Introduction:

I wrote this book because I love building robots. I want you to love building robots, too. It took me a while to learn about many of the tools and parts in amateur robotics. Perhaps by writing about my experiences, I can give you a head start. It’s amazing that so many brilliant minds work in the virtual universe now, rather than with what can be touched. Ideally, you’ll join the select ranks of inventors who create things that are physically real, even if homemade.

Intended Audience

This book is aimed at teenagers or adults who have an avid interest in science and who dream of building household explorers. No formal engineering education is assumed. The robot described and built in this book is battery powered and about the size of a lunchbox. It is autonomous. That is, it isn’t remote controlled. You’ll begin with some tools of the trade, work your way through prototyping, robot bodybuilding, and eventually soldering your own circuit boards. By the book’s end, you will have a solid amateur base of understanding so that you can begin creating your own robots

“Where’s the stuff about the killer saws?”

This book isn’t about destructive robots. However, the fundamental techniques presented here can provide a good foundation before tackling monster projects, if you so choose

“Houston, we have a problem.”

If you’re an experienced engineer and would like to learn more about multidimensional vision systems, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or seven-degrees-of-freedom robot arms, then this book is probably under your head. Thumb through the pages to see whether there’s anything that gets your brain juices flowing.

Not Ready to Learn How to Solder?

If you’re younger, have a limited financial budget, have negligible free time, or aren’t ready for drilling and soldering, then I highly recommend you begin with LEGOÒ MINDSTORMSÒ. The LEGO robot kit has limited electrical potential but is very friendly and should have you building interesting robots quickly.