Zoobots: Wild Robots Inspired by Real Animals - Hardcover

Becker, Helaine

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1554539714 ISBN 13: 9781554539710

Publisher: Kids Can Press, 2014

Synopsis

Innovations in the world of robotics are multiplying, with many cutting-edge breakthroughs, and this exciting and timely new book for young readers explores one particularly intriguing area: the world of robo-animals, or zoobots. In an attempt to design robots that can solve problems or perform tasks that humans can't, or just can't do easily, roboticists have been looking at the unique skills some animals have. Using something called mechatronics --- mechanical and electrical engineering combined with computer science --- they are finding ways to closely mirror those skills in robot form. Some fascinating examples from the book of what zoobots can do include: finding survivors of a fire using sensitive, computerized “whiskers”; scaling skyscraper walls using super stickiness; or delivering drugs deep within the human body using microscopic whiptails for locomotion. Twelve zoobots are described, each on its own two-page spread.Award-winning children's author Helaine Becker's text is comprehensive, yet clear and lively, and is made more manageable by being broken up into shorter segments. The futuristic design of the book includes vivid, detailed color illustrations by Alex Ries, of both the zoobot prototypes as well as the animals from which their skills were derived. This imaginative and interesting nonfiction book will definitely capture the imaginations of technology buffs. It also has enormous potential for classroom use in exploring everything from basic technology and robots, to engineering concepts, to inventions. A glossary and an index make it work well as a wonderful reference tool.

About this title

About the Author

Helaine Becker is an award-winning children's author. She has written over seventy books, including the #1 Canadian National Bestseller, A Porcupine in a Pine Tree. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Reviews

Gr 3–6—Twelve futuristic robots are introduced on spreads. Each one is given a name, team, realm, super skill, specifications, and applications. Also included are the animal that inspired the bot and its special ops. The status for all is either working prototype or prototype in development, making this a soon-to-be dated title. But the idea behind the book is a fascinating one. For example, the Ghostbot evolved from observations of the black ghost knifefish. The bot mimics the real fish's fluttering fin to achieve incredible flexibility. Its planned purpose is to be an all-powerful surveillance tool that can hover over rough terrain underwater. On each spread, white text is set on a black background. Illustrations are large, colorful, and appealing, and the glossary and index are extensive. While brevity rules here, the cover and content will find an audience among young robotics enthusiasts. For interested browsers.—Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI

Zoobots? What exciting first generation inventions this book introduces! Scientists are making science fiction come alive in research and university labs around the world, from the nanobot that can move around in human blood vessels to the 200-pound Ole Pill Bug designed to withstand temperatures up to 1850°F and aid in fighting forest fires. These animal-inspired robots will only spawn newer, even stranger robots in the future. For now, though, all but 4 of the 12 robots featured have working prototypes; the others are in development. Using scientific headings, a black background, and a larger-than-life Photoshop illustration of each zoobot (along with a smaller illustration of the animal on which it is based), this ought to engage the imagination of future scientists—and who knows what they might create? This one won’t stay on library shelves for long. Grades 3-6. --J. B. Petty

Edition details

• Publisher: Kids Can Press
• Publication date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1554539714
• ISBN 13: 9781554539710
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Ries Alex
• Number of pages: 32