The Robot Builder's Bonanza

Contents......Page 4
Acknowledgments......Page 9
Introduction......Page 10
Robot Basics......Page 16
The Robot Experiment......Page 18
Anatomy of a Robot......Page 24
Tools and supplies......Page 40
Buying Parts......Page 60
Common Electronic Components......Page 70
Electronic Construction Techniques......Page 80
Programming Concepts: The Fundamentals......Page 94
Robot Construction......Page 114
Building a Plastic Robot Platform......Page 116
Building a Basic Wooden Platform......Page 130
Building a Metal Platform......Page 138
Constructing High-Tech Robots From Toys......Page 148
Build Custom LEGO-Based Robots......Page 162
Creating Functionoids With LEGO Mindstorms RIS......Page 176
Programming The LEGO Mindstorms RCX......Page 188
Power, Motors, And Locomotion......Page 202
All About Batteries And Robot Power Supplies......Page 204
Robot Locomotion Principles......Page 232
Choosing The Right Motor For The Job......Page 250
Working With DC Motors......Page 268
Working With Stepper Motors......Page 294
Working With Servo Motors......Page 310
Practical Robotics Projects......Page 334
Build A Roverbot......Page 336
Build A Heavy-Duty Six-Legged Walking Robot......Page 350
Advanced Locomotion Systems......Page 372
An Overview Of Arm Systems......Page 386
Build A Revolute Coordinate Arm......Page 392
Build A Polar Coordinate Arm......Page 404
Experimenting With Gripper Designs......Page 418
Computer And Electronic Control......Page 434
An Overview Of Robot \"Brains\"......Page 436
Interfacing With Computers And Microcontrollers......Page 450
Computer Control Via PC Printer Port......Page 474
Using The Basic Stamp......Page 496
Using The BasicX Microcontroller......Page 516
Using The OOPIC Microcontroller......Page 532
Remote Control Systems......Page 550
Sensors And Navigation......Page 570
Adding The Sense Of Touch......Page 572
Collision Avoidance And Detection......Page 584
Robotic Eyes......Page 616
Navigating Through Space......Page 634
Fire Detection Systems......Page 664
Sound Output And Input......Page 676
Experimenting With Tilt And Gravity Sensors......Page 694
Tips, Tricks, And Tidbits For The Robot Experiment......Page 710
Futher Reading......Page 724
Sources......Page 733
Robot Information On The Internet......Page 746
Interfacing Logic Families And ICs......Page 753
Reference......Page 760
Index......Page 764