Building Bots: Designing and Building Warrior Robots

Description

This is the definitive guide to designing and building warrior robots. It walks robot enthusiasts of all ages step-by-step through the design and building process, enabling them to create any number of customised warrior robots. With a strong emphasis on safety, chapters include designing a robot, choosing materials, radio control systems, electric motors, robot batteries, motor speed controllers, gasoline engines, and drive trains. Clear instructions are accompanied by photographs, line drawings, and detailed diagrams throughout. For inspiration, a colour section showcases a variety of glorious fighting machines along with their statistics. Profiles of well-known designers and builders also enliven the text. For beginners, there is machine shop 101 and robot physics, and, of course, chapters on weaponry that include spinner robots, thwackbots, cutting blade robots, lifters, and chameleon robots. When the bot of their dreams is built, suggestions on where to compete and game-day strategies and tactics help readers take the next step. An extensive resource section lists parts suppliers, pertinent Web sites, a radio frequency chart, and a glossary.

William Gurstelle is the author of the best-selling 'Backyard Ballistics'. He is also a professional engineer and a technogeek robot builder. Gurstelle and his sons build and compete in the growing number of regional competitions with their own Tosca and Weber the Grillbot. He lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

"Handy how-to guide for turning your garage into a robot war zone." -- The New Yorker "For anyone who wants in on the metal mayhem." -- USA Today "For techie teens looking to tweak their talents during winter vacation, search no further." -- Boston Herald "In 10 years, it will be bigger than Nascar." --David Caulkins, president, Robotics Society of America