Product Description

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 asScout and Cybermaster, as well as with non-robotic Lego Technics models.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #193069 in Books
• Published on: 2001-12-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 656 pages

About the Author
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.

Customer Reviews

Simply Outstanding
The subject matter of this book is described exactly by its title; building robots - their design, structure, mechanisms and mechanical behaviour - is detailed and examined in depth. The authors present a wide variety of constructional tips and advice in the context of some quite astounding robotic projects (walking robots with shifting centres-of-gravity spring to mind), but avoid falling into the trap of simply giving you step-by-step instructions on a plate. This encourages the reader and experimenter actually to think about what he or she is building. The resulting robots, models and games are inspirational; you want to grab your Mindstorms set and start building on the spot. This is not so much building robots as "An Introduction to LEGO Engineering". This book should sit on every Mindstorms fan's shelf and is a must for any serious LEGO roboticist!

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This really is an outstanding book covering all aspects of building robots. The first half covers a number of different fundamentals of robot design from gearing, steering and pneumatics, right though to some useful mathematical methods (honest!). The second half of the book provides details of number of working robot designs that you just have to make and adapt. The style of the book is to fire the imagination of the reader rather than give step by step instructions of particular models. It certainly succeeds at this! Although written with an emphasis on the construction and engineering aspects of robots, the snippets of programming code (mainly in NQC) are very clear and provide enough insight into getting the best out of the models. If you are into Lego mindstorms get this book.