The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Build Your Own Robot - For the bookshelf Major Keary |
Build Your Own Robot is based on a collection of seventy articles published over
five years in Nuts & Volts magazine. This is not a text for computer novices;
readers are assumed to know something about programming, electronics, and
computer hardware. However, one does not have to be expert in those fields to
find this a stimulating discussion of building low-cost robots. There are no
step-by-step illustrations of how to assemble components, but there are plenty
of circuit diagrams, mechanical drawings, and programming examples.
Mechanical and design issues are discussed in detail; one of the articles is on
stepper motor basics, and another describes a gel-cell Battery charger "for
Cheap". I was taken by the articles on how to turn a particular make of 1440
modem into a "dirt-cheap 8051 development system".
The author has written a Forth compiler and an SBasic compiler - both freely
available - that are designed for programming processors used in the projects.
This is a practical, low-budget approach to building and programming robots, but
requires some technical savvy. A great text for anyone teaching or encouraging
robotics at senior secondary level, and a very good resource for hobbyists. Even
if you are just someone interested in dabbling with robotics, and have some
pliers-and-soldering-iron experience, this will be an engaging introduction.
I am impressed by the depth and diversity of the information and the way it is
presented. The narrative style tracks the author's personal experience and
experiments in robotics, which makes it relevant to ordinary users who want
practical information. This title was published in 2000, so some of the URLs may
be out of date. If your local book shop doesn't have it, have a look at
http://www.woodslane.com.au.
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Karl Lunt: Build Your Own Robot ISBN 1-56881-102-0 Published by A K Peters, 574 pp., RRP $85.00 incl. GST. |
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Reprinted from the November 2003 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
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