Introduction to Robot Building (4th Edition) cover

Introduction to Robot Building (4th Edition)

Rating 3.9
Word count
59K words
Chapters
22
ISBN
9787115460448

Tags

Summary

Welcome to the wonderful world of robotics! This is an accessible, hands-on reference for anyone interested in robotics, covering the materials, design concepts, common tools, assembly methods, and building techniques needed to make small mobile intelligent robots. The book presents 12 low-cost, easy-to-build small mobile intelligent robot projects, rich in content and detailed in explanation. Working through these projects from easy to difficult, readers will gradually understand how robots work and how to build them, exercising both hands and mind, learning through play, and gaining both enjoyment and knowledge! The book can serve as a reference guide for school extracurricular activities and student hobbies, and is also suitable for amateur electronics hobbyists and model-making enthusiasts.

Editor's review

As the fourth edition of the Robot Building for Beginners series, this book continues author Zang Haibo's consistently practical approach, thoroughly updated for the era of booming artificial intelligence and open-source hardware. It is not an advanced theoretical treatise but a hands-on guide for complete beginners, and its core value lies in breaking complex robotics down into a series of fun, approachable projects. Zang Haibo, a senior editor at Radio magazine, brings extensive practical experience to the book; his explanations are clear and his steps detailed, and he excels at translating daunting electronics and programming concepts into plain language. Compared with earlier editions, the most notable update in the fourth edition is that it keeps pace with the latest technology, introducing numerous application examples based on open-source platforms such as Arduino, lowering the barrier to entry so that readers without a deep electronics background can quickly experience the joy of making. Starting from the basics of tool use and material selection, the book guides readers step by step through building and programming classic projects such as line-following cars, robotic arms, and voice-controlled robots. This "learning by doing" philosophy means readers not only master key concepts through hands-on work but also develop systematic thinking for solving real engineering problems. For readers hoping to explore maker education and STEAM fields, this book is an excellent entry point.

Who it's for

A good fit for

  • Complete beginners interested in robotics and maker projects
  • Primary and secondary school STEM teachers or parents hoping to bring STEAM education into the classroom
  • Lower-year students in electronics, automation, and related majors seeking extracurricular practice
  • Beginners who want to systematically learn to use Arduino and other open-source hardware from scratch

Not a good fit for

  • Researchers seeking cutting-edge robotics algorithms or deep theoretical derivations
  • Professional engineers looking for complete design solutions for commercial robotics products

Reading tips

  1. Read the chapters in order, and be sure to prepare the core kits mentioned in the book so you can practice alongside it
  2. When you hit circuit or programming problems, first try troubleshooting on your own; the appendices and online communities are excellent supplementary resources
  3. After completing the basic projects, boldly try modifying the book's examples and extending their functions—this is the key to improving your skills

About the publisher

Posts & Telecom Press China · Founded in 1953

Posts & Telecom Press is known for its strengths in science and technology, computing, and information and communications titles, and has extended its publishing into photography, art, software learning, and inspirational growth, giving it a fairly diverse range. Its catalog includes computing and communications works such as Refactoring and Patterns (Revised Edition) and Huawei Switch Learning Guide (Second Edition), alongside bilingual collector's editions such as The Little Prince (Chinese-English-French illustrated collector's edition), The Great Gatsby, and Three Days to See. Beijing Ten Years: 1980-1990 and Ghost Blade: WLOP Personal Illustration Collection reflect its presence in photography and art. Its authors include Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Helen Keller, Joshua Kerievsky, Wang Da, Zhang Zhaozeng, and WLOP.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 内容提要
  3. 前言
  4. 第1章 小型移动式智能机器人和制作工具
  5. 1.1 小型移动式智能机器人
  6. 1.2 机器人制作工具
  7. 第2章 用分立元器件制作的机器人
  8. 2.1 太阳能陀螺
  9. 2.2 双细胞硬盘动物——让身边的e-waste变身为光彩夺目的艺术品
  10. 2.3 太阳能蟋蟀——在手掌上跳舞的机器人
  11. 第3章 用逻辑电路制作的机器人
  12. 3.1 基于模拟计算机的循线小车
  13. 3.2 会寻光的机器龟
  14. 3.3 活灵活现的比目鱼
  15. 第4章 用神经元制作的机器人
  16. 4.1 由神经元组网构成的蛇形机器人
  17. 4.2 仿生昆虫机器人
  18. 第5章 用单片机制作的机器人
  19. 5.1 数字PK模拟
  20. 5.2 基于不同控制理念的两个爬虫机器人
  21. 5.3 快速原型机、LittleBits和机器蠕虫
  22. 5.4 用Arduino打造超级BEAM机器人

FAQ

I have no background in electronics or programming. Can I understand this book?
Absolutely. This book is designed precisely for beginners, starting from basic circuit symbols and software installation and progressing step by step. Just follow the steps and you can complete the projects.
What main equipment do I need to prepare in advance to build the robots in this book?
At the core you will need an Arduino board, various sensors, servos, motors, and basic hardware tools and structural parts. The opening chapters contain detailed tool and material lists you can refer to.
What are the main features of this book compared with similar beginner books?
Its strength lies in being highly practical and systematic. It is organized around complete projects and integrates mechanical, electronic, and programming knowledge organically rather than explaining theory in isolation. The content has also been refined through multiple editions, making the projects mature and reliable.

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About the author

臧海波 Author

Publicly available personal information about Zang Haibo is limited, and the identity that can be confirmed so far is that of an author focused on artificial intelligence and robot making. The work held in the catalog is Introduction to Robot Making (4th Edition), which falls under the artificial intelligence category and is aimed at readers who wish to learn the basics of robot making. Judging from the title and edition information, the book has been revised and reissued several times, and its content presumably emphasizes hands-on practice and foundational explanation at the introductory level rather than advanced theoretical exposition. As an author, Zang Haibo plays the role of popularizing knowledge and guiding beginners in this field, helping readers build a basic understanding of robot construction and the making process. Because public information such as biography, professional background, and awards is lacking, a fuller picture of his writing career cannot be drawn; readers who wish to understand his style may refer to the chapter arrangement and example design of this representative work. Overall, he is an author who participates in spreading knowledge about robots through practical introductory books.

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