Gordon's Books on Robotics and Electronics

Robot Builder's Bonanza
3rd Edition

From the back cover:

THE BEST AND BIGGEST ROBOTICS BOOK ON THE BLOCK—NOW BETTER THAN EVER—SUPERCHARGED WITH TWO TOP ROBOTICS AUTHORS!

Thousands of robot hobbyists -- and robots -- grew up on the first two editions on this book. Now Gordon McComb has partnered with fellow robotics enthusiast Myke Predko -- and together they've made this classic guide to building your very own robot more awesome than ever. Inside Robot Builder's Bonanza you'll find detailed plans for constructing robots that walk, see, feel, talk, listen, think -- and more!

Best of all, this book will make you want to build a robot -- and show you how you can! Packed with enthusiasm, fascinating science tidbits, field-tested projects, and modular organization to make it easy to invent and build your own designs, this best-seller puts it all together for anyone with the slightest curiosity about this fascinating hobby. Projects vary in complexity so everyone from novices to advanced hobbyists will find something to inspire and advance robot plans.

With some 30 new projects, this new edition also has a new author, Myke Predko. I AM LISTED AS A CO-AUTHOR, BUT I HAD ZERO INPUT ON THIS NEW BOOK (so don't ask me questions about it!). Please see Myke's Web page for support for the new material in the third edition. See also the McGraw-Hill support page for the book.

Electronics For Dummies

Begin having fun with electronics projects right away Explore the basic concepts of electronics, build your electronics workbench, and create cool projects Wish you could fix that faulty doorbell, hook up a motion detector, or maybe build your very own robot? This book will really get you charged up! It won't make you an electrician, but it covers the basics, choosing and using tools, and how to build more than a dozen really cool, inexpensive gizmos. You'll be shocked at how easy it is! Discover how to Master electricity basics Fill up your electronics parts bin Read circuit schematics Test circuits with multimeters Design your own printed circuit boards Build robots and program their actions.

Robot Builder's Bonanza
2nd Edition

A major revision of the bestselling "bible" of amateur robotics building--packed with the latest in servo motor technology, microcontrolled robots, remote control, Lego Mindstorms Kits, and other commercial kits. Gives electronics hobbyists fully illustrated plans for 11 complete Robots, as well as all-new coverage of Robotix-based Robots, Lego Technic-based Robots, Functionoids with Lego Mindstorms, and Location and Motorized Systems with Servo Motors. Features a pictures and parts list that accompany all projects, and material on using the BASIC Stamp and other microcontrollers.

I maintain an errata sheet with corrections and reader suggestions.

Robot Builders Sourcebook

A comprehensive listing (with address, phone numbers, web sites) of over 2500 suppliers and manufacturers of robot components, materials, tools, and much more. There are even sources for tracking down older and hard-to-find parts. Also listed are books, journals, magazines, professional societies, and Internet resources, including education sites, competition information, and web sites where hobbyists can find examples of program code. Dozens of sidebars and articles on various robotics topics break up the directory feel. The author also indicates recommended sources based on his own experiences and identifies "premium" sources that are dedicated to robot hobbyists.

Constructing Robot Bases

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO BUILD A WORKING ROBOT BASE --- FROM THE AUTHOR OF ROBOT BUILDER'S BONANZA Here is the first title in the innovative new ROBOT DNA SERIES from McGraw-Hill, the premier publisher of references for the robotics hobbyist. Author Gordon McComb focuses on the basic concepts and specific applications you need to build efficient robot bases -- and have a great time in the process. In the clear, easy-to-follow style that has made him a favorite among robotics fans, Gordon tells you how to get things up and running using only inexpensive, easily-obtained parts and simple testing equipment. Detailed enough to get the job done, but written with the amateur hobbyist in mind, Constructing Robot Bases is your first point of reference when designing and building this essential subsystem.

General Robotics Books

Applied Robotics

Edwin Wise
Grab-bag of amateur robotics, with a strong emphasis on hardware design (using an Atmel AVR microcontroller). Keynote: included on the CD with book is "Fuzbol," developed by the author's company, a fuzzy-logic robotics operating system.

