Always wanted to build a robot but didn't know where to start? This user-friendly guide shows what robots can do, how they work, and more Ready to enter the world of robotics? Then this book is for you! If you don't know much about electronics, high-tech tools, or computer programming, that’s okay. If you can work with some basic tools (such as pliers, a screwdriver, and a cutting knife), have a computer and know your way around it, and want to make a robot, you’re in the right place. Robot Building For Dummies walks you through building your very own little metal assistant from a kit, dressing it up, giving it a brain, programming it to do things, and even making it talk. In this hands-on guide that's illustrated with step-by-step instructions and written in plain English, you get an overview of robotics and the tools, technology, and skills you need to become a robot builder. You'll discover The various approaches to robot building, such as building from scratch or starting with a kit The mechanical parts of a robot and how they fit together The components of an efficient workspace and how to set one up Programming basics you need to enter and download commands into your robot How to add a controller, which lets you download software programs to your robot Using an editor program to connect to your robot The importance of preparing the parts of a robot kit and then assembling the chassis, wheels, and sensor whiskers The fun of making your robot functional by adding motion detection, light sensors, and more How to troubleshoot common problems and fix them to save your robot's life Along the way, you'll gather tidbits about robot history, enthusiasts' groups, a list of parts suppliers, and all-important safety tips. As an added bonus, Robot Building For Dummies comes with rebates for your robot building kit – no more waiting, grab your copy and start building your robot today.

"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."--David Cook Robot Building for Beginners, Third Edition provides basic, practical knowledge on getting started in amateur robotics. There is a mix of content: from serious reference tables and descriptions to personal stories and humorous bits. The robot described and built in this book is battery powered and about the size of a lunch box. It is autonomous; that is, it isn't remote controlled. The book is broken up into small chapters, suitable for bedtime (or bathroom) reading. The characteristics and purposes of each major component (resistor, transistor, wire, and motor) are described, followed by a hands-on experiment to demonstrate. Not only does this help the reader to understand a particular piece, but it also prepares them with processes to learn new parts on their own. An appendix offers an introduction to 3D printing and parts of the robot can, as an alternative, be "printed" using a 3D printer. The master project of the book is a simple, entertaining, line-following robot.

“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.” —David Cook Robot Building for Beginners, Second Edition is an update of David Cook’s best-selling Robot Building for Beginners. This book continues its aim at teenagers and adults who have an avid interest in science and 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, and then 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 to vacuum your house or maybe even rule the world!

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

Fun robotics projects that teach kids to make, hack, and learn! There's no better way for kids to learn about the world around them than to test how things work. Building Your Own Robots presents fun robotics projects that children aged 7 – 11 can complete with common household items and old toys. The projects introduce core robotics concepts while keeping tasks simple and easy to follow, and the vivid, full-color graphics keep your kid's eyes on the page as they work through the projects. Brought to you by the trusted For Dummies brand, this kid-focused book offers your child a fun and easy way to start learning big topics! They'll gain confidence as they design and build a self-propelled vehicle, hack an old remote control car to create a motorized robot, and use simple commands to build and program a virtual robot—all while working on their own and enjoying a sense of accomplishment! Offers a kid-friendly design that is heavy on eye-popping graphics Focuses on basic projects that set your child on the road to further exploration Boasts a small, full-color, accessible package that instills confidence in the reader Introduces basic robotics concepts to kids in a language they can understand If your youngster loves to tinker, they'll have a whole lot of fun while developing their creative play with the help of Building Your Own Robots.

Discover how to use the LEGO MINDSTORMS Inventor kit and boost your confidence in robotics Key FeaturesGain confidence in building robots using creative designsLearn advanced robotic features and find out how to integrate them to build a robotWork with the block coding language used in robotics software in a practical wayBook Description LEGO MINDSTORMS Robot Inventor is the latest addition to the LEGO MINDSTORMS theme. It features unique designs that you can use to build robots, and also enable you to perform activities using the robot inventor application. You'll begin by exploring the history of LEGO MINDSTORMS, and then delve into various elements of the Inventor kit. Moving on, you'll start working on different projects which will prepare you to build a variety of smart robots. The first robotic project involves designing a claw to grab objects, and helps you to explore how a smart robot is used in everyday life and in industry. The second project revolves around building a working guitar that can be played and modified to meet the needs of the user. As you advance, you'll explore the concept of biomimicry as you discover how to build a scorpion robot. In addition to this, you'll also work on a classic robotic challenge by building a sumobot. Throughout the book, you'll come across a variety of projects that will provide you with hands-on experience in building creative robots, such as building a Dragster, Egg Decorator, and Plankton from Spongebob Squarepants. By the end of this LEGO book, you'll have got to grips with the concepts behind building a robot, and also found creative ways to integrate them using the application based on your creative insights and ideas. What you will learnDiscover how the Robot Inventor kit works, and explore its parts and the elements inside themDelve into the block coding language used to build robotsFind out how to create interactive robots with the help of sensorsUnderstand the importance of real-world robots in today's landscapeRecognize different ways to build new ideas based on existing solutionsDesign basic to advanced level robots using the Robot Inventor kitWho this book is for This book is for robot enthusiasts, LEGO lovers, hobbyists, educators, students, and anyone looking to learn about the new LEGO Robot Inventor kit. This book is designed to go beyond the basic build through to intermediate and advanced builds, and enables you to add your personal flair to the builds and codes.

