Acknowledgments | p. XI |
Introduction | p. XIII |
Welcome to Competition Robots | p. 1 |
What Is a Robot? | p. 5 |
Combat Robot Competitions | p. 5 |
The Scope of This Book | p. 17 |
Getting Started | p. 21 |
The Robot Design Approach | p. 23 |
Top Ten Reasons Why a Robot Fails | p. 34 |
Sources of Robot Parts | p. 35 |
Cost Factors in Large Robot Construction | p. 35 |
Safety | p. 36 |
Robot Locomotion | p. 41 |
Robots with Legs | p. 42 |
Tank Treads: The Power of a Caterpillar Bulldozer in a Robot | p. 45 |
Wheels: A Tried and True Method of Locomotion | p. 47 |
Motor Selection and Performance | p. 61 |
Electric Motor Basics | p. 62 |
Internal Combustion Engines | p. 76 |
Conclusion | p. 77 |
It's All About Power | p. 79 |
Battery Power Requirements | p. 80 |
Battery Capacity Basics | p. 83 |
Electrical Wiring Requirements | p. 91 |
Battery Types | p. 92 |
Installing the Batteries: Accessible vs. Nonaccessible | p. 100 |
Power Transmission: Getting Power to Your Wheels | p. 103 |
Power Transmission Basics | p. 106 |
Chain Drive Systems | p. 115 |
Belt Drive Systems | p. 118 |
Gearboxes | p. 122 |
Controlling Your Motors | p. 127 |
Relay Control | p. 128 |
Variable Speed Control Basics | p. 139 |
Remotely Controlling Your Robot | p. 157 |
Traditional R/C Controls | p. 158 |
Control Channels | p. 160 |
AM, FM, PCM, and Radio Interference | p. 167 |
Radio Interference and Reliable Control | p. 170 |
Antennas and Shielding | p. 173 |
Innovation First Isaac Robot Controller and Other Radio Modems | p. 175 |
Failsafe Compliance | p. 179 |
Robot Material and Construction Techniques | p. 183 |
Metals and Materials | p. 184 |
General Machining Operations | p. 193 |
When in Doubt, Build It Stout | p. 201 |
Weapons Systems for Your Robot | p. 203 |
Weapon Strategy and Effectiveness | p. 204 |
Closing Remarks on Weapons | p. 236 |
Autonomous Robots | p. 239 |
Using Sensors to Allow Your Robot to See, Hear, and Feel | p. 241 |
Implementing Sensors in Combat Robots | p. 248 |
Semiautonomous Target and Weapon Tracking | p. 250 |
Autonomous Target Tracking | p. 253 |
More Information | p. 257 |
Robot Brains | p. 259 |
Microcontroller Basics | p. 260 |
Microcontroller Applications | p. 268 |
Summary | p. 273 |
Robot Sumo | p. 275 |
Modifying an R/C Servo for Continuous Rotation | p. 281 |
Building a Mini Sumo | p. 284 |
Mini Sumo Body Assembly | p. 284 |
Remote-Control Mini Sumo | p. 285 |
Autonomous Mini Sumo | p. 286 |
Edge Detector | p. 286 |
Object Dector | p. 290 |
Sensor Integration | p. 293 |
Performance Improvements | p. 297 |
Various Mini Sumo Robots | p. 297 |
Motors | p. 299 |
Motor Controllers | p. 299 |
Ultrasonic Range Detectors | p. 300 |
Infrared Range Detectors | p. 301 |
Laser Range Finding and Vision Systems | p. 301 |
Advanced Software Algorithms | p. 301 |
Traction Improvements | p. 302 |
Robot Part Suppliers | p. 302 |
Real-Life Robots: Lessons from Veteran Builders | p. 305 |
Ronni Katz--Building Chew Toy | p. 306 |
Pete Miles--Building Live Wires | p. 316 |
Afterword | p. 329 |
The Future of Robot Combat | p. 330 |
Prototyping Electronics | p. 335 |
Breadboarding and Using Prototyping Boards for Electronic Circuits | p. 336 |
Wire-Wrapping Prototyping | p. 337 |
Soldering for Robots | p. 337 |
Crimp-Style Connectors | p. 339 |
Static Sensitivity | p. 340 |
Resources and References | p. 343 |
Robot Competition Web Sites | p. 344 |
Electric Motor Sources | p. 344 |
Battery Suppliers | p. 346 |
Electronic Speed Controller Vendors | p. 346 |
Remote Control System Vendors | p. 347 |
Mechanical Systems Suppliers | p. 347 |
Electronics Suppliers | p. 348 |
Microcontroller Suppliers | p. 350 |
Reference Books | p. 350 |
Robotics Organizations | p. 351 |
Other Robotics Resources | p. 352 |
Helpful Formulas | p. 355 |
Chain Drive Centerline Distances | p. 356 |
Timing Belt Centerline Distances | p. 357 |
V-Belts | p. 357 |
Index | p. 358 |
Table of Contents provided by Syndetics. All Rights Reserved. |