Description
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This work provides the hobbyist with detailed mechanical, electronic, and PIC microcontroller knowledge needed to build and program a snake, frog, turtle, and alligator robots. It focuses on the construction of each robot in detail, and then explores the world of slithering, jumping, swimming, and walking robots, and the artificial intelligence needed with these platforms.
Back Cover
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ROBOTIC EVOLUTION HAS BEGUN! THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO JOIN THE REVOLUTION
If you're a robotics hobbyist with a flair for creativity, here's your opportunity to join the revolution and advance robotic evolution. Amphibionics: Build Your Own Biologically Inspired Reptilian Robot leads you step-by-step through four amazing projects which, when completed, will leave you as master of a gang of robot reptiles that jump, slither, walk, swim, and respond to their environment!
Packed with insight and a wealth of informative illustrations, Amphibionics show you how to build your own snake, frog, crocodile, and turtle. It focuses on the construction of each robot in detail, and then explores the world of slithering, jumping, swimming, and walking robots - along with the artificial intelligence needed to make these movements happen. The book also:
* Tells you all you need for mechanical construction, programming, locomotion, remote control, and customization
* Teaches you corresponding electronics, PIC programming, artificial intelligence, software, motor control, and wireless data linking.
* Instructs you to build your own customizable remote control using inexpensive transmitter and receiver modules
* Helps you add your own touches, through a special section that shows you how to evolve each robot further and make it unique
* And much, much, more!
With each project amazingly inexpensive to complete, you're bound to wind up with your own brood of reptilian robots in no time!
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Introduction
A Brief History
How amphibians achieve locomotion
Software control algorithms
Stages of Construction
Mechanical Construction
Theory and construction of Various Sensors
A study of the PIC Microcontroller
Programming
Coordinating the servos for walking
Monitoring the sensors
Output of sound
Controlling light-emitting diodes
Making sure the robots display lifelike behavior
Artificial Intelligence Experiments
Individual Amphibian Projects
Snake
Frog
Turtle
Lizard
Adding an Ultrasonic Rangefinding Sensor
Mapping out rooms
Focusing on Narrow Objects
Interfacing a Model Airplane Radio Transmitter
Using the Controller Board to Give the Robots Remote Control
Robotic Gripper
Mechanical Construction
Mounting the Gripper to the Robot
Software and Programming
Taking it Further
Adding Features and Improvements
Author Biography
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Karl Williams is an independent robotics researcher, electronics experimenter, and software developer. He is with Mitra Imaging, a leading medical imaging software company acquired by AGFA HealthCare Informatics. He is the author of Insectronics: Build Your Own Walking Robot and has written for Nuts and Volts magazine. A resident of Ontario, Canada, Karl has hosted a robotics and electronics website for four years, and received an IBM regional computer technology award for building a computer-controlled robotic arm.
