Building robots with Lego Mindstorms : the ultimate tool for Mindstorm maniacs / Mario Ferrari, Giulio Ferrari, technical editor Ralph Hampel.

By: Ferrari, Mario .

Contributor(s): Ferrari, Giulio | Hempel, Ralph .

Material type: materialTypeLabel

BookPublisher: Rockland, MA : Syngress Publishing, 2002Description: xxxii, 614 p., 8 leaves of plates ; 24 cm. + pbk.ISBN: 1928994679.Subject(s): Robots -- Design and construction | Robots -- Programming

| LEGO toys

DDC classification: 629.892

Contents:

Part I: Tools -- Understanding LEGO geometry -- Playing with gears -- Controlling motors -- Reading sensors -- Building strategies -- Programming the RCX -- Playing sounds and music -- Becoming mobile -- Expanding your options with kits and creative solutions -- Getting pumped: Pneumatics -- Finding and grabbing objects -- Doing the math -- Knowing where you are -- Part II: Projects -- Classic projects -- Building robots that walk -- Unconventional vehicles -- Robotic animals -- Replicating renowned droids -- Solving a maze -- Board games -- Playing musical instruments -- Electronic games -- Drawing and writing -- Simulating flight -- Constructing useful stuff -- Part III: Contests -- Racing against time -- Hand-to-hand combat -- Searching for precision.

Holdings
Item type	Current library	Call number	Copy number	Status	Date due	Barcode	Item holds
General Lending	MTU Bishopstown Library Lending	629.892 (Browse shelf(Opens below))	1	Available		00078472

Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Lego robots! Mindstorms are sweeping the world and fans need to learn how to programme them Lego Mindstorms are a new generation of Lego Robots that can be manipulated using microcomputers, light and touch sensors, an infrared transmitter and CD-ROMs. Since Lego launched Lego Mindstorms in late 1998 sales have skyrocketed - with no sign of slowing down. Mindstorms have captured the imagination of adults and children alike, creating a subculture of Mindstorm enthusiasts around the world. The kits are now a staple part of engineering and computer science classes at many high profile Universities.

Building Robots with Lego Mindstorms provides readers with a fundamental understanding of the geometry, electronics, engineering, and programming required to build your own robots. Mario and Giulio Ferrari are world-renowned experts in the field of Lego Mindstorms robotics, and in this book they share their unrivaled knowledge and expertise of robotics as well as provide a series of chapters detailing how to design and build the most exotic robots. Mario and Giulio also give detailed explanations of how to integrate Lego Mindstorms kits with other Lego programmable bricks such as Scout and Cybermaster, as well as with non-robotic Lego Technics models.

Includes index.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

Foreword (p. xxv)
Preface (p. xxvii)
Part I Tools (p. 1)
Chapter 1 Understanding LEGO Geometry (p. 3)
Chapter 2 Playing with Gears (p. 17)
Chapter 3 Controlling Motors (p. 41)
Chapter 4 Reading Sensors (p. 57)
Chapter 5 Building Strategies (p. 83)
Chapter 6 Programming the RCX (p. 97)
Chapter 7 Playing Sounds and Music (p. 117)
Chapter 8 Becoming Mobile (p. 127)
Chapter 9 Expanding Your Options with Kits and Creative Solutions (p. 153)
Chapter 10 Getting Pumped: Pneumatics (p. 179)
Chapter 11 Finding and Grabbing Objects (p. 199)
Chapter 12 Doing the Math (p. 213)
Chapter 13 Knowing Where You Are (p. 233)
Part II Projects (p. 247)
Chapter 14 Classic Projects (p. 249)
Chapter 15 Building Robots That Walk (p. 279)
Chapter 16 Unconventional Vehicles (p. 311)
Chapter 17 Robotic Animals (p. 333)
Chapter 18 Replicating Renowned Droids (p. 349)
Chapter 19 Solving a Maze (p. 371)
Chapter 20 Board Games (p. 391)
Chapter 21 Playing Musical Instruments (p. 411)
Chapter 22 Electronic Games (p. 425)
Chapter 23 Drawing and Writing (p. 441)
Chapter 24 Simulating Flight (p. 467)
Chapter 25 Constructing Useful Stuff (p. 493)
Part III Contests (p. 511)
Chapter 26 Racing Against Time (p. 513)
Chapter 27 Hand-to-Hand Combat (p. 525)
Chapter 28 Searching for Precision (p. 537)
Appendix A Resources (p. 547)
Introduction (p. 548)
Appendix B Matching Distances (p. 569)
Appendix C Note Frequencies (p. 575)
Appendix D Math Cheat Sheet (p. 577)
Sensors (p. 578)
Averages (p. 578)
Interpolation (p. 578)
Gears, Wheels, and Navigation (p. 579)
Index (p. 581)

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Mario Ferrari received his first Lego box around 1964, when he was 4. Lego was his favorite toy for many years, until he thought he was too old to play with it. In 1998, the Lego Mindstorms RIS set gave him reason to again have Lego become his main addiction. Mario believes Lego is the closest thing to the perfect toy. He is Managing Director at EDIS, a leader in finishing and packaging solutions and promotional packaging. The advent of the MINDSTORMS product line represented for him the perfect opportunity to combine his interest in IT and robotics with his passion for LEGO bricks, which started during his early childhood. Mario has been a very active member of the online MINDSTORMS community from the beginning and has pushed LEGO robotics to its limits. Mario holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Turin and has always nourished a strong interest for physics, mathematics, and computer science. He is fluent in many programming languages and his background includes positions as an IT manager and as a project supervisor. Mario estimates he owns over 60,000 Lego pieces. Mario works in Modena, Italy, where he lives with his wife Anna and his children Sebastiano and Camilla.

Giulio Ferrari is a student in Economics at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, where he also studied Engineering. He is fond of computers and has developed utilities, entertainment software, and Web applications for several companies. Giulio discovered robotics in 1998, with the arrival of MINDSTORMS, and held an important place in the creation of the Italian LEGO community. He shares a love for LEGO bricks with his oldest brother Mario, and a strong curiosity for the physical and mathematical sciences. Giulio also has a collection of 1200 dice, including odd-faced dice and game dice. He studies, works, and lives in Modena, Italy.