Robots, androids, and animatrons

Abstract

From the Book: Introduction There are many interesting and fun things to do in electronics, and one of the most enjoyable is building robots. Not only do you employ electronic circuits and systems, but they must be merged with other technologies. Building a robot from scratch involves the following: Power supply systems Motors and gears for drive and motion control Sensors Artificial intelligence Each one of these technologies has numerous books dedicated to its study. Naturally, a comprehensive look at each technology isn't possible in one book, but we will touch upon these areas, and you will gain hands-on knowledge and a springboard for future experimentation. Robotics is an evolving technology. There are many approaches to building robots, and no one can be sure which method or technology will be used 100 years from now. Like biological systems, robotics is evolving following the Darwinian model of survival of the fittest. You're not alone when you become a robotist. I was surprised to learn that there are many people, government organizations, private organizations, competitions, and clubs devoted to the subject of amateur robotics. NASA has the most advanced robotics systems program I ever saw. Much of the information is free for the asking. If you have Internet access, jump to one of the search engines (Yahoo, Excite, etc.) and search under robotics. You will find the websites of many companies, individuals, universities, clubs, and newsgroups dedicated to robotics.