The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Robotics - For the bookshelf Major Keary |
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Syngress is a name usually associated with course texts for certification examinations, but in recent times has been publishing titles on LEGO Mindstorms, and amongst those are project books for the Mindstorms robotic kits. A significant bonus is the extension of Syngress's innovative Internet support program to the LEGO series. LEGO, of course, is the leading vendor of recreational robotic kits and components.
The titles of the Syngress project books may be confusing, both for their length and similarity, so make sure you have the ten-digit ISBN when enquiring about a specific book. The project books present detailed and well-illustrated assembly instructions. There is some discussion of theoretical issues, such as the necessary conditions for a biped robot to operate without falling over, and useful notes on structural topics, but they are essentially guides to assembly. Other titles in the series deal with specific aspects of robotics, such as programming; details can be found at http://www.syngress.com (click on the LEGO tab).
Purchasers of the books can register for access to services that include 'ask the author' queries that enable readers to post questions; monthly email mailings of answers to reader queries; and regularly updated links to sites offering further technical information.
Dark Side Robots
The first title in the project series is 10 Cool LEGO Mindstorms Dark Side Robots, Transports, and Creatures; it has easy-to-follow instructions for ten Star Wars-type projects. The designs are from leading Mindstorms creators and each one is built around the simple-to-use LEGO Micro Scout processor. No programing knowledge is required for these projects. Novices, providing they have the components at hand, should be able to construct any of the projects within an hour.
If you want to construct a robot Super Battle Droid, Orbital Defence Cannon, X-Stormer, or any of the other projects described, this is the book to have. A great lead-in to more advanced robotics and one's own designs. The instructions are clear and the illustrations exceptionally well done.
Registered readers can download a free e-book (which is the title reviewed below) and an extra robot design from the Syngress website.
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Kevin Clague et al.: 10 Cool LEGO Mindstorms Dark Side ISBN 1-931836-59-0 Published by Syngress, 244 pp., RRP $57.95 incl. GST |
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Robotics Invention System 2
The second title in the series is 10 Cool LEGO Mindstorms Robotics Invention
System 2 Projects; it moves on from the Scout to the RCX Brick, which accepts
program uploads. Apart from LEGO's official
RCX programming language, there are other - more sophisticated - options. One of
those is NQC (Not Quite C), which is used for some of the operating code in the
projects (and is available on the website).
The projects in this collection are more complex, and there is more information
about design issues. This is a good resource for people who want to invent their
own robots. It is both a collection of assembly instructions for robotics
enthusiasts, and a means of learning more about engineering and programming
principles of robotics in general and LEGO's latest kit, RIS 2.0.
The Robotics Invention System 2 (RIS 2.0) is designed around an upgraded
programmable "brick", officially designated RCX, which brings a new level of
sophistication and programming flexibility to LEGO's kits.
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Jeff Elliott et al.: 10 Cool LEGO Mindstorms Robotics Invention System 2 ISBN 1-931-836-61-2 Published by Syngress, 337 pp., RRP $55.00 incl. GST |
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The Ultimate Builders Projects
Another group of ten projects created by professionals from a wide range of
disciplines. Some of the robots use the LEGO brick's native code (RCX), and
other require the more powerful NQC (the code for which can be downloaded from a
companion website).
The projects cover a couple of good "starter" robots for beginners, a light
sensing robot, one that can follow a line on the floor, a robot that moves by
hopping, a hunter robot that locates and grabs objects, a domino laying robot, a
drawbridge, a compactor for lolly papers (very sophisticated), and a two-legged
walking robot (which is more complex that you might think).
Detailed assembly instructions are accompanied by excellent illustrations (which
demonstrate the kind of support software that is available). The required
component parts are identified in the illustrations. The book is primarily an
assembly instruction set for the ten projects, but along the way there are
discussions about why certain design features were incorporated.
Like the other two titles, this book not only describes a number of robotic
projects, but helps users to draw together techniques for their own inventions.
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David Astolfo et al.: 10 Cool LEGO Mindstorms Ultimate Builders Projects ISBN 1-931836-60-4 Published by Syngress, 263 pp., RRP $55 incl. GST. |
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Reprinted from the June 2003 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
