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Building Robots with LEGO Mindstorms by Mario Ferrari β€” book cover

Building Robots with LEGO Mindstorms

by Mario Ferrari, Ralph Hempel (Editor), Giulio Ferrari
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Overview

Lego robots! Mindstorms are sweeping the world and fans need to learn how to programme them Lego Mindstorms are a new generation of Lego Robots that can be manipulated using microcomputers, light and touch sensors, an infrared transmitter and CD-ROMs. Since Lego launched Lego Mindstorms in late 1998 sales have skyrocketed - with no sign of slowing down. Mindstorms have captured the imagination of adults and children alike, creating a subculture of Mindstorm enthusiasts around the world. The kits are now a staple part of engineering and computer science classes at many high profile Universities.
Building Robots with Lego Mindstorms provides readers with a fundamental understanding of the geometry, electronics, engineering, and programming required to build your own robots. Mario and Giulio Ferrari are world-renowned experts in the field of Lego Mindstorms robotics, and in this book they share their unrivaled knowledge and expertise of robotics as well as provide a series of chapters detailing how to design and build the most exotic robots. Mario and Giulio also give detailed explanations of how to integrate Lego Mindstorms kits with other Lego programmable bricks such asScout and Cybermaster, as well as with non-robotic Lego Technics models.

Synopsis

This book is about building robots using Lego bricks and components.

In the first section of the book (Part I) we will discuss why you might find an interest in robotics as a hobby, and why Lego is an ideal system to have a fast start and great results. If you're reading this book you probably own a Mindstorms set, so you already have an interest in robotics, and for this reason we kept this part very short. Nevertheless you might find there some thoughts about what robotics can give to you and your family, besides a lot of fun. And how it can change your perception of the environment that's around you.

The second section (Part II) is about how to build a robot. Here we provide a set of tools you need to explore the world of robotics. Some basic knowledge about mechanics, motors, sensors, pneumatics, navigation, and many tips and tricks. We will compare different standard architectures, discuss solutions to common recurring problems, learn how to organize complex projects in terms of subsystems.

In the third section (Part III) we start to face the tough question, the one we actually would try to answer with this book: "I got a Mindstorms kit, I have learnt how to use it, what do I build now?". Here we will show you a large survey of possible ideas, but do not expect to find complete models to copy step by step.

8-Page Full Color Insert

The 8-page, full color insert will contain detailed photography of the most impressive robots that readers will be able to build after reading the book. The photos will also detail the more complex electrical and construction challenges.

About the Author, Mario Ferrari

Mario and Giulio Ferrari are considered legends in the Lego community.

Mario Ferrari is known as the "DaVinci" of the Lego World. Mario was the creator of emulegOS, which was the first third-party operating environment created for programming the RCX brick, which is the heart and soul of Lego Mindstorms. Currently, he works for EDIS SpA, (www.edis.spa) a production company specialized in the field of collectible stickers and trading cards (producing for Topps group, Upperdeck, and many other stickers/cards publishers worldwide).

Giulio Ferrari is a computer programmer, who along with his brother Mario, maintains the most frequently visited Lego Robotics site on the Web. Giulio and Mario's tic-tac-toe playing robot received the highest award at MIT s recent MindFest event, which is an annual gathering of world-renowned Lego enthusiasts.

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Editorials

From Barnes & Noble

LEGO Mindstorms are a great way to get into robotics. This book gives all the basic information you need to begin learning about LEGO Mindstorms and the principles you need to understand to create your own robots. A color insert of robot photos will inspire you in making your own designs.

Book Details

Published
January 1, 2002
Publisher
Elsevier Science
Pages
656
Format
Paperback
ISBN
9781928994671

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