Build Your Own Robot: Using Python, CRICKIT, and Raspberry PI - Softcover

Alsabbagh, Marwan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1633438457 ISBN 13: 9781633438453

Publisher: Manning, 2024

Synopsis

A DIY guide to bringing your first robot to life with cheap and basic components.

Build Your Own Robot introduces you to the exciting world of robotics in a way that’s fun and affordable! You’ll build your own real robot with easy-to-find hardware and free open source software. Plus, all the components you need can be assembled with simple tools like a screwdriver.

In Build Your Own Robot you’ll learn how to:

• Use cameras to capture photos and let your robot see
• Add cameras and basic computer vision
• Coordinate DC motors to move your robot
• Write a web app to control your robot
• Set up controls for joysticks
• Read QR codes to find and identify objects

This book shows you how anyone can start building their own robot—no special soldering or electronic skills required. All you need is some basic Python know-how to get started. From scratch, you’ll go hands-on with DC motors, touch sensors, custom shell scripting, joystick controls, and even face detection for your robot friend.

Purchase of the print book includes a free eBook in PDF and ePub formats from Manning Publications.

About the technology

You can build your own robot! With this book, you’ll use readily-available hardware and author Marwan Alsabbagh’s clear step-by-step instructions to create a robot that moves, manipulates objects, and responds to its environment. Along the way, you’ll learn some serious skills like computer vision, networking, and the basics of robotics programming.

About the book

Build Your Own Robot is a project-based guide that takes you from spinning your first DC motor to programming a mobile robot that you can control from your phone or computer. You’ll write simple Python code to help your new friend spin, move, and find its way. You’ll even teach it to track faces and fetch snacks. Plus, a helpful hardware purchasing guide makes it easy to find exactly what you need to get started!

What's inside

• Coordinate DC motors to move your robot
• Write a web app to control your robot
• Adding cameras and basic computer vision
• Read QR codes to find and identify objects

About the reader

Examples use simple Python code. No special skills or expensive tools required.

About the author

Marwan Alsabbagh is a seasoned software developer, who has studied mathematics and computer science at McGill University.

The technical editor on this book was Alexander Ryker.

Table of Contents

1 What is a robot?
2 Getting started
3 Driving the robot
4 Creating a robot shell
5 Controlling robots remotely
6 Creating robot web apps
7 Joystick-controlled robots
8 Keyboard-controlled camera
9 Face-following camera
10 Robotic QR code finder
11 Building a snack-pushing robot
A Hardware purchasing guide
B Configuring the Raspberry Pi
C Robot assembly guide
D Mocking the CRICKIT library

About this title

About the Author

Marwan Alsabbagh is a seasoned software developer. He studied mathematics and computer science at McGill University, and is passionate about building projects using Python, microcontrollers, and robotics.

From the Back Cover

About the book

Build Your Own Robot is a DIY guide for bringing your first Python-based robots to life. Start with the basics, teaching your new friend how to spin, move around, and find its way. You'll then quickly progress to controlling your robot remotely using your phone, computer, or joystick. You'll even set up a camera to broadcast what it sees right to your computer screen. Clever computer vision tricks will get your bot tracking faces, looking for QR codes, and maybe even fetching some snacks.

About the reader

For Python programmers. No previous experience in robotics required.

Edition details

• Publisher: Manning
• Publication date: 2024
• ISBN 10: 1633438457
• ISBN 13: 9781633438453
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 248