The Unofficial LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Inventor's Guide
by David J. Perdue
from No Starch Press
FIRST LEGO League: The Unofficial Guide
by James Kelly
from No Starch Press
FIRST LEGO League (FLL) is an international program for kids ages 9 to 14 that combines a hands-on, interactive robotics program and research presentation with a sports-like atmosphere. Authors James Floyd Kelly and Jonathan Daudelin-both participants in numerous FIRST LEGO League competitions-have teamed up to bring coaches, teachers, parents, and students an all-in-one guide to FLL.
Written for both rookie and experienced teams, FIRST LEGO League: The Unofficial Guide includes in-depth coverage of topics like team formation and organization, robot building and programming, and the basics of getting involved with FLL. Before the authors delve into the specifics of robot and team building, they reveal the fascinating history of the FIRST organization and the sometimes puzzling structure of the FLL competition. Using a combination of real-life stories and candid commentary from actual FLL teams, as well as recollections of their own experiences, they offer an abundance of helpful guidance and dependable building and programming examples.
FIRST LEGO League: The Unofficial Guide explores the complex workings and structure of the FLL competition, including its four key components: Robot Game, Technical Interview, Project, and Teamwork. You'll learn how to:
- Organize, recruit, and manage a team
- Find equipment, mentors, and funding
- Design, build, and program winning robots
- Tackle each of the four FLL components-from Robot Game to Teamwork
- Use strategies and techniques from FLL masters to increase your scores
No matter what your role in the FLL competition, FIRST LEGO League: The Unofficial Guide will make you a better competitor, builder, designer, and team member. The only ingredient you need to add is your competitive spirit!
The LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Idea Book: Design, Invent, and Build
by Martijn Boogaarts
from No Starch Press
If you're serious about having fun with LEGO robotics, you've come to the right place. The team behind The NXT STEP blog - the authoritative online source for MINDSTORMS NXT information and advice - has packaged its considerable skills and experience in this book. Inside, you'll find some of the team's best ideas for creating cool and sophisticated models, including instructions for eight robots you can build yourself.
Follow along with the MINDSTORMS NXT experts as they explain the fundamentals of programming and design, accompanied by CAD-style drawings and an abundance of screenshots that make it easy for you to master the MINDSTORMS NXT system. You'll get an overview of the NXT parts (beams, sensors, axles, gears, and so on) and clear instructions for combining them to build and program working robots.
The LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Idea Book delves into the complexities of the NXT programming language (NXT-G) and offers tips for designing and programming robots, using Bluetooth, creating an NXT remote control, troubleshooting, and much more.
Here are just a few of the robots you'll learn to build in The LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Idea Book:
LEGO fans of all ages will find this book to be an ideal jumping off point for doing more with MINDSTORMS NXT. The only ingredient you need to add is your imagination!
101 Spy Gadgets for the Evil Genius
by Brad Graham
from McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics
101 projects that appeal to the spy in you
Utilizing inexpensive, easily obtainable components, you can build the same information gathering, covert sleuthing devices used by your favorite film secret agent. Projects range from simple to sophisticated and come complete with a list of required parts and tools, numerous illustrations, and step-by-step assembly instructions.
- Projects include: scanners and radios, night vision devices, telephone devices, computer monitoring, audio eavesdropping, hidden cameras, video transmitters, and more
LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT-G Programming Guide (Technology in Action)
by James Floyd Kelly
from Apress
The reader of this book will be someone looking for more detailed information on the NXT-G programming language used to program the LEGO Mindstorms NXT robotics kit.
LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT-G Programming Guide is suitable for young programmers, age 10 and up, as well as parents and teachers who want to learn the new language for themselves or be able to assist students/children with learning to properly program their robots.
- Includes easy-to-follow examples for each and every programming block
- Provides programming techniques simple enough to be understood by young programmers, age 10 and up.
- Provides a test robot (with instructions) in the appendix for running the programs
What youll learn
- Understand the basics of computer programming.
- Easily program your robot with the NXT-G visual programming language.
- See how to implement basic, intermediate, and advanced programs.
