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- ■ Chapter 1: Welcome Robot Inventor! Introduction ..........................................................................................................xxix
- ■ Chapter 2: Where to Obtain Tools and Parts
- ■ Chapter 3: Safety
- ■ Chapter 4: Digital Multimeter
- ■ Chapter 5: Numbers and Units
- ■ Chapter 6: Robot Line-Following
- ■ Chapter 7: Nine-Volt Batteries
- ■ Chapter 8: Clips and Test Leads
- ■ Chapter 9: Resistors
- ■ Chapter 10: LEDs
- ■ Chapter 11: Power On!
- ■ Chapter 12: Solderless Prototyping
- ■ Chapter 13: Solderless Breadboard Setup
- ■ Chapter 14: Variable Resistors
- ■ Chapter 15: Comparators
- ■ Chapter 16: Transistor Switches
- ■ Chapter 17: DC Motors
- ■ Chapter 18: Adding Gearhead Motors ■ CONTENTS AT A GLANCE
- ■ Chapter 19: Wheels............................................................................................
- ■ Chapter 20: Coupler
- ■ Chapter 21: Soldering Equipment
- ■ Chapter 22: Soldering and Connecting
- ■ Chapter 23: The Motherboard
- ■ Chapter 24: Body Building
- ■ Chapter 25: Launching the Line-Follower
- ■ Chapter 26: Smoother, Smaller, Cheaper
- ■ Chapter 27: Encore
- ■ Appendix A: Appendix A
- ■ Appendix B: Appendix B
- Index
- ■ Chapter 1: Welcome Robot Inventor! Introduction ..........................................................................................................xxix
- Four Disciplines
- Anatomy of a Homemade Robot
- Brains
- Electrical Power
- Sensors
- Action and Feedback
- Miscellaneous Components
- Body
- Building Up
- Taking Small Bites
- Making Modules
- Keeping It Fun and Keeping It Light
- Finding Camaraderie and Support
- Onward and Upward
- ■ Chapter 2: Where to Obtain Tools and Parts
- Ordering Free Information
- Discovering Hidden Messages
- Considering Columns ■ CONTENTS
- Counting Parts
- Comparing Prices
- Saving Money
- ■ Chapter 3: Safety
- Benefiting from Age and Experience
- Following Instructions
- Reading Chemical Labels
- Donning Safety Glasses
- Hanging Glasses and Placing Them Face Up
- Wearing Other Safety Clothes
- Insuring Adequate Ventilation
- Storing Properly
- Talking About Your Activities, Materials, and Tools
- Washing Before Eating
- Avoiding Nasty Elements
- Lead
- Mercury
- Cadmium
- Purchasing Safer Parts Labeled RoHS
- Shocking
- AC vs. DC
- Using Rechargeable Batteries and Professional Transformers
- Connecting Through Circuit Breakers and GFCI Outlets
- Saving the Ground Prong
- Disconnecting Power
- Steering Clear of Dangerous Robots
- Sizing Up Motors
- Lighting Up
- Staying Rested and Level-Headed
- ■ Chapter 4: Digital Multimeter ■ CONTENTS
- Must-Have Features
- Digital
- Digits
- DC Voltage
- DC Current
- Resistance
- Probes or Leads
- Overload/Fuse Protection
- Nice-To-Have Features
- Capacitance
- Diode
- Continuity
- Frequency
- Duty Cycle
- Autoranging
- Auto Power Off
- Transistor
- Dual Display
- Maximum
- Minimum...............................................................................................................................................
