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Robot Builder: The Beginner's Guide to Building Robots

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Robot Builder: The Beginner's Guide to Building Robots

By John Baichtal
Published Oct 31, 2014 by Que.

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Sample Content

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Features

This book provides step-by-step tutorials that teach a basic skill (e.g. working with motors) and uses a specific project to drive the point home.
It teaches the reader many of the skills (such as soldering) needed for building robots.
4-color, step-by-step instructional guide.

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Description

Copyright 2015
Edition: 1st

Book
ISBN-10: 0-7897-5149-6
ISBN-13: 978-0-7897-5149-2

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 Movement; 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

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Extras

Build Your Own Web-Interacting Robots

Power Up Your Robots with an L293D Chip

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Sample Content

Online Sample Chapter

How to Build Solar-Powered Robots

Online Chapter

Download the online chapter from Robot Builder, (includes Chapter 13)

Sample Pages

Download the sample pages (includes Chapter 4 and Index)

INTRODUCTION xvii

What’s in This Book? xvii

Chapter 1 You, Robot Builder 1

What Are Robots? 2

Myths About Robots 4

Types of Robots 4

Anatomy of a Robot 7

Safety 9

Build a Vibrobot 10

Pizza Saver Vibrobot 11

Computer Fan Buzzbot 15

Summary 19

Chapter 2 Robots of the World 21

Watercolor Bot 22

Sparki 23

OpenROV 24

Astro Droids 25

Drink-Making Unit 26

Mars Rover Replica 27

MindCub3r 28

Ball-Balancing Robot 29

LEGO Turing Machine 30

Sir Mix-a-Bot 31

Arc-O-Matic 32

Soft-Boiled Eggbot 33

Legonardo 34

Sisyphus 35

Orbital Rendersphere 36

Clash of the Fractions 37

Lava Lamp Centrifuge 38

Quakescape 39

InMoov 40

DIWire Bender 41

Plant-Watering Robot 42

Nerf Sentry Gun 43

Yellow Drum Machine 44

Pancake Bot 45

Balloon Bot 46

Piccolo: The Tiny CNC Bot 47

Xylophone Bot 48

Flyer-Distributing Robot 49

Flowerbot 50

CoolerBot 51

Summary 52

Chapter 3 Rolling Robots 53

All About Motors 54

Choosing a Motor 55

Wheels 58

Configuration 58

Measurements 61

Tires or Treads 61

Project: DIY Wheels 65

Parts List 66

Step-by-Steps 67

The Chassis 70

Use a Pre-Made Chassis 70

Make Your Own Chassis 71

Use a Building Set 72

Powering Your Robot 72

Batteries 73

Solar Panels 74

House Current 75

Project: Building a Rolling Robot 76

Parts List 77

Step-by-Steps 78

Summary 81

Chapter 4 Going Solar 83

How Do Solar Panels Work? 84

BEAM Robotics 85

Three Hobbyist-Friendly Solar Cells 86

Flexible Film 86

Glass and Silicon 87

Plastic and Silicon 88

Prototyping Circuits 89

How to Breadboard 90

How to Solder 91

Using Solar Power to Charge Batteries 100

Project: DIY Solar Panel 101

Parts List 102

Step-by-Steps 103

Project: Making a Solar Spinner 106

Parts List 107

Step-by-Steps 107

Summary 109

Chapter 5 Controlling Your Robot 111

Autonomous 112

Infrared 112

Internet 113

Radio Control 114

Wireless 115

Microcontroller/Microcomputer 116

Motor Control Options 117

Adafruit Motor Shield 117

Schmalzhaus EasyDriver 118

Makeblock Me Motor Driver 118

Controlling a Robot with RC 119

Transmitter 120

Receiver 121

Electronic Speed Controller 121

Project: Use an Arduino Uno to Control a Robot 123

Parts List 123

Step-by-Steps 125

Programming the Arduino 127

Project Remix: Swapping Motor Boards 130

Parts List 131

Step-by-Steps 132

Code 140

Summary 141

Chapter 6 Introduction to Programming 143

What Is Programming? 144

Delay 144

For 144

If/Else 144

Loops and Interrupts 145

Switch/Case 145

Variables 145

While Loops 145

The Arduino IDE 146

The Blink Sketch 148

Finding Code Examples 149

Adapting Example Code 151

Simple Debugging Using the Serial Monitor 151

Programming and Robotics Bookshelf 152

Project: Adding an Ultrasonic Sensor to Your Robot 154

