February 2024
Beginner
6h 6m
English
Overview
In Video Editions the narrator reads the book while the content, figures, code listings, diagrams, and text appear on the screen. Like an audiobook that you can also watch as a video.
A DIY guide to bringing your first robot to life with cheap and basic components.
Build Your Own Robot introduces you to the exciting world of robotics in a way that’s fun and affordable! You’ll build your own real robot with easy-to-find hardware and free open source software. Plus, all the components you need can be assembled with simple tools like a screwdriver.
In Build Your Own Robot you’ll learn how to:
- Use cameras to capture photos and let your robot see
- Add cameras and basic computer vision
- Coordinate DC motors to move your robot
- Write a web app to control your robot
- Set up controls for joysticks
- Read QR codes to find and identify objects
This book shows you how anyone can start building their own robot—no special soldering or electronic skills required. All you need is some basic Python know-how to get started. From scratch, you’ll go hands-on with DC motors, touch sensors, custom shell scripting, joystick controls, and even face detection for your robot friend.
About the Technology
You can build your own robot! With this book, you’ll use readily-available hardware and author Marwan Alsabbagh’s clear step-by-step instructions to create a robot that moves, manipulates objects, and responds to its environment. Along the way, you’ll learn some serious skills like computer vision, networking, and the basics of robotics programming.
About the Book
Build Your Own Robot is a project-based guide that takes you from spinning your first DC motor to programming a mobile robot that you can control from your phone or computer. You’ll write simple Python code to help your new friend spin, move, and find its way. You’ll even teach it to track faces and fetch snacks. Plus, a helpful hardware purchasing guide makes it easy to find exactly what you need to get started!
What's Inside
- Coordinate DC motors to move your robot
- Write a web app to control your robot
- Adding cameras and basic computer vision
- Read QR codes to find and identify objects
About the Reader
Examples use simple Python code. No special skills or expensive tools required.
About the Author
Marwan Alsabbagh is a seasoned software developer, who has studied mathematics and computer science at McGill University.
The technical editor on this book was Alexander Ryker.
Quotes
There’s a lot to learn! Follow the step-by-step instructions and tons of code examples; you’ll be making your next mechatronic friend all in a single weekend.
- Limor “Ladyada” Fried, Founder & Engineer, Adafruit
This easy-to-follow guide takes you from simple experiments to using the OpenCV library for image recognition. You’ll soon have your own tiny robot that can follow faces and read QR codes!
- Bill Jamshedji, DroneBot Workshop
Every step of the way, you create something worth being excited about!
- Jonathan Choate, Takeoff Technologies, Inc.
This approach really makes robotics accessible.
- James Matlock, Wake Technical Community College
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