Amphibionics

by Karl Williams

Published 1 April 2003
This work provides the hobbyist with detailed mechanical, electronic, and PIC microcontroller knowledge needed to build and program a snake, frog, turtle, and alligator robots. It focuses on the construction of each robot in detail, and then explores the world of slithering, jumping, swimming, and walking robots, and the artificial intelligence needed with these platforms.

Publisher's Note: Products purchased from Third Party sellers are not guaranteed by the publisher for quality, authenticity, or access to any online entitlements included with the product.


GREAT 'DROIDS, INDEED!

This unique guide to sophisticated robotics projects brings humanoid robot construction home to the hobbyist. Written by a well-known figure in the robotics community, Build Your Own Humanoid Robots provides step-by-step directions for 6 exciting projects, each costing less than $300. Together, they form the essential ingredients for making your own humanoid robot.

Build Your Own Humanoid Robots & Amazing and Affordable Projects
Serious enough to interest robot professionals, the plans inside offer serious fun to hobbyists. They give you the power to breathe life into a mechanical being with amazingly human qualities, and feature all the instructions you need for programming the inexpensive chips that give your humanoid brains and sensitivity.

6 Astounding Projects:
Robotic Arm, Wrist, and Hand. Build a versatile robotic arm system to give your humanoid the ability to manipulate objects/ A PIC microcontroller provides motor control and feedback.

Personal Computer Interface. Learn how to interface the robot arm or any other robotics project to a personal computer for complete control and feedback.

Visual Basic Control Software. Develop flexible bidirectional communications software to control the robot arm or other projects from your personal computer.

Voice Recognition Control. Make your robotic arm and walking robot obey your spoken commands with this completely embedded control system that can also be used for many other applications.

Expressive, Speaking Face. Enable your robot to show happiness, surprise, excitement, anger, and more, as it speaks any words you transmit electronically.

Bipedal Walking Robot. It's your own amazing small scale, fully autonomous robot! Learn about sensors, analog-to-digital converters, DC motor control, microcontrollers, feedback, and control systems.

Also included is the background information regarding construction materials, test equipment, printed circuit board fabrication, microcontrollers, and programming and design considerations needed to create the humanoid robot projects.


Insectronics

by Karl Williams

Published 26 November 2002
Build the baddest bug in town! It walks on six legs, possesses practical artificial intelligence, utilizes state-of-the-art technology, and is incredibly inexpensive to build! This complete project book delivers all the step-by-step plans you need to construct your own six-legged insect-like robot that walks and actually responds to its environment. Using inexpensive off-the-shelf parts hobbyists can 'build a better bug' and at the same time have loads of fun honing their knowledge of mechanical construction, programming, microcontroller use, and artificial intelligence.Written by an award-winning robotics expert, "Insectronics" fully explains PIC programming, use of sensors, and robot intelligence. It details tools and materials; covers obstacle avoidance, sonar room mapping, finding the best route, and maze solving. This title features an informative chapter on software that covers coordinating the servo motors for walking, monitoring infrared and sonar sensors, and controlling the output of sound and light emitting diodes.It includes a comprehensive chapter on robotic grippers; explains how to implement radio remote control to operate the robot up to 1 mile away; shows you how to give your robot unique personalized features; and tells you how to get it all done on a shoestring budget.
If you want to the follow the lead of robotics experts who are looking to insects for structural inspiration - and have hours of amusement - "Insectronics" belongs in your home workshop.