| Build
Your Own Combat Robot
Written
by:Pete Miles and Tom Carroll
Published by: McGraw Hill
Osborne
You've watched
the wild combat action, heard
the crowds, felt the excitement.
Now you want to build your
own robot and feel the thrill
of competition yourself, but
where do you start?
The book "Build Your Own Combat
Robot!" by Pete Miles and
Tom Carroll is just what you
need. Both Pete Miles and
Tom Carroll are engineers
who have spent much of their
lives working and playing
with robotics. Their knowledge
and experience along with
several expert contributors
has made this book an unbeatable
resource for the robot enthusiast.
This book
isn't a cookbook with step
by step instructions on how
to build a complete robot.
If that's what you're looking
for you might be better off
starting with a
kit. Rather, it’s
more like an information resource
full of facts, tips, and information
that anyone interested in
building a robot (whether
for combat or not) will find
invaluable. As Pete Miles
puts it, "We want our readers
to use their imagination and
do something different, have
fun, and be creative."
The book covers
everything from how to come
up with a good plan before
you start building, where
to get parts, powering your
robot, detailed information
on robot motors, the various
means of locomotion, construction
materials and of course the
different strategies of weapon
systems. Its full of color
and black and white photos
of a variety of combat robots
as well as clear illustrations
and drawings of some of the
more technical aspects of
robot making. The book is
also sprinkled with several
interesting short stories
about the experiences of other
combat robot builders in and
out of the arena.
There is also
a chapter on Robo Sumo competition
that is full of details on
how Sumo works, where to get
or scavenge parts, how to
build a mini sumo, and program
them. Because sumo robots
are much cheaper and easier
to build, Sumo competition
is a great way for beginners
to get started.
The book concludes
with accounts by a couple
of veteran combat robot builders
on how they went about constructing
their robots and why they
made the choices they did,
and how they worked or didn't
work.
In summary,
this clearly written book
is an absolutely great resource
for the new robot enthusiast.
If you're looking for a step-by-step
approach this book probably
isn't for you. If you want
to create "your own" combat
robot using your ideas then
this book will help you get
started and build it. As co-author
Tom Carroll puts it "Read
this book and others, talk
with respected people and
experienced combat warriors,
sketch out your ideas, and
then just go for it!"
Published:
March 15, 2002
Review by: Brent Mtichell
OnRobo.com Editor |
