Filling the Bookshelf: Build Your Own Robot Quick Reviews
Books on robot building: robotics, electronics, programming
Gordon’s Books On Robots and Electronics
Robot Builder’s Bonanza, Fourth Edition
Official publication date: June 17 2011!
This robot builder's paradise is packed with more than 100 affordable projects, including 10 completely new robot designs. Fully updated with the latest technologies and techniques,this book includes step-by-step plans that take you from building basic motorized platforms to giving the machine a brain--and teaching it to walk, talk, and obey commands.imagination!
The projects are modular and can be combined to create a variety of highly intelligent and workable robots of all shapes and sizes. Mix and match the projects to develop your own unique creations. The only limit is your imagination!
Electronics For Dummies
Begin having fun with electronics projects right away Explore the basic concepts of electronics, build your electronics workbench, and create cool projects Wish you could fix that faulty doorbell, hook up a motion detector, or maybe build your very own robot? This book will really get you charged up! It won’t make you an electrician, but it covers the basics, choosing and using tools, and how to build more than a dozen really cool, inexpensive gizmos. You’ll be shocked at how easy it is! Discover how to Master electricity basics Fill up your electronics parts bin Read circuit schematics Test circuits with multimeters Design your own printed circuit boards Build robots and program their actions.
General Robotics Books
Build Your Own All-Terrain Robot
Brad Graham, Kathy McGowan
The imaginative creators of the most original bike-builder’s guide in the universe now bring their beginner-friendly, budget-savvy, heavily illustrated, and creativity-packed methods to the exciting world of robotics. Brad and Kathy help even total newcomers to robots and home workshops to construct a rugged, video-controlled, talking, seeing, interacting explorer ‘bot with a range of over a mile for under $200!
JunkBots, Bugbots, and Bots on Wheels: Building Simple Robots With BEAM Technology
David Hrynkiw
From the publishers of BattleBots: The Official Guide comes this do-it-yourself guide to BEAM (Biology, Electronics, Aesthetics, Mechanics) robots. They’re cheap, simple, and can be built by beginners in just a few hours, with help from this expert guide complete with full-color photos. Get ready for some dumpster-diving!
Building Robot Drive Trains
Dennis Clark, Michael Owings
This essential title in McGraw-Hill’s ROBOT DNA SERIES is just what robotics hobbyists need to build an effective drive train using inexpensive, off-the-shelf parts. Leaving heavy-duty tech speak behind, the authors focus on the actual concepts and applications necessary to build – and understand — these critical force-conveying systems. If you’re hooked on amateur robotics and want a clear, straight-forward guide to the nuts-and-bolts of drive trains, this is the way to go.
Insectronics: Build Your Own Walking Robot
Karl Williams
Using inexpensive off-the-shelf parts (mostly aluminum and other metal) hobbyists can build a better bug and at the same time have loads of fun honing their knowledge of mechanical construction, programming, microcontroller use, and artificial intelligence.
Additional Williams books:
Amphibionics: Build Your Own Biologically Inspired Reptilian Robot
Build Your Own Humanoid Robots
Robot Building for Beginners
David Cook
For raw beginners with little or no experience. You need some shop tools like a drill press and tap set to build some of the designs, though. See also, Intermediate Robot Building, by the same author.
LEGO Robotics
Building Robots With Lego Mindstorms : The Ultimate Tool for Mindstorms Maniacs
Ferrari, Hempel, et al
Building Robots with Lego Mindstorms explains how to build robots using Lego bricks and components. The book describes the practical aspects of robot building, discussing the basics of mechanics, motors, sensors, pneumatics, and navigation, and offering a variety of tips and tricks. It surveys a wide range of ideas for building, with the idea of inspiring the creative impulses of the reader rather than offering models for replication.
Microcontrollers for Robotics
123 PIC Microcontroller Experiments for the Evil Genius
Myke Predko
“Smart” house features and “smart” appliances, are just some of the multitude of inexpensive PIC micontroller projects created by PIC expert Myke Predko. More than just hours of fun, these exciting experiments provide a solid grounding in PIC microcontrollers and the skills needed to program them — from the ground up. Each experiment builds on those before it, so you develop a hands-on, practical understanding of microcontroller programming. You don’t need any knowledge of programming to get started. But by the end, you’ll be able to complete your own awesome projects!
Programming Robot Controllers
Myke Predko
Often overlooked at the initial design stage is how the robot will be controlled. Predko addresses everything the enthusiast needs to fill in the gaps. However, some prior programming and electronic knowledge is assumed. The CD-ROM includes HTML links and source code for sample applications.