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Making Simple Robots: Exploring Cutting-Edge Robotics with Everyday Stuff
Making Simple Robots is based on one Anybody can build a robot! That includes kids, school teachers, parents, and non-engineers. If you can knit, sew, or fold a flat piece of paper into a box, you can build a no-tech robotic part. If you can use a hot glue gun, you can learn to solder basic electronics into a low-tech robot that reacts to its environment. And if you can figure out how to use the apps on your smart phone, you can learn enough programming to communicate with a simple robot.Written in language that non-engineers can understand, Making Simple Robots helps beginners move beyond basic craft skills and materials to the latest products and tools being used by artists and inventors. Find out how to animate folded paper origami, design a versatile robot wheel-leg for 3D printing, or program a rag doll to blink its cyborg eye. Each project includes step-by-step directions as well as clear diagrams and photographs. And every chapter offers suggestions for modifying and expanding the projects, so that you can return to the projects again and again as your skill set grows.
225 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 25, 2014
14 people are currently reading
99 people want to read
About the author
Kathy Ceceri
18 books15 followersKathy Ceceri is the author of STEAM books for kids and families including "Making Simple Robots," "Musical Inventions," and "Paper Inventions" from the publishers of Make magazine, and "BOTS" and "Video Games: Design and Code Your Own Adventure" from Nomad Press. Online, she was the Homeschooling Expert for Thoughtco, a founding editor of GeekMom.com, and a top writer for Wired's GeekDad blog. When she's not busy writing, Kathy presents hands-on workshops for students and educators.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 3, 2015
You've watched the development of the geek renaissance with joy, but from the sidelines. You don't like programming, understand calculus, or know much about physical science. You celebrate Pi Day with all your mathy friends, and you follow I Fucking Love Science on Facebook. You get Instructables e-mails ever since that one epic Halloween project. You joined the hackerspace to use their laser cutter for a craft idea you had to try. Maybe you've even made something using a 3D printer when your public library got a grant and held an intro class. You enjoy these things, but they are the wading pool, and you are still wary of deeper waters, remembering how miserably you failed to swim in grade school.
But at the thought of doing any major robotics, electronics, or engineering project, you still feel intimidated. No, no, wrong word, not intimidated; you like to learn, you have the spirit of a do'er and a maker. You're just a bit... outside. Perhaps you could best describe yourself as being not science-y exactly, but friendly with the science-y. Now with all these cool-looking projects at your doorstep, you're starting to wonder... is it because you're a girl, caught up in the bias of your generation's teachers? Because your high school was impoverished? Or maybe you are a white male of economic means but you blithely pigeonholed yourself right alongside the burned out junior high guidance counselor who told you you were a humanities sort of kid.
The generation above us, the one that believed that science isn't for everyone, has been proven wrong. Now the maker revolution is come. The layman (and woman) is taking back engineering and electronics and robotics, using these sciences for art, for farming, for drama, for games, for housekeeping, all things you take pride in doing creatively; and you realize there is no good reason for you to not get in on this and make some stuff. You are in the habit of taking your inspirations seriously, so you challenge yourself: really, why not actualize those fleeting daydreams about a robot that distracts your dog when the mailman shows up? What would that take, anyway? Some mechanical skills? A simple app?
Problem is, you don't know how to find out. All the books for beginners assume a childhood steeped in the trappings of a passion for inventing. You don't know the first thing, literally, and you're a little frustrated even at trying to get simple, straightforward explanations from your science-privileged friends. If someone would tell you what that actual first thing really is, and build on it slowly (without denying your intelligence), you know that building such a robot would be fun to try. But how does a person who gave up science, technology, engineering and math at age eleven start learning the basics at age 35? Who can you talk to about robots who won't assume you never learned this stuff before because you are dumb, who won't mistake you for an uncreative consumer who doesn't value making?