- Stand
- Optional Features
- Inductance
- Data Interface
- Scope
- Backlight
- Stopwatch/Single Pulse Width
- Temperature
- Sound
- Count
- Bar Graph ■ CONTENTS
- Data Hold
- Data Auto
- High/Low/Logic
- Memory
- Relative
- Offset
- Limit Testing/Compare
- Holster or Rubber Boot
- AC Features
- AC Voltage
- True RMS
- AC Current
- Obtaining Hook Probe Adaptors
- Comparing Actual Multimeters
- Understanding the Features of a Low-End Multimeter
- Understanding the Features of a Mid-Range Multimeter
- Understanding the Features of a Higher-End Multimeter
- Comparing Prices with Features
- Examining Other Meters
- Do Not Proceed Without a Meter
- ■ Chapter 5: Numbers and Units
- Choosing the Metric System
- Reducing Powers of a Thousand
- M & m
- Alternative for Greek Micro
- Abbreviating Units
- Too Little
- Guessing Missing Units
- Expanding from Three Digits
- Converting Colors to Numbers ■ CONTENTS
- Determining Component Values with a Multimeter
- Base Subjects Covered
- ■ Chapter 6: Robot Line-Following
- Defining the Course Conditions
- Surface Materials
- Course Lighting
- Defining the Line
- Curving and Crossing Lines
- Summarizing Course Conditions
- Picking the Robot’s Size
- Seeing Sandwich
- Examining Sandwich
- Sandwich Body
- Obtaining a Kit
- Building Up
- ■ Chapter 7: Nine-Volt Batteries
- Testing Battery Voltage
- Setting Up a Multimeter for Voltage Testing
- Interpreting Test Results
- 9 V Battery Characteristics
- 9 V Battery Recommendations
- Recommended
- Not Recommended
- Battery Brand Names
- Using 9 V Batteries in Robots
- Mounting Batteries
- Powering Forward
- ■ Chapter 8: Clips and Test Leads ■ CONTENTS
- The Gators Are Hungry Tonight
- Obtaining Hook Clips
- Testing Jumpers
- Setting Up a Multimeter for Continuity Testing
- Testing an Open Connection
- Testing a Shorted Connection
- Testing an Alligator Connection (Shorted).............................................................................................
- Discovering Unintended Connections
- Plumbing with Jumpers
- ■ Chapter 9: Resistors
- Limiting Power with Resistors........................................................................................
- Obtaining a Resistor Variety Pack
- Understanding Size and Tolerance
- Cut It Out
- Obtaining a Wire Cutter Tool
- Resistance and Ohms
- Measuring Resistance
- Interpreting the Resistance Displayed on the Meter
- Experiencing Resistance Ranges
- Looking Up Resistor Values Online
- Labeling and Storing
- Obtaining Storage Cases
- Resisting the Temptation to Skip Ahead
- ■ Chapter 10: LEDs
- Learning About LED Attributes......................................................................................
- LED Sizes
- LED Shapes
- LED Lens Clarities ■ CONTENTS
- LED Viewing Angles
- LED Colors
- LED Brightness
- LED Efficiency
- Extreme Close Up of an LED
- Identifying Multicolor LEDs...........................................................................................
- Bicolor
- Tricolor or Tri-state
- Full Color
- Testing an LED
- Setting Up a Multimeter for Diode Testing
- Interpreting LED Test Results
- Variety Pack..................................................................................................................
- Brightening Your Way
- ■ Chapter 11: Power On!
- Introducing the Parts List
- Testing the Parts Before Assembly
- Reading a Schematic
- Building the Power Indicator Circuit
- Do You See The Light?
- Experimenting with the Power Indicator Circuit
- Understanding the Roles of Each Component
- Measuring the Power Indicator Circuit
- Measuring In-Circuit Voltage
- Measuring Current Flow
- Calculating Battery Life
- Don’t Measure Voltage with Probe in Current Terminal
- Circuit Summary
- ■ Chapter 12: Solderless Prototyping ■ CONTENTS
- Needing A Better Way
- Solderless Breadboards
- Connecting with Holes
- Binding Posts
- Hungry for Breadboards
- Solderless Breadboard Wire
- Choosing Jumper Wire
- Making Your Own Jumper Wire
- Stripping the Insulation Off of the End of the Wire
- Cutting the Wire to Length
- Bending the End of the Wire
- Making The Connection
- ■ Chapter 13: Solderless Breadboard Setup
- Considering Power Sources
- Obtaining 9 V Battery Snap Connectors
- Connecting Power to Binding Posts
- Choosing a Power Switch
- Understanding SPDT
- Adding a Power Switch to the Breadboard
- Connecting Power Buses
- Adapting Multimeter Probes Using Jumper Wire
- Connecting the Lower Bus
- Split Down the Middle
- Installing a Power Indicator LED
- Checking Voltages at Certain Points
- Trimming Leads
- Demystifying the Robot’s Power Switch
- Ready for More
- ■ Chapter 14: Variable Resistors ■ CONTENTS
- Potentiometers
- Trimpot................................................................................................................................................
