Arduino Robotics

This book will show you how to use your Arduino to control a variety of different robots, while providing step-by-step instructions on the entire robot building process. You'll learn Arduino basics as well as the characteristics of different types of motors used in robotics. You also discover controller methods and failsafe methods, and learn how to apply them to your project. The book starts with basic robots and moves into more complex projects, including a GPS-enabled robot, a robotic lawn mower, a fighting bot, and even a DIY Segway-clone.

• Introduction to the Arduino and other components needed for robotics
• Learn how to build motor controllers
• Build bots from simple line-following and bump-sensor bots to more complex robots that can mow your lawn, do battle, or even take you for a ride

Please note: the print version of this title is black & white; the eBook is full color.

JD is an electronics hobbyist, builder, and relentless tinkerer. As a child, he took apart everything he owned to figure out how it worked. Since then he has built many different projects ranging from anelectric fishing pole to a remote-controlled lawn mower, which was featured on the cover of MAKE magazine in April 2010. Having worked as a builder doing carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work for 8 years, his knowledge is founded in real world experience rather than textbook recitation. In addition to building robots and remote controlled toys, he enjoys automating everyday tasks, blinking LEDs, designing and etching PCBs, and lots of random things in between. Much of his time has been spent researching, building, and testing various motor-controllers to make his bots move. As a self-proclaimed poor man's roboticist, he will always try to find the cheapest way to do something usually by building it himself. JD graduated from the University of Alabama in Birmingham with a degree in Business Management. He currently lives in Birmingham, Alabama with his beautiful wife Melissa and their growing flock of animals.