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Practical Arduino Robotics
Practical Arduino Robotics

Practical Arduino Robotics: A hands-on guide to bringing your robotics ideas to life using Arduino

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Practical Arduino Robotics

Introducing Robotics and the Arduino Ecosystem

Creating robots means building machines that autonomously interact with the physical world. Robotics lies right at the intersection of three exciting engineering fields: computer science, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering. Building your own robots can seem daunting, even if you are an expert in any of these three fields already. There is a lot to know before you cwan really get started. But if you successfully master the fundamental skills that this book teaches you, you will soon be ready to create advanced robots yourself. And from there, the possible applications are endless! You can build robots just for fun and the joy of learning more and more with every project. Or you can use these skills to quickly create a physical prototype of a product idea, build smart tools that help you at home or on the job, and automate, entertain, teach, and educate. You might be able to create amazing student projects or even boost your career with these new skills.

Your robot needs a brain – a computer that can run your programs, process sensor signals, and control motors. There are several options for DIY robots. You can simply use your laptop, but that is a costly and pretty clunky option, and it makes interfacing with low-level hardware and implementing real-time control systems difficult. You can also use the popular Raspberry Pi single-board computer, which is a powerful and affordable platform for many DIY projects. However, for many DIY robot projects, Raspberry Pi is overkill and adds unnecessary layers of complexity. In contrast, using microcontrollers as the compute platform is extremely affordable, makes interfacing with almost any hardware easy, and is a great way to learn about low-level programming and real-time systems. For many DIY robotics projects, microcontrollers are the ideal platform, and this is where Arduino comes in!

Arduino is an ecosystem of microcontroller boards, tools, and software building blocks that makes creating your own advanced robots exceptionally easy. The two core elements of this ecosystem are Arduino boards and the Arduino Integrated Development Environment (IDE). Arduino boards are affordable, capable microcontroller boards that are incredibly easy to use, even if you have never worked with electronics before. These features, combined with their wide availability (thanks to their open source design) have truly made microcontrollers accessible to anyone. The Arduino board will be the brain of your robot, running the program you wrote for it. It will sense the world with sensors and make the motors of your robot move accordingly. The Arduino IDE is what we use to develop the programs for your robots and to transfer them from your computer to the Arduino. The Arduino IDE sits in the sweet spot of microcontroller IDEs between graphical programming languages (drag and drop programming) and highly hardware-specific IDEs provided by microcontroller manufacturers. While the former is easy to master but can be very limiting, the latter gives access to a microcontroller’s full potential at the cost of taking years to master. In contrast, the Arduino IDE embodies the 80/20 principle: it gives us access to roughly 80% of the microcontrollers’ capabilities with only 20% of the effort.

This chapter will kick-start your journey toward building and programming your own robots by answering the following questions:

  • What are the main components of a robot?
  • What is an Arduino microcontroller board?
  • What is the Arduino ecosystem?
  • How do you program your Arduino-based robot?

By the end of this chapter, you will know the answers to all of these questions; you will have successfully set up the Arduino IDE on your computer, and your first Arduino program will be running on your Arduino.

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Key benefits

  • Become an expert in selecting sensors, motors, and Arduino boards for any robotics project
  • Discover how to write effective and reusable code for your Arduino robotics projects
  • Learn to build a camera-based line follower and a self-balancing telepresence robot on your own

Description

Every robot needs a “brain,” and the Arduino platform provides an incredibly accessible way to bring your Arduino robot to life. Anyone can easily learn to build and program their own robots with Arduino for hobby and commercial uses, making Arduino-based robots the popular choice for school projects, college courses, and the rapid prototyping of industrial applications! Practical Arduino Robotics is a comprehensive guide that equips you with the necessary skills and techniques that can be applied to various projects and applications, from automating repetitive tasks in a laboratory to building engaging mobile robots. Building on basic knowledge of programming and electronics, this book teaches you how to choose the right components, such as Arduino boards, sensors, and motors, and write effective code for your robotics project, including the use of advanced third-party Arduino libraries and interfaces, such as Analog, SPI, I2C, PWM, and UART. You'll also learn different ways to command your robots wirelessly, such as over Wi-Fi. Finally, with basic to advanced project examples, this book illustrates how to build exciting autonomous robots like a self-balancing telepresence robot. By the end of this book, you'll be able to design and create your own custom robots for a wide variety of applications.

Who is this book for?

If you’re excited about robotics and want to start creating your own robotics projects from the hardware up, this book is for you. Whether you are an experienced software developer who wants to learn how to build physical robots, a hobbyist looking to elevate your Arduino skills to the next level, or a student with the desire to kick-start your DIY robotics journey, you’ll find this book very useful. In order to successfully work with this book, you’ll need basic familiarity with electronics, Arduino boards and the core concepts of computer programming.

