The Robot Book: Build & Control 20 Electric Gizmos, Moving Machines, and Hacked Toys (Science in Motion) - Softcover

Mercer, Bobby

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1556524072 ISBN 13: 9781556524073

Publisher: Chicago Review Press, 2014

Synopsis

Drones, RC cars, artificial limbs, Roombas—the robots have arrived! Don’t you want your own? Author and physics teacher Bobby Mercer will show you how to turn common household objects and repurposed materials into 20 easy-to-build robots for little or no cost. Turn a toothbrush, an old cell phone or pager, and scrap wire into a Brush Bot, or hack a toy car to hotwire a Not-So-Remote Bot. A small electric fan, several craft sticks, and rubber bands make a Fan-Tastic Dancing Machine, and drinking straws, string, tape, and glue can be used to construct a working model of the human hand.

 

Every hands-on project contains a materials list and detailed step-by-step instructions with photos for easy assembly. Mercer also explains the science and technology behind each robot, including concepts such as friction, weight and mass, center of gravity, kinetic and potential energy, electric circuitry, DC vs. AC current, and more. These projects are also perfect for science fairs or design competitions.

About this title

About the Author

Bobby Mercer has been sharing the fun of science for over two decades as a high school physics teacher. He is the author of The Flying Machine Book, The Racecar Book, and Junk Drawer Physics.

Reviews

Gr 4 Up—A concise title that introduces readers to the basics of robotics and building simple robots. The projects here all call for home appliances and everyday electronics, such as cell phones, toys, and computers, which are cited as the best sources for at-home robotic experimentation material. In order to complete these activities, students will need tools that include pliers, tape, screwdrivers, paperclips, and other more expensive pieces of equipment like motorized toy trucks, LED lights, and old CD computer drives, among other items. Those interested in tinkering with electronics will find the tasks engaging and thorough, though certain aspects of robot construction are overlooked, like the process of how to extract a battery from a cell phone or pager. Those seeking a more guided approach may need extra direction from a knowledgeable adult, though intrepid kids with an interest in science will likely innovate and improve upon some of the simpler robotic designs.—Amy M. Laughlin, Darien Library, CT

Edition details

• Publisher: Chicago Review Press
• Publication date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1556524072
• ISBN 13: 9781556524073
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 208