Build Your Own All-Terrain Robot

Brad Graham, Kathy McGowan
The imaginative creators of the most original bike-builder's guide in the universe now bring their beginner-friendly, budget-savvy, heavily illustrated, and creativity-packed methods to the exciting world of robotics. Brad and Kathy help even total newcomers to robots and home workshops to construct a rugged, video-controlled, talking, seeing, interacting explorer 'bot with a range of over a mile for under $200!

Building Robot Drive Trains

Dennis Clark, Michael Owings
This essential title in McGraw-Hill's ROBOT DNA SERIES is just what robotics hobbyists need to build an effective drive train using inexpensive, off-the-shelf parts. Leaving heavy-duty tech speak behind, the authors focus on the actual concepts and applications necessary to build - and understand -- these critical force-conveying systems. If you're hooked on amateur robotics and want a clear, straight-forward guide to the nuts-and-bolts of drive trains, this is the way to go.

Insectronics: Build Your Own Walking Robot

Karl Williams
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.

Additional Williams books:
Amphibionics: Build Your Own Biologically Inspired Reptilian Robot
Build Your Own Humanoid Robots

JunkBots, Bugbots, and Bots on Wheels: Building Simple Robots With BEAM Technology

David Hrynkiw
From the publishers of BattleBots: The Official Guide comes this do-it-yourself guide to BEAM (Biology, Electronics, Aesthetics, Mechanics) robots. They're cheap, simple, and can be built by beginners in just a few hours, with help from this expert guide complete with full-color photos. Get ready for some dumpster-diving!

Robot Building for Beginners

David Cook
For raw beginners with little or no experience. You need some shop tools like a drill press and tap set to build some of the designs, though. See also, Intermediate Robot Building, by the same author.

LEGO Robotics

Building Robots With Lego Mindstorms : The Ultimate Tool for Mindstorms Maniacs

Ferrari, Hempel, et al
Building Robots with Lego Mindstorms explains how to build robots using Lego bricks and components. The book describes the practical aspects of robot building, discussing the basics of mechanics, motors, sensors, pneumatics, and navigation, and offering a variety of tips and tricks. It surveys a wide range of ideas for building, with the idea of inspiring the creative impulses of the reader rather than offering models for replication.

Additional Ferrari books:
LEGO Mindstorms Masterpieces: Building Advanced Robots
10 Cool LEGO Mindstorms Ultimate Builder Projects
Classic Lego Mindstorms Projects and Software Tools
Building and Programming LEGO Mindstorms Robots Kit

Joe Nagata's Lego Mindstorms Idea Book

Joe Nagata
The LEGO MINDSTORMS Robotics Invention System from LEGO combines LEGO bricks with a programmable component, making it easy to create real working robots at home. This fun and easy guide to using LEGO MINDSTORMS shows how to build ten fascinating robots and discusses the basic robotics principles needed to create variations. Step-by-step, illustrated directions make the projects easy for users at all levels. Includes a four-color insert and creative ways to enjoy the robots that readers create. (Some projects require pieces not included with the MINDSTORMS kit.)

Microcontrollers for Robotics

123 PIC Microcontroller Experiments for the Evil Genius

Myke Predko
"Smart" house features and "smart" appliances, are just some of the multitude of inexpensive PIC micontroller projects created by PIC expert Myke Predko. More than just hours of fun, these exciting experiments provide a solid grounding in PIC microcontrollers and the skills needed to program them -- from the ground up. Each experiment builds on those before it, so you develop a hands-on, practical understanding of microcontroller programming. You don't need any knowledge of programming to get started. But by the end, you'll be able to complete your own awesome projects!

Programming and Customizing the OOPic Microcontroller

Dennis Clark
This is the official OOPic Handbook, fully endorsed by Savage Innovations, the world's only manufacturer of OOPic microcontrollers. As the first book of its kind, this volume is destined to become the standard against which all other OOPic books will be judged. Written by a noted robotics authority, with a foreword by Savage Innovations President/CEO Scott Savage, this authoritative guide delves deeply into this groundbreaking technology.

Programming Robot Controllers

Myke Predko
Often overlooked at the initial design stage is how the robot will be controlled. Predko addresses everything the enthusiast needs to fill in the gaps. However, some prior programming and electronic knowledge is assumed. The CD-ROM includes HTML links and source code for sample applications.