- Learn how to program for
- Moving
- Waiting
- Recording
- Stopping
- Displaying messages
- Sending messages
- Defining the duration of an activity
- Creating random behavior
Who is this book for?
This book is for people new to programming (10 years old and up) or for experienced programmers new to the NXT-G programming language.
How to Build a Robot Army: Tips on Defending Planet Earth Against Alien Invaders, Ninjas, and Zombies
by Daniel H. Wilson
from Bloomsbury USA
Schaum's Outline of Feedback and Control Systems (Schaum's)
by Allen J. Stubberud
from McGraw-Hill
If you want top grades and thorough understanding of feedback and control systems—both analog and digital—in less study time, this powerful study tool is the best tutor you can have! It takes you step-by-step through the subject and gives you accompanying problems with fully worked solutions—plus hundreds of additional problems with answers at the end of chapters, so you can measure your progress. You also get the benefit of clear, detailed illustrations. Famous for their clarity, wealth of illustrations and examples—and lack of tedious detail—Schaum’s Outlines have sold more than 30 million copies worldwide. This guide will show you why!
Robot Building for Beginners
by David Cook
from Apress
Loads of pictures and very frank discussion make this book a pleasure to read, and a real learning tool.
— Craig Maloney, Slashdot Contributor
The author gives lots of practical advice, some of which would be useful even to experienced tinkerers. It is very thorough.
— Edward Chin, The Canadian Linux Users' Exchange
Learning robotics by yourself isnt easy, but it helps when the encouragement comes from an expert whos spent years in the field. Not only does Author David Cook assist you in understanding the component parts of robot development, but he also presents valuable techniques that prepare you to achieve new discoveries on your own.
Cook begins with the anatomy of a homemade robot and gives you the best advice on how to proceed successfully. General sources for tools and parts are provided in a consolidated list, and specific parts are recommended throughout the book. Also, basic safety precautions and essential measuring and numbering systems are promoted throughout.
Specific tools and parts covered include digital multimeters, motors, wheels, resistors, LEDs, photoresistors, transistors, chips, gears, nut drivers, batteries, and more. Robot Building for Beginners is an inspiring book that provides an essential base of practical knowledge for anyone getting started in amateur robotics.
Electronics Sensors for the Evil Genius: 54 Electrifying Projects (Evil Genius)
by Thomas Petruzzellis
from McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics
54 super-entertaining projects offer insights into the sights, sounds, and smells of nature
Nature meets the Evil Genius via 54 fun, safe, and inexpensive projects that allow you to explore the fascinating and often mysterious world of natural phenomena using your own home-built sensors. Each project includes a list of materials, sources for parts, schematics, and lots of clear, well-illustrated instructions.
- Projects include: rain detector, air pressure sensor, cloud chamber, lightning detector, electronic gas sniffer, seismograph, radiation detector, and more
LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT: The Mayan Adventure (Technology in Action)
by James Floyd Kelly
from Apress
LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT has hit the world by storm, giving you the ability to build your own robots and program them to perform all types of actions. What kind of robots? How about five exploratory robots, used to explore the newly discovered tomb of an ancient Mayan king?
You are along for the ride with Evan and his archaeologist uncle as they explore a Mayan pyramid complete with traps and treasures. Using a variety of NXT robots, the archaeology team is able to move deeper into the tomb towards the secrets of King Ixtua. But beware of the traps! The pyramid's design has successfully deterred unwanted visitors through the centuries, and your team will need to be careful and alert.
You will learn and use a design methodology that will teach you about the new motors and sensors that your robot can use. Complete building and programming instructions are provided for each robot, allowing you to follow along and learn as you build.
Can you help Evan and the team of explorers navigate through the old pyramid and discover King Ixtua's tomb? Read the stories, examine the environments, and build and program the robots that will allow the team to move closer to the secrets of The Mayan Adventure.
- This book shows how to design a NXT robot to solve real-world problems.
- It includes worksheets that encourage constructive brainstorming techniques.
- You'll gain access to four new and unique robot designs.
- This book is suitable for both adults and kids exploring NXT.
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