The author, in this book, it turns out. This is the robotics education that is desired by artists, housewives, farmers, camp counselors, small business owners... anyone doing something interesting. No, anyone. Robotics for anyone with a desire to jump on board the Maker boat. The projects are do-able, explained step-by-step with the "why" behind it but without assumption of pre-existing technical knowledge. The projects are interesting, with historical background, cultural tidbits, biographical stories. The mechanics, electronics, and programming elements become fascinating quickly because they become fathomable quickly, and that of course is the great joy of reading this book. At the end of it, everything will feel accessible.
It makes me want to start a Monday Night Robot-Maker's Night Out for all the science-friendly science-nervous makers I know. Fact, I think I will.
But at the thought of doing any major robotics, electronics, or engineering project, you still feel intimidated. No, no, wrong word, not intimidated; you like to learn, you have the spirit of a do'er and a maker. You're just a bit... outside. Perhaps you could best describe yourself as being not science-y exactly, but friendly with the science-y. Now with all these cool-looking projects at your doorstep, you're starting to wonder... is it because you're a girl, caught up in the bias of your generation's teachers? Because your high school was impoverished? Or maybe you are a white male of economic means but you blithely pigeonholed yourself right alongside the burned out junior high guidance counselor who told you you were a humanities sort of kid.
The generation above us, the one that believed that science isn't for everyone, has been proven wrong. Now the maker revolution is come. The layman (and woman) is taking back engineering and electronics and robotics, using these sciences for art, for farming, for drama, for games, for housekeeping, all things you take pride in doing creatively; and you realize there is no good reason for you to not get in on this and make some stuff. You are in the habit of taking your inspirations seriously, so you challenge yourself: really, why not actualize those fleeting daydreams about a robot that distracts your dog when the mailman shows up? What would that take, anyway? Some mechanical skills? A simple app?
Problem is, you don't know how to find out. All the books for beginners assume a childhood steeped in the trappings of a passion for inventing. You don't know the first thing, literally, and you're a little frustrated even at trying to get simple, straightforward explanations from your science-privileged friends. If someone would tell you what that actual first thing really is, and build on it slowly (without denying your intelligence), you know that building such a robot would be fun to try. But how does a person who gave up science, technology, engineering and math at age eleven start learning the basics at age 35? Who can you talk to about robots who won't assume you never learned this stuff before because you are dumb, who won't mistake you for an uncreative consumer who doesn't value making?
The author, in this book, it turns out. This is the robotics education that is desired by artists, housewives, farmers, camp counselors, small business owners... anyone doing something interesting. No, anyone. Robotics for anyone with a desire to jump on board the Maker boat. The projects are do-able, explained step-by-step with the "why" behind it but without assumption of pre-existing technical knowledge. The projects are interesting, with historical background, cultural tidbits, biographical stories. The mechanics, electronics, and programming elements become fascinating quickly because they become fathomable quickly, and that of course is the great joy of reading this book. At the end of it, everything will feel accessible.
It makes me want to start a Monday Night Robot-Maker's Night Out for all the science-friendly science-nervous makers I know. Fact, I think I will.
September 24, 2015
So much set up, this isn't quite a browsing book, nor is it a quick, I'm going to do a project book, and it isn't quite the I pick up the book and will have the things to make everything in the book. Readable, but you have to want to read. Not quite scan and make, however.
August 13, 2022
The Robot Renovation
This was a fun, simple book.
I enjoyed the projects. Some of them were really minor improvements to your life, or to make something more fun, but it was an excellent process and good way to learn!
Great ways to teach.
Looking forward to volunteering soon.
3.8/5
This was a fun, simple book.
I enjoyed the projects. Some of them were really minor improvements to your life, or to make something more fun, but it was an excellent process and good way to learn!
Great ways to teach.
Looking forward to volunteering soon.
3.8/5
June 8, 2017
Provided some good project ideas for our library maker club although not many would be practical with a large group on a very limited budget.
May 18, 2015
Not bad
A little more adult-oriented than I'd hoped. I will probably get her other book since I wanted some projects I could do with kids.
A little more adult-oriented than I'd hoped. I will probably get her other book since I wanted some projects I could do with kids.
January 18, 2017
Really excellent projects explained really well.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews