Building Your Own Robots

Gordon McComb, has written over 65 books and several thousand magazine and newspaper articles. His specialty is teaching young minds about new technology.

• Introduction: Get Started with Robot-Building 2About This Book 2Basic Tools and Supplies 3About You 4For Parents 4About the Icons 5Project 1: Make a Brushbot, Fast and Easy! 6Understanding What Makes a Robot 6Building Your First Robot: Make a Brushbot “Walking” Robot 8For Vibrating Motors: Hack Your Toothbrush 9Use Just the Right Bristle Brush 11Materials You Need 12Tools You Need 14Making the Brushbot — Simple Version 15Making the Brushbot — Open Guts Version. 19Remove the Battery Compartment and Motor from the Toothbrush 20Only If Needed: Cut Off the Brush Head 21Tape the Battery Compartment to the Motor 22Test the Motor 23Attach a Rubber Band to Hold the Battery Cover in Place 24Glue the Motor to the Back of the Brush 25Going Further 28Project 2: Build a Robot from a Toy Car 29Building a Motorized Robotic Buggy 29Find the Right Toy Car 30Materials You Need 32Tools You Need 33Making the Bot 35Take the Body Off the Car Chassis 35Add a Rubber Layer to the Motor Shaft 36Wire the Motor 38Mount the Motor 40Test the Motor with a Battery 45Connect and Mount the Batteries 47Playing with Your Robot Buggy 51Going Further 51Project 3: Build a Mousebot 53Getting Everything Rounded Up 54Materials You Need 54Tools You Need 55Making the Mousebot 58Add a Rubber “Tire” to the Motor Shafts 58Attach Wires to the Motors 59Cut the Base Piece 62Mount the Motors 63Add a “Tail” 67Test Each Motor with a Battery 69Wire the Battery Holder 70Mount the Battery Holder 74Playing With The Mousebot 75Going Further 77Project 4: Hack a Radio-Controlled Toy 78Finding Radio-Controlled Toys for Robot Forging 79The Good, the Bad, and the Not So Pretty 79Steering Styles 79Two Examples of Hackable R/C Toys 81Hacking the Car-Type R/C Toy 82Materials You Need 83Tools You Need 85Disassemble the Toy Car 86Cut the Parts for the Switch and Control Base 87Construct the Switch 89Wire the Switch to Create an “H-Bridge” Circuit 92Wire the Switch to the Motor 95Attach the Wires to the R/C Car Motor 99Wire the Battery Holder 102Mount the Battery Holder 104Test the R/C Car Using Your Homebrew Switch 104Substituting with Readymade Switches 106Extra Parts You Need 106Wire the Switches 108Run the R/C Car Through Its Paces 112Going Further 113Author Notes 114Finding the Stuff to Build Your Robots 114Discount General Merchandise, Supplies, and Tools 114Electrical Supplies 115Toys for Disassembly 115Tools and Electrical Supply 116Robot-Making Kits and Parts 116Robotics Information, Building Plans, and Blogs 117Selected International Sellers 117Glossary 118