LEGO Mindstorm Masterpieces: Building and Programming Advanced Robots - Softcover

Syngress

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1931836752 ISBN 13: 9781931836753

Publisher: Syngress, 2003

Synopsis

In LEGO Mindstorm Masterpieces, some of the world's leading LEGO Mindstorms inventors share their knowledge and development secrets. The unique style of this book will allow it to cover an incredibly broad range of topics in unparalleled detail. Chapters within the book will include detailed discussions of the mechanics that drive the robot - and also provide step-by-step construction diagrams for each of the robots. This is perfect book for LEGO hobbyists looking to take their skills to the next level whether they build world-class competitive robots or just like to mess around for the fun of it.

For experienced users of LEGO Mindstorms, LEGO Mindstorms Masterpiece is composed of three fundamental sections:
· Part One: A review of the advanced robot building concepts and theories.
· Part Two: Step-by-step building instructions for a series of complex models. The companion programming code is included, along with in-depth explanations of concepts needed for the specific models. Robots include Line Followers, Bipeds, Stair and Wall Climbers, a Joystick Controlled Cannon, a Robotic Game Player, Plant Waterer, and a Drink Mixer.
· Part Three: Ideas for modifying the building instructions by expanding the pieces and kits.

Topics covered:
1. Behavior: This section includes robots designed to interact with the environment, or with other robots. Behavior is the key word as the robots are designed to behave in some specific way, and all the technical details and implementations are secondary to this main goal.
2. Motion: The projects in this category are aimed at solving some specific motion problem. The focus of these robots is on the mechanical techniques rather than on software.
3. Interaction: These projects allow the reader to build robots for the purpose of interacting with the user by playing games or responding to user commands in real time.
4. Automation: Opposite of the previous category, this one hosts robots designed to perform totally automated operations. These projects will build robots able to complete tasks without human intervention.
5. Calculus: The most abstract of the sections contain robots with minimum knowledge of the external world. Pneumatic ALUs, and Turning machines are fully explained.

Ø Advanced users need inspiration too! Advanced projects with suggestions for enhancements and improvements make the explanations of the theories and physics of the robots as well as the complete building instructions, make this book extremely useful to readers long after the building of the robots has been completed.
Ø Written by the "DaVincis of LEGO" and other highly regarded LEGO personalities. This experienced authoring team is assembled of highly respected and visible superstars in the LEGO community.
Ø Proven success in the LEGO MINDSTORMS market. Syngress has already had a hit with the bestselling book, Building Robots with LEGO MINDSTORMS

About this title

About the Author

Called the "DaVincis of LEGOS," Mario and Giulio Ferrari are world-renowned experts in the field of LEGO MINDSTORMS robotics.
Mario Ferrari received his first LEGO bricks in 1964, when he was 4, and they remained his favorite toy for many years-until he thought he was too old to play with them. Thenin 1998 the revolutionary LEGO MINDSTORMS Robotics Invention System reignited his childhood passion, leading him to conclude that LEGO is the closest thing to the perfect toy. Managing director at a leading Italian finishing and packaging solutions company, Mario has long been a hyperactive member of the online MINDSTORMS community and estimates he owns over 60,000 LEGO pieces. Fluent in many programming languages-with a background both as an IT manager andas a project supervisor-he has also pushed LEGO robotics to its limits.

Giulio Ferrari is a student in economics at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, where he has also studied engineering. Fond of computers and possessed of a strong curiosity about the physical and mathematical sciences, he and has developed utilities, entertainment software, and web applications for several companies. Guilio discovered robotics with the arrival of MINDSTORMS in 1998, shares a love of LEGO bricks with his oldest brother, Mario, and holds a prominent place in the founding of the Italian LEGO community.

Ralph Hempel (BASc.EE, P.Eng) is an Independent Embedded Systems Consultant. He provides systems design services, training, and programming to clients across North America. His specialty is in deeply embedded microcontroller applications, which include alarm systems, automotive controls, and the LEGO RCX system. He is also the creator of the pbForth language for theRCX.

Kevin Clague graduated in 1983 from Iowa State University with a B.S. in Computer Engineering. For the past 18 years, Kevin has worked as a Diagnostic Engineer at the Amdahl Corporation. For the last two yearshe has also acted as a Senior Staff Engineer doing verification work at Sun Microsystems on their Ultra-Sparc V RISC processor. Kevin has two major hobbies: Theatrical Lighting and LEGO Mindstorms. Kevin has been playing with the RIS 1.5 for a few years now and is currently working on an application to revolutionize the world of creating online LEGO building instructions.

Edition details

• Publisher: Syngress
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 1931836752
• ISBN 13: 9781931836753
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 600