Parts List 154

Step-by-Steps 155

Code 157

Summary 159

Chapter 7 Harnessing Infrared 161

Uses for Infrared Signals 162

Passive Versus Active IR 163

IR Remote Controls 165

Adafruit Mini Remote Control 165

Sparkfun Infrared Remote Control 166

Makeblock Infrared Receiver and Remote Controller 166

Mini Project: Discover Your Remote’s IR Codes 167

Parts List 168

Step-by-Steps 169

Code 169

Project: Controlling a Robot with IR 169

Parts List 169

Step-by-Steps 170

Code 171

Project: Dart Sentry 173

Parts List 174

Step-by-Steps 175

Code 187

Operating the Dart Sentry 189

Summary 189

Chapter 8 Building Sets 191

Uses for Building Sets 192

Enclosures 192

Gantries 193

Chassis 194

Hardware Mounts 195

Furniture 196

Examples of Building Sets 197

Vex Robotics Design System (Vexrobotics.com) 197

LEGO Mindstorms and Technic Sets (Mindstorms.com) 198

Actobotics Building System (Servocity.com) 199

Makeblock (Makeblock.cc) 200

MicroRax (Microrax.com) 200

MakerBeam (Makerbeam.eu) 202

Tamiya (Tamiyausa.com) 203

Choosing a Building Set 203

Material 204

Beams 205

Motor Mounts 206

Connector Plates 207

Electronics 208

Gears 208

Wheels and Tank Treads 209

Customizing Building Sets 210

Combining Building Sets 210

Creating New Parts 214

Chassis Designs 216

LEGO Mindstorms EV3 Chassis 216

Step-by-Steps 217

Makeblock Chassis 226

Parts List 227

Step-by-Steps 228

Actobotics Chassis 234

Parts List 234

Step-by-Steps 236

Summary 245

Chapter 9 Robot-Builder’s Toolbox 247

Choose Your Toolbox 248

Size 248

Construction 249

Metal 249

Plastic 249

Cloth 250

Subdividers 251

Trays 251

Compartments 252

Belly 252

Handle 253

Four Toolboxes 254

Pelican 1460 Mobile Tool Chest 254

Stack-On 39-Bin Drawer Cabinet 255

Husky 41-inch 13-Drawer Tool Cabinet 256

Craftsman 21-inch Toolbox 257

Tools 257

Drivers and Wrenches 257

Electronics 259

Soldering 262

Measurements 263

Writing and Drawing Tools 264

CNC Tools 265

Woodworking Tools 266

Attaching 267

Cutting 269

Cables 269

Introduction to CNC Tools 270

Laser Cutter 101 270

Anatomy 271

Using the Laser Cutter 274

CNC Router 101 276

Anatomy 277

Using the CNC Router 279

3D Printer 101 280

Anatomy 280

Using the 3D Printer 282

Summary 282

Chapter 10 Manipulators 283

Types of Manipulators 284

Universal Gripper 284

Scoop 285

Tentacle 286

Pneumatic 287

Pincer 288

Humanoid Hand 288

Electromagnet 289

Claw 290

Winch 291

Pen 291

Commercial Manipulator Options 292

Makeblock Strong Robot Gripper 292

VEX Claw 293

uFactory uArm 294

Dagu Robotic Claw, MK II 294

Project: LEGO Pincer 296

Parts List 296

Step-by-Steps 298

Project: Laser-Cut Pincers 307

Parts List 307

Step-by-Steps 309

Project: Coffee Grounds Gripper 314

Parts List 315

Step-By-Steps 317

Summary 328

Chapter 11 Water Robots 329

Anatomy of a Water Robot 330

Flotation 330

Power 330

Steering 331

Propulsion 331

Control 332

Stabilization 332

Submersibles 332

Moisture 333

Waterproof Enclosures 333

Project: Floating Fanbot 334

Parts List 335

Step-by-Steps 337

Code 348

Summary 350

Chapter 12 Art Bots 351

Types of Art Bots 352

V-plotter 352

Vibration 352

Plotter 353

Eggbot 354

Sand Plotter 355

Car-Based 355

Paint Pendulum 356

Dot Matrix 357

Converting an Image to G-Code 358

Converting a Line Drawing into G-Code 361

Project: Rolling ‘Riter 362

Parts List 363

Step-by-Steps 365

Code 380

Summary 383

Glossary 385

Index 391

ONLINE (WWW.INFORMIT.COM/TITLE/9780789751492):

CHAPTER 13 Web-Interacting Robots 1

Types of Web-Interacting Robots 2

Sniffers 2

Autotweeters 2

Telepresence 2

Interactive Robots 2

Home Automation 3

Sensor Nets 3

Hardware 4

Arduino Ethernet Shield 4

Adafruit CC3000 Breakout 4

Arduino Wi-Fi Shield 5

Roving Networks WiFly 6

Microcomputers: Non-Arduino Solutions 7

BeagleBone Black (beaglebone.org) 7

Raspberry Pi (raspberrypi.org) 7

pcDuino (pcduino.com) 7

Arduino Yún (arduino.cc/en/main/ArduinoBoardYun) 7

Dart Texter 8

Parts List 9

Step-by-Steps 9

Code 12

Summary 13

TOC, 9780789751492, 10/08/2014

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