builder’s toolbox
• Master simple safety routines that protect you whatever you’re building

Section I: Learning
1: The Robot Revolution!
2: Playing Robot Games: Let the Games Begin!
3: Different Kinds of Robots
4: A Brief History of the Exciting World of Robots
5: Why, Oh Why Build a Robot?

Section II: Building
6: It’s SIMPLE to Build a (Simple) Robot!
7: Planning Your Robot:
8:  Building the Sumobot:
9: Robot Project 2
10: Robot Project 3
11: Sensors
12: Reach Out and Touch Someone With a Robot Arm
13: Voice Recognition and Control.
14: Teaching Your Robot to Talk
15: Teaching Your Robot to Make Music
16: Teaching Your Robot to Sing
17: Hacking the Roomba Vacuum

Section III: Resources
18: Robotics Kits
19: Tools for Robot Building

Appendices
A. The Three Laws of Robotics
B. Electronics 101 in a Nutshell
C. Gears and Sprockets for Beginners
D. Forces and Robot Arms
E.  Soldering Without Burning Your Fingers (Too Often)
F. Complete programs used in this book
G. The Three Secrets of Great Robot Programming

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.