Complete Table of Contents

How to Use this Book

Introduction
Or: How I got started in robotics (it's a cute story...no, really!)

PART I: Robot.edu
A crash course in robotic history, science, law, and other fun and completely non-intimidating subjects

Chapter 1: What's in a Name?

A Bot by Any Other Name
Bots in Brief
Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto
No More Rogue Robots!
The Real Rossum: Industrial Bots from Unimate to Co-Bots
One Small Dance for Robo-Critter Kind
Off to a Shakey Start
Great Moments in Robot History
The Absolute Minimum

Chapter 2: Robot Evolution

Don't Call Me Chief! (Robot Micro-Fiction)
Humanoid Robots
Robotic Presence
Biomimicry
Behavior-Based Robotics (BBR)
BEAM
Robot Sports
Combat Robotics
SUMO
Robotic Performance Art
Robot Warriors
Domestic Robots
Robo-Pets
Of Maids and Mowers
Rosie, Where Are You?
Robotic Evolution Through Open Networking
The Absolute Minimum

Chapter 3: Robot's Rules of Order

Bots in Legal Briefs
Asmivo's Three (er...Four) Laws of Robotics
Tilden's Laws
Moore's Law
Ohm's Law
Moravec's Timeline
The Turing Test
Amdahl's First Law
Brooks's Research Heuristic
Braitenberg's Maxim
The Krogh Principle
The Sugarman Caution
The Rules for Roboticists
The Absolute Minimum

Chapter 4: Robot Anatomy Class

Flesh and Steel
Robot Body Types
Industrial Manipulators
Utility Robots
Robo-Critters
Humanoids
Embedded Bots
The Development Platform

Robots: The Exploded View

The Frame


Wood
Steel
Aluminum Alloy
Plastic
Titanium
Carbon Composite
Printed Circuit Board (PCB)
LEGO Bricks

Actuators


Motors and Gears
Hydraulic Cylinders
Pneumatic Cylinders
Muscle Wire

Drive Train


DC Motor
Servo Motor
Stepper Motor

Locomotion


Wheels
Tank Tracks
Legs

Power Systems


Batteries
Pressure Systems
Solar Cells
Other Power Sources

Manipulators/End Effectors (Optional)

Sensors


Pressure Sensors
Light Sensors
Sound Sensors
Vision Systems
Heat Sensors
Gas Sensors
Other Types of Sensors

Controllers


Microcontrollers
Off-Board Control
Nervous Nets
Other Controllers

Communication (Optional)


Two-Way Wireless
Speech
Infrared

Outer Shell (Optional)

Robot Soul (Software)

A Word About Spaghetti

Robot Pop Quiz


The Questions
The Answers

The Absolute Minimum

Go to Table of Contents, Part II