I get a lot of emails and comments posted from folks asking questions about robotics. Unfortunately, most of them are rather specific and I just don’t have the time to answer them all individually.

Thankfully, that’s where a few cool products, books, and websites come into play. Back when I first got started in robotics (back in 1998 or so), there were very few books on the subject and even fewer websites or nifty products.

But, times have changed folks! Robots are now almost as cool as iPods and Emo.

I’ve put together a small list of items that you can use to 1) start your journey into robotics and 2) enhance your knowledge. Feel free to leave comments on other useful items. This is meant to be a starting point. It’s also a good place to find good gift ideas … hint hint hint.

Kits

1. LEGO Mindstorms

The venerable granddaddy of all easy-yet-powerful robotics kits, LEGO Mindstorms now comes in two flavors, the old version RIS 2.0 and the new version Mindstorms NXT. LEGO Mindstorms NXT sports an impressive array of new features, like ultrasonic range finders, powerful graphical programming environment based on LabView, and bluetooth, the old version Robotics Invention System 2.0 is still a good buy. You can pick up a set for under $200 off of eBay or perhaps find it on clearnace at your local toy store. Either way, LEGO makes outstanding building systems, and no roboticists shop is complete without it.

2. VEX Robotics Development System

I don’t personally own a VEX system, so I can’t say based on person experience, but I’ve heard lots of good things about them (if someone at Innovation First is reading this, hook me up). The kits are similar in design to an erector set of bygone years, and are very sturdy and well constructed. Vexlabs.com sells a wide array of addons and expansions that make the possibilites vast and varied.

3. Viper Robotics Development System

I recently did a complete review of the Viper robotics development system from Microbric. The kit is unique in that it has various modules that connect up to the central motherboard via little plastic connectors that also form the electrical connections. The kit is attractively priced and is well worth it, for the components you get.

The system is programmed in Visual Basic syntax and is based on the Atom processor from Basic Micro.

Books

Why learn the hard way, when you stand on the shoulders of others? These books will expand your knowledge and give you confidence about moving to the next level. Check your local bookstore, or use the links below to order off of Amazon (and help GoRobotics.net out!).

1. Robot Builder’s Bonanza, Third Edition (Robot Builder’s Bonanza)

An oldie-goldie. Gordon McComb does a bang-up job of introducing robotics to the real world. Check out our review of the 2nd Edition, here.

2. Build Your Own Robot!

Karl Lunt wrote for Nuts and Volts (more on this later) for years. Afterwards, he assembled all his articles into this fabulous book, filled with nifty ideas on how to build a robot. This is great for your bookshelf. You can read our review, here.

3. Intermediate Robot Building

This is David Cook’s second book, in which he covers the topics of robotics in a bit more detail than his previous Robot Building for Beginners book. 

Magazines

Books are great to have, but it’s always nice to have a steady stream of new information coming your way. This is a great motivator, and there’s no better way that by subscribing to some of these magazines.

1. Robot

ROBOT Magazine is a new magazine that focues on the educational and hobbiest market. The high-quality magazine always has interesting and informative articles for both the advanced user and beginners.  You can read our review of the first issue here.

2. Servo Magazine

Servo Magazine covers all things related to robotics. Not nearly as pretty or well layed out as ROBOT Magazine, but still informative.

3. Make: Technology on Your Time

This is one hefty magazine! Published quarterly, you can expect to find over 150 pages in this high quality "mook" (magazine + book). They cover all things related to hacking and making things, including robotics and electronics. Well worth the price.

4. Nuts and Volts

A great hobbiest magazine related to all things electronic.

5. Circuit Cellar

This is a bit above most beginners heads, but a great addition for the more advanced user.

Websites

Obviously, since you’re reading this, you’ve discovered the power of the web. Amplify that power by visiting these websites to learn about robotics.

1. GoRobotics.net

Of course we’d list ourselves first! Features robotics news, projects, and reviews.

2. The NXT Step

This a resource site for all things related to LEGO Mindstorms NXT (the first item on our list).

3. Robots Dreams

This site covers all the great robot news from Japan. Gives a fresh perspective on the other side of the world, and it’s in English!

4. Robot Gossip

More robot news to ease your cravings.

5. MAKE Magazine

Hackery and making from all around the internet. TONS of information.

6. Hack-A-Day

New hack every day. A must visit. Submit your hacks.

7. Engadget

All things gadgets. They also frequently link to us, so give them some love!

Toys

1. Pleo

While this toy is out yet, come March of 2007, there should be lots of great hackery going on. You can find out more about Pleo at PleoBot.com. Designed by the creater of the Furby, Pleo will learn and grow like a real animal.

