Featuring a hands-on approach to learning that relies on affordable and easily available robotics kits on the market, this text provides a detailed exploration of the construction, theory and experiments for different types of robots, including arm, wheeled and legged robots. Taking a completely hands-on approach, using cheap and easily available robotics kits, Practical and Experimental Robotics provides a detailed exploration of the construction, theory, and experiments for different types of robots. With topics ranging from basic stamp microcontrollers to biped and propeller based robots, the text contains laboratory experiments, examples with solutions, and case studies. The authors begin with a review of the essential elements of electronics and mechanics. They describe the basic mechanical construction and electrical control of the robot, then give at least one example of how to operate the robot using microcontrollers or software. The book includes a reference chapter on Basic Stamp Microcontollers with example code pieces and a chapter completely devoted to PC interfacing. Each chapter begins with the fundamentals, then moves on to advanced topics, thus building a foundation for learning from the ground up. Building a bridge between technicians who have hands-on experience and engineers with a deeper insight into the workings, the book covers a range of machines, from arm, wheel, and leg robots to flying robots and robotic submarines and boats. Unlike most books in this field, this one offers a complete set of topics from electronics, mechanics, and computer interface and programming, making it an independent source for knowledge and understanding of robotics « Taking a completely hands-on approach, using cheap and easily available robotics kits, Practical and Experimental Robotics provides a detailed exploration of the construction, theory, and experiments for different types of robots. With topics ranging from basic stamp microcontrollers to biped and propeller based robots, the text contains laboratory experiments, examples with solutions, and case studies. The authors begin with a review of the essential elements of electronics and mechanics. They describe the basic mechanical construction and electrical control of the robot, then give at least one example of how to operate the robot using microcontrollers or software. The book includes a reference chapter on Basic Stamp Microcontollers with example code pieces and a chapter completely devoted to PC interfacing. Each chapter begins with the fundamentals, then moves on to advanced topics, thus building a foundation for learning from the ground up. Building a bridge between technicians who have hands-on experience and engineers with a deeper insight into the workings, the book covers a range of machines, from arm, wheel, and leg robots to flying robots and robotic submarines and boats. Unlike most books in this field, this one offers a complete set of topics from electronics, mechanics, and computer interface and programming, making it an independent source for knowledge and understanding of robotics. »-- Résumé de l'éditeur In recent years, the robotics market has grown dramatically with the new family of robots which are simple and easy to use. These robots can be used/ explored by a large variety of people ranging from hobbyists to college students. In addition, they can also be used to introduce robotics to K-12 students and increase their attention and interest in engineering and science. The book has chapters on basic fundamentals of electrical and mechanical systems as well as some advanced topics such as forward and inverse kinematics of an arm robot, dynamics of a mobile robot, and vision control for robots. Each chapter starts with basic understanding of the topic covered. Later in the chapters, the advanced topics are explored so that hobbyists and K-12 students can still assimilate the topic covered in the chapter. The book also presents a variety of robots from arm robots to robotic submarines most of which are available as kits in the market. In the chapters, we first describe basic mechanical construction and electrical control of the robot. Then, we give at least one example on how to use and operate the robot using microcontrollers or software. We present two arm robots, a twowheel robot, a four wheel robot, a legged robot, flying robots, submarines, and robotic boats. In addition, we present topics which are commonly utilized in robotics. "Taking a completely hands-on approach, using inexpensive and easily available robotics kits, Practical and Experimental Robotics provides a detailed exploration of the construction, theory, and experiments for different types of robots. With topics ranging from basic stamp microcontrollers to biped and propeller based robots, the text contains laboratory experiments, examples with solutions, and case studies."--Jacket
