Preface

Robotics, the art and science of building machines that can perform some of the same functions as humans or animals, has been a part of human creative ambition since the time of the Greeks, who conceived Talos—a warrior made entirely of bronze that protected their lands and people. Leonardo da Vinci designed a mechanical knight that could sit, stand, and raise its visor. The first modern robots emerged in the 1920s—robots that could perform the same sort of simple motions as da Vinci's mechanical man through the use of electrical motors and signals.

In recent times, advances in technology have pushed the development of robots to the point of reality. Most of these projects have been created in defense department laboratories and university research facilities. However, new developments in inexpensive hardware and open source software have created opportunities for almost anyone to construct and experiment with automated machines.

The purpose of this book is not only to facilitate but also inspire these kinds of efforts. Robotics is no longer reserved for the PhD or even the trained engineer. You—yes, you—can construct machines that can roll, walk, swim, and even fly with the kind of functionality that is normally associated with intelligent life. I often tell my students that while they laugh at me because I once had to wash dishes by hand, their children will laugh at them because they had to load and unload the dishwasher by hand.

So, off to building the next great robotic breakthrough!