LEGO Mindstorms Masterpieces: Building Advanced Robots - Softcover

Syngress; Ferrari, Mario; Ferrari, Giulio; Clague, Kevin; Brown, J. P.; Hempel, Ralph

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1931836752 ISBN 13: 9781931836753

Publisher: Syngress, 2003

Synopsis

In LEGO Mindstorm Masterpieces, some of the world's leading LEGO Mindstorms inventors share their knowledge and development secrets. The unique style of this book will allow it to cover an incredibly broad range of topics in unparalleled detail. Chapters within the book will include detailed discussions of the mechanics that drive the robot - and also provide step-by-step construction diagrams for each of the robots. This is perfect book for LEGO hobbyists looking to take their skills to the next level whether they build world-class competitive robots or just like to mess around for the fun of it.

For experienced users of LEGO Mindstorms, LEGO Mindstorms Masterpiece is composed of three fundamental sections:
· Part One: A review of the advanced robot building concepts and theories.
· Part Two: Step-by-step building instructions for a series of complex models. The companion programming code is included, along with in-depth explanations of concepts needed for the specific models. Robots include Line Followers, Bipeds, Stair and Wall Climbers, a Joystick Controlled Cannon, a Robotic Game Player, Plant Waterer, and a Drink Mixer.
· Part Three: Ideas for modifying the building instructions by expanding the pieces and kits.

Topics covered:
1. Behavior: This section includes robots designed to interact with the environment, or with other robots. Behavior is the key word as the robots are designed to behave in some specific way, and all the technical details and implementations are secondary to this main goal.
2. Motion: The projects in this category are aimed at solving some specific motion problem. The focus of these robots is on the mechanical techniques rather than on software.
3. Interaction: These projects allow the reader to build robots for the purpose of interacting with the user by playing games or responding to user commands in real time.
4. Automation: Opposite of the previous category, this one hosts robots designed to perform totally automated operations. These projects will build robots able to complete tasks without human intervention.
5. Calculus: The most abstract of the sections contain robots with minimum knowledge of the external world. Pneumatic ALUs, and Turning machines are fully explained.

Ø Advanced users need inspiration too! Advanced projects with suggestions for enhancements and improvements make the explanations of the theories and physics of the robots as well as the complete building instructions, make this book extremely useful to readers long after the building of the robots has been completed.
Ø Written by the "DaVincis of LEGO" and other highly regarded LEGO personalities. This experienced authoring team is assembled of highly respected and visible superstars in the LEGO community.
Ø Proven success in the LEGO MINDSTORMS market. Syngress has already had a hit with the bestselling book, Building Robots with LEGO MINDSTORMS

About this title

From the Publisher

These incredibly sophisticated and technically detailed projects will challenge the most advanced builder:

Stair-Climber by Doug Carlson is based on the tri-star wheel concept and can drive, step, and climb over obstacles!

Learning Brick Sorter by Mario Ferrari uses the theory of adaptability, as it has the ability not only to sort bricks by color, but also the ability to learn how.

The LEGO Turing Machine by Giulio Ferrari is a revolutionary device created to study computability, and which allows us to journey to the time of Artificial Intelligence.

PneumADDic II by Kevin Clague describes a collection of building and pneumatic techniques that should be fundamental tools for any serious Mindstormer.

Synchropillar by Kevin Clague, demonstrates that by using pneumatics you can achieve some simple automation characteristics.

Shape-Shifting Camera Tank by Miguel Agullo is based on a real-life search-and-explore robot, the Variable Geometry Tracked Vehicle (VGTV). When built, the SSCT is a cool toy that allows us a peek into a very practical application of real life robotics: telepresence.

CyberArm IV by Hideaki Yabuki, featuring many famous pneumatics components, is controlled by a sensor feedback system.

The book's CD-ROM features complete RCX and NQC Code files, movies of robots, and a bonus chapter by Hideaki Yabuki.

About the Author

Doug Carlsen, designer extraordinaire known for his work on mobility issues.

Mario Ferrari, co-author of the best selling Building Robots with LEGO Mindstorms and developer of the Learning Brick Sorter

Giulio Ferrari, co-author of the best selling Building Robots with LEGO Mindstorms and developer of the LEGO Turing Machine

Kevin Clague, creator of LPub and LSynth, and co-author of LEGO Software Power Tools

Miguel Agullo, creator of the Technic Puppy Web site and biped expert

Hideaki Yabuki, LEGO pioneer and contributor to the 10 Cool LEGO series of books

Ralph Hempel, pbForth creator and co-author of Extreme Mindstorms

Edition details

• Publisher: Syngress
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 1931836752
• ISBN 13: 9781931836753
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 600