ISBN:0789729717Book Description
Finally, a robots book for people who don't know the first thing about robotics! Absolute Beginner's Guide to Robots is well-written, inviting, and action-packed, with engaging ideas and fascinating factoids about robots and robot-related arts and sciences. You are led gently into the intimidating world of robotics, but nearly 400 pages later, you emerge with a respectable knowledge of robot history, the major fields and "schools" of robotics today, and the basic skills and resources needed to create hobby robots. By the end of the book, you will be the proud owner of three bots, the first two of which demonstrate key robotic principles. The third is a programmable/expandable robot, which serves as a platform for future experimentation. And best of all, these robots are built with simple to get and inexpensive parts - many of which you already have around the house!
/p>Reviews From AMAZON.COM
Best tech writer out there!
Gareth Branwyn could make even the most simple tech stuff interesting...oh, wait, he just did! Not many tech books tell stories, this one does. So for readers who suffer from M.E.G.O (my eyes glaze over) when reading how-to's, this book is an absolute gift. Funny, informative and practical (no having to get Morton-Thiokol on the phone for spare parts) it's a great little book. Want more from this guy, especially on the tech history side.
Not what i expected
When the title of the book says Absolute Beginners's guide it means it. The book does a good job of explaining the history of robotics, and describing the various types. But there is a definate lack of explaination when it comes to the robots them selves. Its simply "asseble part A with part B, then move on to C." With no reasoning behind why you're doing it. In short the book does a poor job of teaching you robotics but instead is an exercise in how to follow directions.