- Turning the Dial
- Obtaining Assorted Trimpots
- Testing Potentiometers
- Variable Brightness LED Circuit
- Building the Variable Brightness LED Circuit
- Brightness Balancing Circuit
- Building the Brightness Balanced LEDs Circuit
- Cadmium-Sulfide Photoresistors
- Obtaining Assorted Photoresistors
- Experiencing the Variable Resistance of a Photoresistor
- Light-Controlled Circuit
- Balanced Brightness-Sensing Circuit
- Part List for Balanced Brightness-Sensing Circuit
- Brightness-Sensing Pairs
- Matching Photoresistors
- Resistance-Balancing Potentiometer
- Current-Limiting Resistor
- Test Points
- Converting Resistance to Voltage with a Voltage Divider
- Building the Balanced Brightness-Sensing Circuit
- Inability to Balance the Brightness-Sensing Circuit
- ■ Chapter 15: Comparators
- Voltage Comparator
- Examining the LM393
- Obtaining Comparators
- Brightness Comparator Circuit
- Comparing a Schematic with a Wiring Diagram
- Labeling Parts
- Drawing Connected and Unconnected Wire ■ CONTENTS
- Understanding the Brightness Comparator Circuit
- Parts List for the Brightness Comparator Circuit
- Building the Brightness Comparator Circuit
- Adding Headlights
- Understanding the Headlight Circuit’s Two LEDs
- Building the Headlight Circuit
- Repeating the Multiple LED Trick
- Appreciating a Simple Mind
- ■ Chapter 16: Transistor Switches
- Defining Negative Power
- Focusing on the 2907A Transistor
- Testing Bipolar Transistors with a Multimeter
- Testing with a Multimeter that Has a Transistor Socket
- Testing with a Multimeter that Has a Diode Test
- Bipolar Transistor Test Circuits
- Examining the Schematic for the PNP Transistor Test Circuit
- Building the PNP Transistor Test Circuit
- Examining the Schematic for the NPN Transistor Test Circuit
- Building the NPN Transistor Test Circuit
- Brightness Comparator Circuit with Transistors
- Calculating Current-Limiting Transistors
- Building the Brightness Comparator Circuit with Transistors
- Summarizing PNP and NPN Transistors
- ■ Chapter 17: DC Motors
- How DC Motors Work
- Looking Inside an Iron-Core Permanent-Magnet DC Brush Motor
- Looking Inside an Iron-Core Permanent-Magnet DC Brushless Motor
- Looking Inside a Coreless Permanent-Magnet DC Brush Motor
- Simple DC Motor Circuit ■ CONTENTS
- Selecting a Motor for the Simple DC Motor Circuit
- Selecting a Battery for the Simple DC Motor Circuit
- Building the Simple DC Motor Circuit
- Primary Characteristics of DC Motors
- Rotational Speed Characteristic of DC Motors....................................................................................