This book, a compilation of articles from Karl Lunt's long-running column for Nuts & Volts magazine, is a must-read for all beginner and intermediate-level robotics enthusiasts. Written in a friendly, straightforward manner, it contains entertaining anecdotes as well as practical advice and instruction. The author's stories about his various robotics projects will inspire you to try them yourself; and he shares his tips and code to help you. Possible projects range from transforming a TV remote control into a robot controller to building a robot from a drink cooler. You'll want to build them all; the author's enthusiasm for robotics is contagious!

In Learn Robotics with Raspberry Pi, you'll learn how to build and code your own robot projects with just the Raspberry Pi microcomputer and a few easy-to-get components - no prior experience necessary! Learn Robotics with Raspberry Pi will take you from inexperienced maker to robot builder. You'll start off building a two-wheeled robot powered by a Raspberry Pi minicomputer and then program it using Python, the world's most popular programming language. Gradually, you'll improve your robot by adding increasingly advanced functionality until it can follow lines, avoid obstacles, and even recognize objects of a certain size and color using computer vision. Learn how to: - Control your robot remotely using only a Wii remote - Teach your robot to use sensors to avoid obstacles - Program your robot to follow a line autonomously - Customize your robot with LEDs and speakers to make it light up and play sounds - See what your robot sees with a Pi Camera As you work through the book, you'll learn fundamental electronics skills like how to wire up parts, use resistors and regulators, and determine how much power your robot needs. By the end, you'll have learned the basics of coding in Python and know enough about working with hardware like LEDs, motors, and sensors to expand your creations beyond simple robots.

An introduction to the LEGO Mindstorms Robot Inventor Kit through seven engaging projects. With its amazing assortment of bricks, motors, and smart sensors, the LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robot Inventor set opens the door to a physical-meets-digital world. The LEGO MINDSTORMS Robot Inventor Activity Book expands that world into an entire universe of incredibly fun, uniquely interactive robotic creations! Using the Robot Inventor set and a device that can run the companion app, you’ll learn how to build bots beyond your imagination—from a magical monster that gobbles up paper and answers written questions, to a remote-controlled transformer car that you can drive, steer, and shape-shift into a walking humanoid robot at the press of a button. Author and MINDSTORMS master Daniele Benedettelli, a robotics expert, takes a project-based approach as he leads you through an increasingly sophisticated collection of his most captivating robot models, chapter by chapter. Each project features illustrated step-by-step building instructions, as well as detailed explanations on programming your robots through the MINDSTORMS App—no coding experience required. As you build and program an adorable pet turtle, an electric guitar that lets you shred out solos, a fully functional, whiz-bang pinball machine and more, you’ll discover dozens of cool building and programming techniques to apply to your own LEGO creations, from working with gears and motors, to smoothing out sensor measurement errors, storing data in variables and lists, and beyond. By the end of this book, you’ll have all the tools, talent and inspiration you need to invent your own LEGO MINDSTORMS robots.

Learn how to get started with robotics programming using Robot Operation System (ROS). Targeted for absolute beginners in ROS, Linux, and Python, this short guide shows you how to build your own robotics projects. ROS is an open-source and flexible framework for writing robotics software. With a hands-on approach and sample projects, Robot Operating System for Absolute Beginners will enable you to begin your first robot project. You will learn the basic concepts of working with ROS and begin coding with ROS APIs in both C++ and Python. What You’ll Learn Install ROS Review fundamental ROS concepts Work with frequently used commands in ROS Build a mobile robot from scratch using ROS Who This Book Is For Absolute beginners with little to no programming experience looking to learn robotics programming.