Robotics

Check out the Robostix controllers offered by Gumstix.

This book's about programming robots, and not about building them, but I thought it was interesting, anyway (especially about all the different approaches that have been tried over the years): "An Introduction to AI Robotics" by Murphy.

It was the recommended text for my computer vision and robotics class last semester.

I studied robotics myself. It's fun stuff!

Here are some recommendations:

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Hobby-Level Robotics
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www.mindstorms.com
(lego mindstorms is a great way to learn about robotics, but a bit expensive... once you become tired of their basic programming language, search the web for other programming APIs for the lego mindstorms brick (e.g., search for mindstorms visual basic, or mindstorms C++, or mindstorms java).

http://www.parallax.com/
(makers of fantastic microcontroller kits)

http://www.seattlerobotics.org/programs.php
(once you've mastered some basics, look at the "Encoder" link -- good stuff!)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0071413588/sr=1-6/qid=1137780147/ref=pd_bbs_6/104-4838800-5191130?%5Fencoding=UTF8
(Myke Predko knows his stuff!)

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Industrial and Research Robotics
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http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0201543613/sr=1-1/qid=1137780147/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-4838800-5191130?%5Fencoding=UTF8
(this is kind of the essential introduction to REAL robotics... if you can master the principles here, you are going to make some seriously cool robots... and some seriously cool money ;-) )

Good luck to you!

SanityAssassin, Thanks for the links!
The problem with those sites is that they are so commercialized (long word = typo) and all they do are selling their kits for hundreds of dollars...
I dont expect building a robot in 2$, but to buy a kit for 100+$ is kind of pricy for me, and it feels like you are just buying a toy with a long construction manual...
Do you know any site where you dont have to buy a kit, and there are plans/examples for even for the simplest "robots"?
Thanks again.

Hope this helps.

Quote:

Original post by Ilankt SanityAssassin, Thanks for the links! The problem with those sites is that they are so commercialized (long word = typo) and all they do are selling their kits for hundreds of dollars... I dont expect building a robot in 2$, but to buy a kit for 100+$ is kind of pricy for me, and it feels like you are just buying a toy with a long construction manual... Do you know any site where you dont have to buy a kit, and there are plans/examples for even for the simplest "robots"? Thanks again.

Yes!

Two of the links I provided will help you with just that...

http://www.parallax.com/
(makers of fantastic microcontroller kits)

http://www.seattlerobotics.org/programs.php
(once you've mastered some basics, look at the "Encoder" link -- good stuff!)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0071413588/sr=1-6/qid=1137780147/ref=pd_bbs_6/104-4838800-5191130?%5Fencoding=UTF8
(Myke Predko knows his stuff!)

One other place you might look for components and ideas is

http://www.robotstore.com/