What you will learn

  • Understand and use the various interfaces of an Arduino board
  • Write the code to communicate with your sensors and motors
  • Implement and tune methods for sensor signal processing
  • Understand and implement state machines that control your robot
  • Implement feedback control to create impressive robot capabilities
  • Integrate hardware and software components into a reliable robotic system
  • Tune, debug, and improve Arduino-based robots systematically

Product Details

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Publication date : Mar 17, 2023
Length: 334 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781804613177
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Product Details

Publication date : Mar 17, 2023
Length: 334 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781804613177
Category :
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Table of Contents

20 Chapters
Part 1: Selecting the Right Components for Your Robots Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 1: Introducing Robotics and the Arduino Ecosystem Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 2: Making Robots Perceive the World with Sensors Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 3: Making Your Robot Move and Interact with the World with Actuators Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 4: Selecting the Right Arduino Board for Your Project Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Part 2: Writing Effective and Reliable Robot Programs for Arduino Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 5: Getting Started with Robot Programming Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 6: Understanding Object-Oriented Programming and Creating Arduino Libraries Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 7: Testing and Debugging with the Arduino IDE Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Part 3: Building the Hardware, Electronics, and UI of Your Robot Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 8: Exploring Mechanical Design and the 3D Printing Toolchain Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 9: Designing the Power System of Your Robot Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 10: Working with Displays, LEDs, and Sound Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 11: Adding Wireless Interfaces to Your Robot Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Part 4: Advanced Example Projects to Put Your Robotic Skills into Action Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 12: Building an Advanced Line-Following Robot Using a Camera Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 13: Building a Self-Balancing, Radio-Controlled Telepresence Robot Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 14: Wrapping Up, Next Steps, and a Look Ahead Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Index Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Other Books You May Enjoy Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

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P. Fretwell May 31, 2023
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
I came to this book with several years experience of using Arduino boards and building hobby robots, so the initial chapters covered material I thought I knew well. But I was surprised how much there was for me to learn here. The basics are covered really well, clearly explained and with a good level of detail. I found all the information covering areas where I already had experience to be correct and nicely described. This really is a great book for anyone wanting to get started, or take their learning of arduino based robotics further. I particularly liked the chapters on writing good code for robotics control. The later parts cover all the key robotics topics of basic electronics, motion systems, power management, sensors and how to bring these together with code to control a robot. There is so much in this book that it will keep you learning and exploring for months. With so many topics in one book, the coverage has to be light in some areas. The chapter on CAD and 3D printing for example is really the briefest of introductions to these large topics. But a useful introduction for readers who have not discovered these areas at all, and each chapter ends with some useful suggestions for further reading. Many of the chapters covered topics I wished I had been able to read when I was starting out in robotics, as they covered complex topics so well. Communication protocols for example to interface different pieces of hardware to your controller board.In summary I can strongly recommend this book for beginners and intermediate robot builders. Even experts will find some nuggets of information here I am sure, and it will be a great addition to your robotics bookshelf.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Alexander Albrecht Apr 01, 2023
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
It's perfect for anyone, whether you're a seasoned builder, an engineering student, or simply someone who's always been curious about this amazing field.My personal highlight of this book is the step-by-step guide to building a self-balancing robot. The detailed descriptions of the mechanical, electrical, and software components guarantee a successful assembly of your first robot. It's a fantastic way to put your newfound knowledge into practice.Overall, this book is an exceptional resource for anyone looking to explore the field of robotics and apply their skills to real-world situations. The author's passion for robotics shines through on every page, making it a truly enjoyable read.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Christoph Martin Apr 05, 2023
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
The book is very inspiring and full of solutions and knowledge for my next Arduino project.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Roland Schulz Apr 07, 2023
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
"Practical Arduino Robotics" by Lukas Kaul is an exceptional book that I would highly recommend to both beginners and advanced users in the field of robotics. The book is well written and provides a clear understanding of the fundamentals of programming with Arduino.One of the things that impressed me the most about the book is its focus on setting up the programming environment with Arduino IDE. The author provides step-by-step guidance on how to set up the environment, making it easy for readers to follow along.Another great feature of the book is the practical examples that are included in the application section. The examples provide a real-world perspective on how to use Arduino in different applications. The detailed diagrams in the book make it easy to understand the different signals.The book's highlight is the example of a self-balancing robot, which was particularly impressive. The author does an excellent job of breaking down the code and explaining how the robot works.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Jonas Apr 07, 2023
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Hi, I can highly recommend the book. I think it is especially well-suited if you want to get started with robotics and working with real hardware. It is a nice combination of hands-on implementing things and a bit of theory. It is extremely well written and you can clearly tell that the author of the book is an expert in robotics who at the same time knows how to perfectly convey knowledge to a broader audience.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
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