Books & Videos

Making Simple Robots

Exploring Cutting-Edge Robotics with Everyday Stuff

By Kathy Ceceri

Publisher: Maker Media, Inc

Release Date: February 2015

Pages: 251

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Making Simple Robots is based on one idea: Anybody can build a robot! That includes kids, school teachers, parents, and non-engineers. If you can knit, sew, or fold a flat piece of paper into a box, you can build a no-tech robotic part. If you can use a hot glue gun, you can learn to solder basic electronics into a low-tech robot that reacts to its environment. And if you can figure out how to use the apps on your smart phone, you can learn enough programming to communicate with a simple robot.

Written in language that non-engineers can understand, Making Simple Robots helps beginners move beyond basic craft skills and materials to the latest products and tools being used by artists and inventors. Find out how to animate folded paper origami, design a versatile robot wheel-leg for 3D printing, or program a rag doll to blink its cyborg eye. Each project includes step-by-step directions as well as clear diagrams and photographs. And every chapter offers suggestions for modifying and expanding the projects, so that you can return to the projects again and again as your skill set grows.

Chapter 1 Robots Made from Interesting Materials
1. Project: Make Actuated Paper
2. Project: Make an Inflatable Robot
Chapter 2 Robots That Get Around
1. Project: Make a Compressible Tensegrity Robot
2. Project: Design a Wheel-Leg Hybrid
Chapter 3 Unevolved Robots
1. Project: Make a Swarm of Gliding Vibrobots
2. Project: Make a Souped-Up Solar BEAM Wobblebot
Chapter 4 Robot Friends and Helpers
1. Project: Make a Chatbot Program
2. Project: Picture Yourself in the Uncanny Valley
Chapter 5 Fun, Artsy Robots
1. Project: Make a littleBits Plotter
2. Project: Make FiberBot, an E-Textile Arduino Robot

Books & Videos

Making Simple Robots

Exploring Cutting-Edge Robotics with Everyday Stuff

Read on Safari with a 10-day trial

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Robots Made from Interesting Materials

Project: Make Actuated Paper

Project: Make an Inflatable Robot

Chapter 2 Robots That Get Around

Project: Make a Compressible Tensegrity Robot

Project: Design a Wheel-Leg Hybrid

Chapter 3 Unevolved Robots

Project: Make a Swarm of Gliding Vibrobots

Project: Make a Souped-Up Solar BEAM Wobblebot

Chapter 4 Robot Friends and Helpers

Project: Make a Chatbot Program

Project: Picture Yourself in the Uncanny Valley

Chapter 5 Fun, Artsy Robots

Project: Make a littleBits Plotter

Project: Make FiberBot, an E-Textile Arduino Robot