2. Robosapien V2

WowWee toys makes a whole line of robots that are lots of fun and great for hacking. The RoboSapien is probably the most popular.



Hopefully, these links should get you started on your journey. If you have anything to add, please leave it in the comments below. Happy robot making!

This post is part of the ProBlogger group writing project!

The following article will show you how to build a simple robot, called "The Beetle Robot", created by Jerome Demers. It’s great for beginners and easy to do.

This is the Beetle Robot v. 3 you are going to build:



Before starting, I suggest you to read the complete tutorials. This will greatly lower the chances of you making a mistake.



Tools Needed:

• soldering iron  ( here’s a helpful tutorial on soldering )
• electronic solder
• diagonal cutter
• Mini glue gun
  

Components for the robot

• 2x - small 1.5 Volts motors
• 2x - small paperclips
• 2x - big paperclips
• 2x - batteries AAA or AA
• 1x - battery holder AAA or AA
• 1x - 2 cm of heat shrink
• 1x - wooden pearl  (for the caster)
• 1x - meter of electric wire
• 2x - Sub-mini lever SPDT switches
  
  

Here are the serial numbers of the components and tools from RadioShack .

Component

Number

soldering iron	64-2184
electronic solder	64-006
diagonal cutter	64-2951
1.5 Volts motor	273-223
battery holder	270-398
SPDT switch	275-016

Most of the components can be bought for much cheaper at Digi-Key, Jameco, or similar. At Solarbotics you can find the dual AA battery holder and the Mabuchi motor. You can find these components at any good electronic store.

This is a little how-to guide on crimping connectors for various electronics projects. The art of crimping is sometimes a difficult one, but necessary for 1) reliable and 2) decent looking connections. Breadboards are nice for quick wiring projects but in the long run they are unreliable and look pretty nasty.

To crimp you will need:

• Crimper (or needle nose pliers if you’re really good)
• Wire (24 -26 gague usually)
• Crimp pins
• Housings (possibly)

Good crimpers don’t come cheap. Expect to pay $30 - $60 dollars for a good one. If you shop around you can find ‘ok’ crimpers for less. Most crimp tools you find in a automotive section of a store aren’t suitable for small wired electrical projects. You need to find something that will fit 22 - 26 gague wires. This crimp tool from Jameco works well for connetors for D-sub serial cable pins (it can also work on female/male crimp pins).

Take the wire you want to crimp something to and strip off about 4 mm from the end. You basically want to strip off enough insulation so that the exposed wire rests in the wire channel (the smaller second one) and the insulation rests in the insulation channel (the larger first one).

 

The wire should fit into the channels like the illustration shows. Make sure you have stripped enough insulation, but not too much.

Next, grab your crimp tool. On many tools there will be two different "levels" on the tooth of the tool. This makes sure that the insulation channel has a big crimp than the wire channel, since the stripped wire has a smaller diameter than the insulation. For tools that don’t have two different sizes on the tooth, you will have to make two crimps one for the insulation and using a smaller size, crimp the wire.

 

You can see the two different groove sizes in the picture to the left.

 

The next two images show how the pin is placed into the crimp too. The larger side of the crimp ‘tooth’ should be where the insulation channel fits.

 

Sorry for the blurry picture, but you can make it out, the pin is sitting in the groove with the ‘tabs’ facing into the groove. It is placed so that when the crimp too is squeezed the tabs bend inwards and create a "heart" shape.

If you apply light pressure to the tool at this point the crimp pin will slide up into the groove and be held in place.

At this point you can put the stripped end of the wire through the hole that is made by the crimp too and the insulation channel, like pictured:

Do your best to make sure the insulation channel only covers the insulation and the wire channel covers only the wire.

 

Apply firm pressure to the tool and it should perfectly bend the crimp tabs inwards so that they "bite" into the wire and insulation and form a solid contact.

It should look a bit like this:

You can seein the picture how the wire channel tabs bend inwards and bite into the insulation.

The pins pictured above are pins that would fit into a D-sub serial connector housing with which you can make a serial cable.

To connect something up to a bread board you can crimp on male crimp pins, like the ones I used on a programming cable I made for a Basic Stamp + breadboard.

 

If you wish to have crimp connections that connect up to square male pin headers you can buy handy female crimp pins.

The final step to making good connections to buy buy some housings to put your crimpped pins into. The housings keep all the pins seperate and easily pluggable.

I hope this helps someone avoid nasty wiring messes in the future. Happy robot hacking!