- Torque Characteristic of DC Motors
- Voltage Characteristic of DC Motors
- Current Characteristic of DC Motors
- Efficiency Characteristic of DC Motors
- Audible Noise Characteristic of DC Motors
- Electrical Noise Characteristic of DC Motors
- Mass Characteristic of DC Motors
- Dimension Characteristic of DC Motors
- Summarizing the Characteristics of DC Motors
- DC Gearhead Motors
- Looking Inside a Spur Gearhead Motor
- Describing Gear Ratios
- Imperfect Speed to Torque Conversion
- Disadvantages of Gearheads
- Comparing Planetary Versus Spur Gearhead Motors
- Choosing a Gearhead Motor
- Moving Forward
- ■ Chapter 18: Adding Gearhead Motors
- Selecting Gearhead Motors
- Obtaining the Gearhead Motors
- Inspecting the Gearhead Motor
- Adding Motors to the Brightness Comparator Circuit
- Introducing the Diode
- Building the Motors onto the Brightness Comparator Circuit
- Completing the Electronics
- ■ Chapter 19: Wheels............................................................................................ ■ CONTENTS
- Anatomy of a Wheel
- Characteristics of Robot Wheels
- Creamy Air Filling
- Tire Shapes
- Tire Width............................................................................................................................................
- Tread Designs
- Tire Diameter
- Selecting Robot Wheels
- Wheel Choice for Sandwich
- Determining Minimum and Maximum Diameter
- Determining the Maximum Diameter Based on Speed
- My Choice of Wheels for Sandwich
- Alternative Choices of Wheels for Sandwich
- Cleaning Tires
- Rolling Along
- ■ Chapter 20: Coupler
- Alternatives
- Making Couplers If You Have Metal-Working Equipment
- Printing Couplers
- Tubing
- Choosing Between Brass and Aluminum Tubing
- Specifying and Obtaining Tubing Sizes
- Measuring and Cutting the Tubing
- Determining and Marking Tube Lengths
- Cutting Tubing
- Finishing the Cut by Sanding
- Testing the Cut Pieces
- LEGO Cross Axles
- Selecting a LEGO Cross Axle Length
- Obtaining LEGO Cross Axles
- Gluing the Coupler Together ■ CONTENTS
- Coming Unglued
- Using Epoxy
- Adding a Setscrew to the Coupler
- Marking a Hole for the Setscrew
- Drill Press
- Drill-Press Vise
- Drilling the Hole for the Setscrew
- Tapping the Hole for the Setscrew
- Inserting the Setscrew
- Admiring the Coupler
- ■ Chapter 21: Soldering Equipment
- Solder Wire
- Flux
- Soldering Iron
- Soldering Stand
- Soldering Sponge
- Helping-Hand Tool
- Desoldering Vacuum Tools............................................................................................
- Steps of a Typical Soldering Session
- Get Ready to Solder
- ■ Chapter 22: Soldering and Connecting
- Putting Together the Motors and Switches
- Putting Together the Motors
- Putting Together the Line-Following Switch
- Putting Together the Tube LED Circuit
- Finishing Up
- Soldering Experience
- ■ Chapter 23: The Motherboard ■ CONTENTS
- The Line-Following Circuit
- Tweaking For Better Performance
- Point-to-Point Soldering Versus a Printed Circuit Board.....................................................................
- Point-to-Point Soldering the Line-Following Circuit
- Testing the Robot’s Electronics
- The Dangers of a Low-Resistance Circuit
- Checking for Unsoldered Leads
- Checking All Leads that Connect Directly to Positive Voltage
- Measuring the Resistance of the Entire Circuit
- Measuring the Voltage Drop
- Reheating Solder Joints......................................................................................................................
- Holding Your Breath
- ■ Chapter 24: Body Building
- Approaching Robot Bodies
- Ethereal Drafting—Thinking About the Robot
- Vision Revision—Accepting Constraints Based on Available Parts
- Designing Custom Bodies
- Printing in 3D
- Embracing Prefabricated Platforms
- Transforming the Sandwich Container
- Creating Motor Holes
- Mounting the Motors
- Creating the Motor Tube
- Installing the Motors and Tube
- Adding the Switches and Battery Holder
- Adding the Circuit Board
- Drilling Holes for the Trimpots
- Carving Out a Window in the Container Lid
- Finishing Touches
- Ready to Roll