Title:
Junkbots, Bugbots and Bots on Wheels: Building Simple Robots with BEAM Technology
Authors:
Dave Hrynkiw, Mark W. Tilden
ISBN:
0072226013
This book does more than just show you how to build a dozen-or-so mini-
robots. It also explains how they work, in
very simple terms. Armed with this information, you can easily customise the
robots you build, or design completely new ones, using stuff from your
junk drawer. And you don't need to know
Ohm's law! If you do know
Ohm's law and
Maxwell's Equations, but you still don't know why the things you build don't work, this book will help.
The book is targeted toward pre-teens and teenagers, but even if you're old enough to have teenagers of your own, I think you will find it very entertaining. It provides invaluable advice on how to troubleshoot problems in your new robotic friends.
This is one electronics DIY book that adequately addresses troubleshooting.
Warning: Before you read this book, ask a friend to hide all your valuable electronic equipment from you. I took apart a perfectly good camera just to see if there were any useful robot parts inside. Fortunately I found a couple of tiny motors and lots of other neat things in it.