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Intermediate Robot Building

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For readers of Robot Building for Beginner (Apress, 2002 and 2009), welcome to the next level. Intermediate Robot Building, Second Edition offers you the kind of real-world knowledge that only renowned author David Cook can offer.

In this book, you'll learn the value of a robot heartbeat and the purpose of the wavy lines in photocells. You'll find out what electronic part you should sand. You'll discover how a well-placed switch can help a robot avoid obstacles better than a pair of feelers. And you'll avoid mistakes that can cause a capacitor to explode.

Want a robot that can explore rooms, follow lines, or battle opponents in mini-sumo? This book presents step-by-step instructions and circuit and part descriptions so that you can build the robot featured in the book or apply the modules to your own robot designs.

Finally, you'll find the complete schematics for Roundabout, a room explorer that requires no programming and uses only off-the-shelf electronics. With Roundabout, you'll use many of the same techniques used by professional robotics engineers, and you'll experience many of the same challenges and joys they feel when a robot "comes to life."

480 pages, Paperback

First published April 7, 2004

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57 people want to read

About the author

David Cook

5 books1 follower
David [9^] Cook

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.

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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Profile Image for Smellsofbikes.
253 reviews23 followers
January 27, 2011
Good wide-ranging and informative book on drive circuitry, sensor design and integration, and mechanicals, with quite a bit of practical electronics.
Profile Image for Cloay.
628 reviews8 followers
Want to read
March 24, 2011
- available in SG NLB 629.892 (Serangoon)
16 reviews
August 5, 2011
Easy to follow and very detailed. Probably the best book for hobbyists building robots by themselves.
Profile Image for John Purvis.
1,347 reviews23 followers
August 8, 2014
Thorough discussion of building a robot from scratch.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews

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